Soccer News Headlines - Yahoo! News

Long gives Ireland perfect Euro send-off

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:18:43 -0400

Giovanni Trapattoni will wait until Monday before deciding whether Shay Given and John O'Shea are fit enough to make the Republic of Ireland's squad for Euro 2012.

Barry injury clouds Hodgson's winning start

Sat, 26 May 2012 20:15:53 -0400

Roy Hodgson was left sweating on an injury to Gareth Barry after launching his reign as England manager with a 1-0 win over Norway at the Ullevaal Stadium.

Sheffield fan

Sat, 26 May 2012 18:19:09 -0400

A Sheffield United fan looks on during the game against Huddersfield Town during the League 1 Play-Off Final football match between Huddersfield Town and Sheffield United at Wembley Stadium in London.

Germany, Netherlands suffer Euro 2012 setbacks

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:30:51 -0400

Germany and the Netherlands, two of the sides widely-tipped as potential Euro 2012 winners, suffered worrying friendly international defeats on Saturday.

Bulgaria send Dutch crashing to another defeat

Sat, 26 May 2012 17:06:01 -0400

Netherlands' Euro 2012 build-up suffered another setback on Saturday when Bulgaria won their friendly clash 2-1 with the defeat coming just four days after losing 3-2 to Bayern Munich.

Fahey forced out of Ireland's Euro squad

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:55:41 -0400

Republic of Ireland midfielder Keith Fahey has been ruled out of Euro 2012 after failing to recover from a groin injury.

Error-hit Germany slump to defeat against Swiss

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:38:13 -0400

Germany slumped to an error-plagued 5-3 friendly defeat to Switzerland on Saturday, a worrying setback just two weeks out from Euro 2012 where they will be amongst the favourites.

Huddersfield promoted after epic shoot-out

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:33:10 -0400

Huddersfield clinched promotion to the Championship after holding their nerve to defeat Sheffield United 8-7 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in the League One play-off final at Wembley on Saturday.

Spain fringe players state case with Serbia win

Sat, 26 May 2012 15:25:10 -0400

Spain warmed up for a defence of their European title with a 2-0 friendly win over Serbia here on Saturday.

Beefed-up Poles edge Slovakia in Euro warm-up

Sat, 26 May 2012 13:19:56 -0400

French-born Damien Perquis scored his first goal for Poland on Saturday as the beefed-up Euro 2012 hosts beat Slovakia 1-0 during a pre-tournament friendly.

Fit-again Afellay makes final Dutch cut

Sat, 26 May 2012 13:18:39 -0400

Despite spending almost the entire season on the sidelines injured, Barcelona winger Ibrahim Afellay was included in the Netherlands' final 23-man squad for Euro 2012 on Saturday.

Czech coach Bilek extends contract to 2014

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:44:12 -0400

Czech national team coach Michal Bilek extended his contract to 2014 on Saturday after leading the Czechs to their fifth straight Euro tournament, the CTK news agency said.

Hulk stars as Brazil down Danes

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:37:15 -0400

A young Brazil side stepped up their preparations for the London Olympics by beating Denmark 3-1 in a friendly in the northern German city of Hamburg on Saturday.

SuperSport outplay 10-man Sundowns to win Cup

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:33:32 -0400

SuperSport United outplayed 10-man Mamelodi Sundowns 2-0 at Orlando Stadium Saturday to win the South African FA Cup a third time.

Spain's Iraola 'set to miss Euro 2012'

Sat, 26 May 2012 12:05:24 -0400

Athletic Bilbao captain Andoni Iraola is set to miss out on a place in the Spain squad at Euro 2012 as he struggles with pelvic and ankle injuries, sports daily Marca reported on Saturday.

Hulk leads Brazil to 3-1 win over error-prone Denmark

Sat, 26 May 2012 11:55:44 -0400

HAMBURG, Germany (Reuters) - Brazil's Hulk scored twice and created another goal to lead his team to a 3-1 victory over Denmark in a friendly match in Hamburg on Saturday, with the error-prone Scandinavians in need of improvement ahead of next month's Euro 2012. With their first Group B match just two weeks away on June 9 against Netherlands, Denmark coach Morten Olsen will be no doubt reviewing their defensive operation after his players conceded by gifted the ball to Brazil three times in the first half. ...

England look for feel-good factor in Euro warm-up

Sat, 26 May 2012 10:05:28 -0400

England are hoping to exploit the feel-good factor created by Manchester City and Chelsea triumphs at home and abroad as a new era under Roy Hodgson kicks off against Norway on Saturday.

Beckenbauer against scrapping penalty shootouts

Sat, 26 May 2012 09:51:47 -0400

Franz Beckenbauer says deadlocked matches should continue to be decided with penalty-kick shootouts.

Barca talk continuity as Guardiola hands over to Vilanova

Sat, 26 May 2012 07:38:03 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Tito Vilanova's step up from assistant to Barcelona coach for next season is a sign of continuity rather than the end of an era, the outgoing Pep Guardiola said after Friday's 3-0 King's Cup final triumph. Guardiola signed off the same way that he started at Barcelona with a Cup final win over Athletic Bilbao, securing his 14th trophy from the 19 competitions he has competed in since taking charge in 2008. "The important thing is that, with the concept we have, it will continue," Guardiola told his last post-match news conference at the Calderon in Madrid. ...

US prepare for Scotland friendly ahead of 2014 qualifiers

Sat, 26 May 2012 06:59:39 -0400

With Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore unavailable, a trio of US strikers are eying a chance to prove themselves in a friendly against Scotland Saturday with 2014 World Cup qualifiers looming.

France's Ben Arfa keen to seize second chance

Sat, 26 May 2012 06:59:07 -0400

Hatem Ben Arfa looks set to end almost two years in the international wilderness by playing in France's Euro 2012 warm-up game against Iceland on Sunday and show his bad boy image is a thing of the past.

France among favourites for Euro 2012: Domenech

Sat, 26 May 2012 06:16:07 -0400

Former coach Raymond Domenech has said that he rated France among the favourites for Euro 2012 and that they should at the very least reach the semi-finals.

Pedro eyeing Euro 2012 spot after King's Cup double

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:48:03 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Pedro is confident of making a return to the Spain squad for Euro 2012 after the Barcelona forward netted a double in Friday's 3-0 King's Cup final win against Athletic Bilbao. The 24-year-old's season was disrupted by injury but in recent months he has come back into the kind of form that won him a place in the starting side in the 2010 World Cup final. ...

Russia draw with Uruguay in Euro 2012 test

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:26:48 -0400

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay in a lively encounter on Friday in the first of their three friendlies before the start of Euro 2012. Uruguay's Luis Suarez opened the scoring in the 48th minute, taking the ball to the right of the area before easily going by two defenders and beating Russia keeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev with a low drive from 12 metres. Second-half substitute Alexander Kerzhakov equalised a minute later, taking advantage of a defensive miscue as the Latin Americans appealed for offside. ...

Barca claim King´s Cup in Guardiola swansong

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:18:21 -0400

MADRID (Reuters) - Barcelona gave Pep Guardiola a fitting end to his glittering four-year reign as coach winning the King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Friday to send him off with a 14th trophy under his arm. Pedro scored a brace and the outstanding player of the Guardiola era, World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, added the other to finish with an unprecedented 73 goals in all competitions this season. ...

Former star Neeskens seeks first trophy as coach

Sat, 26 May 2012 04:00:20 -0400

Former Netherlands midfield star Johan Neeskens hopes to step out from the shadows Saturday and claim his first title as a coach.

Barcelona give Guardiola perfect Cup send off

Sat, 26 May 2012 01:57:43 -0400

Barcelona gave coach Pep Guardiola the perfect send off, beating Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in Madrid to win the Spanish Cup in the coach's last match in charge after a memorable four seasons in the Catalan hot seat.

England look for feel-good factor in Euro warm-up

Sat, 26 May 2012 01:47:52 -0400

England are hoping to exploit the feel-good factor created by Manchester City and Chelsea triumphs at home and abroad as a new era under Roy Hodgson kicks off against Norway on Saturday.

Last chance to impress for Euro 2012 hopefuls

Sat, 26 May 2012 01:16:06 -0400

A busy weekend of friendly action will be the final chance for many players to secure a ticket on the plane for Euro 2012 before the UEFA deadline for squad submissions next Tuesday.

Barca routs Bilbao 3-0 for cup in Guardiola finale

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:32:26 -0400

Barcelona provided Pep Guardiola with the perfect sendoff by routing Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the Copa del Rey final on Friday night, the club's 14th trophy in four seasons under its most successful coach.

Henry eclipses Beckham as MLS top earner

Fri, 25 May 2012 17:24:30 -0400

Thierry Henry has eclipsed David Beckham as the highest-paid player in Major League Soccer after Beckham took a pay cut to stay with the Los Angeles Galaxy this season, according to figures released by the player's union on Friday.

Russia held by Uruguay

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:59:14 -0400

Russia began their warm-up for Euro 2012 with a 1-1 draw against 2010 World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay here on Friday.

FIFA to compensate clubs for injured players

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:36:02 -0400

Football's world governing body FIFA decided at their 62nd Congress here on Friday to compensate clubs whose players are injured while on international duty.

Ibrahimovic happy to stay at Milan

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:20:16 -0400

Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has quashed speculation surrounding his future by saying he will remain with AC Milan for a third season despite supposed financial problems at the club.

Carroll to start for England against Norway

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:48:03 -0400

Andy Carroll's hopes of forcing his way into England's Euro 2012 starting line-up were boosted on Friday after manager Roy Hodgson confirmed the striker will start this weekend's friendly against Norway.

Gerrard determined to banish World Cup woe

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:30:32 -0400

Steven Gerrard challenged his England team-mates to banish their 2010 World Cup nightmare here on Friday as he prepared to kick off a new era under manager Roy Hodgson.

M'Vila emphasises desire to quit Rennes

Fri, 25 May 2012 13:28:07 -0400

France midfielder Yann M'Vila confirmed on Friday that he intends to leave his current club Rennes this summer, amid speculation of an imminent switch to Arsenal.

Casillas urges Spain to overcome 'own worst enemy'

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:43:27 -0400

Spain's goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas admits that the defending European and world champions could be their own worst enemies as they seek more glory at Euro 2012.

Liverpool have offered job to Martinez - Whelan

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:40:25 -0400

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan on Friday claimed Latics boss Roberto Martinez is weighing up an offer from Liverpool to take over as manager of the Anfield club.

McClean handed first start in Bosnia clash

Fri, 25 May 2012 12:38:49 -0400

Rising star James McClean has been handed a chance to stake his claim for a Euro 2012 starting spot in the Republic of Ireland's friendly against Bosnia in Dublin on Saturday.