German World Cup winners welcomed home by hundreds of thousands

Hundreds of thousands of jubilant Germans welcomed their triumphant national football team home in Berlin on Tuesday, waving flags and wearing the national colours as they basked in the nation’s fourth World Cup victory.
Landing at the capital’s Tegel airport, the captain Philipp Lahm led the team down the plane’s stairs holding above his head the golden trophy secured in Sunday’s final, with midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger close behind him wrapped in a German flag.
Nearly half a million revellers packed Berlin’s “fan mile”. a 1.3km stretch of road running from the west of the capital up to the iconic Brandenburg Gate, for a massive party. Many more lined the streets in the city centre along the team’s route.
Fans in Germany shirts, many with their faces painted in black, red and gold and some wearing wigs and bandanas in the national colours, had

Manchester City confident of sealing £32m deal for Eliaquim Mangala

Manchester City are hopeful of finally landing Porto’s Eliaquim Mangala for around £32m, in what will be the champions’ most expensive signing of the summer window.
While the club is not expecting to announce the transfer in the next 48 hours, there is a quiet confidence the France central defender will

World Cup!!!

Brazil’s Neymar is out of World Cup after breaking vertebra

Brazil’s bid to win a sixth World Cup has suffered a devastating blow after Neymar was ruled out of the rest of the tournament after fracturing a bone in his back during the quarter-final victory against Colombia.
The Barcelona striker was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after taking a knee to the back from the Colombia defender Juan Zuniga late in the game.
He was taken to a private clinic in Fortaleza – “crying out in pain”, according to the Brazil manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari, – where an X-ray revealed

World cup Table

Group A

Pos	Team	Pts
1	Brazil	7
2	Mexico	7
3	Croatia	3
4	Cameroon	0

Lionel Messi hits double in Argentina win but Nigeria go through too

This is a great World Cup and it has a great soundtrack. To the tune of Bad Moon Rising, Nigeria and Argentina scored five more goals when they did not really need to score any. There were two each for Ahmed Musa and for Lionel Messi, the latter becoming the tournament’s joint top scorer alongside Brazil’s Neymar. Both teams progressed and these finals will be a better place for their presence. They could have played out a draw, ambled their way to a flat and mutually beneficial conclusion, but instead there were two goals after

Uruguayan FA defends Luis Suárez, claiming bite marks are Photoshopped

The Uruguayan Football Association has gone on the offensive in an effort to save Luis Suárez from a lengthy ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini, claiming he is the victim of a smear campaign by the Italians, the English media and the Brazilian hosts.
As Suárez came under pressure from his sponsors, fellow professionals and Fifa’s disciplinary committee after sinking his teeth into Chiellini’s shoulder, the Uruguayan FA attempted to circle the wagons.
Executives from Adidas, the sportswear company that said when he previously bit Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic and earned a 10-match

Wayne Rooney apologises for England’s ‘devastating’ World Cup exit

The 27-year-old, who scored his first-ever goal in a World Cup finals during England’s 2-1 defeat to Uruguay, posted the message after Costa Rica’s surprise 1-0 win over Italy confirmed their exit.

The former Germany captain, Michael Ballack, has come out in support of Rooney, saying that suggestions that he should be dropped before the tournament were “crazy”.

“For me the only player who looked like making a difference for England was Rooney. He is the only one who can hurt teams, and

Colombia use fervent following to inflict comfortable defeat on Greece

The World Cup will miss Radamel Falcao but Colombia have started just fine without him. Confident, composed and always in control against an ineffective Greece side, José Pékerman’s insistence that they will go on without their talismanic striker was vindicated convincingly in Belo Horizonte. Dark horses indeed.

Colombia had lost three of their four opening fixtures at the World Cup finals but an opening victory in Group C was not in doubt from the moment the former West Ham defender Pablo Armero scuffed them into a fifth-minute lead. Teófilo Gutiérrez

Australia’s fighting spirit not enough as Alexis Sánchez fires up Chile

In defeat, some regret; but much dignity. When the Socceroos were drawn to play Chile in the refitted Arena Pantanal’s first match of this World Cup many were expecting Australia to be on the end of a hiding.

But where for much of a slow, startle-eyed opening 20 minutes Australia looked likely to make good on those dire predictions, in the 70 minutes that followed there was much that the coach, Ange Postecoglou, will rightly see as immensely encouraging.

Chile were good to their promise of unflagging, almost irrational, attack, the outstanding front two of Eduardo Vargas and Alexis Sánchez 

Mexico’s Peralta finally sees off Cameroon after referee fluffs his lines

This was the second game of the World Cup and for the second game all the talk after the final whistle was about the referees. The main difference between this game and the opener between Croatia and Brazil less than 24 hours before, however, was that the decisions, in the end, did not influence the result.

The victory carried Mexico into second place in Group A, level on points with Brazil, and also, probably, spared Fifa’s blushes. Peralta’s goal

Spain v Holland: World Cup 2014 – as it happened

Good evening. At the start of every new Mad Men series, you don't have to look too hard to find people saying that it's lost its touch. Not as good as it was. They should have ended it years ago. It can never be the same again. How can you maintain those standards? Impossible. Should have gone out when they were out on top, like The Office, Fawlty Towers or One Tree Hill did, and now all they're left with are memories of the glory days – and what are they worth? Nothing. They're worth. Yesterday's darlings, today's nobodies and to think that they were once such a big deal. Look how young they once looked! And now look. 

Rabid nonsense, of course. It's still good, still better than the competition, and you can guarantee that the same people who were so 

World cup table

Group A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	2	1	1	0	3	1	2	4
Croatia	2	1	0	1	5	3	2	3
Mexico	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	4
Camaroon	2	0	0	2	0	5	-5	0

World cupp!!!!!!!!!!

World Cup Time Table

Group A
Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
Brazil	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Croatia	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Mexico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Camaroon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

World cup almost!!!!!!!!!

Scotland have to settle for a draw as Nigeria snatch late equaliser

The Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi, insisted his players are “not gamblers” after his side twice came from behind to deny Scotland a fifth victory in six. His comments came after Gordon Strachan’s side produced an impressive performance to provide further hope that their years in the wilderness are coming to an end.
Before this game the Scottish Football Association was contacted by the National Crime Agency about a potential match-fixing threat. In the end Nigeria secured a draw in the 90th minute through Uche Nwofor, adding to an earlier effort from Michael Uchebo and cancelling out Charlie Mulgrew’s improvised opener and an own-goal from Azubuike Egwuekwe.
In an incident that was timed unfortunately given the events of the week the Nigeria goalkeeper, Austin Ejide, appeared to deflect the ball into

Swansea City sign Lukasz Fabianski on a free transfer from Arsenal

Swansea City have signed goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from Arsenal on a four-year contract, the Welsh club have confirmed.

The 29-year-old will join on 1 July on the expiration of his Arsenal contract to end a seven-year spell with the north London club, one that he signed off on with a FA Cup final victory over Hull last earlier this month.

Manchester United owner Malcolm Glazer dies aged 86

Malcolm Glazer, the head of the family that own Manchester United, died on Wednesday morning aged 86, in his hometown of Tampa.
While Glazer drove the controversial process that took control of United for the family in 2005 by leveraging the club with a £500m-plus debt, his recent failing health had meant that two of his sons, Joel and Avram, took on the hands-on role of leading the club. His passing should have little if any effect on the overall structure of the club, with the family retaining a 90% share with the remaining 10% listed on the New York stock exchange.
A statement from the 20-times champions last night said: “The thoughts of all at the club are with the family at this time.”

Chelsea in talks with Atlético Madrid for left-back Filipe Luís

Chelsea have resumed talks with Atlético Madrid over the recruitment of the highly rated Brazilian left-back Filipe Luís, one of three potential signings by the Premier League club from the Spanish league winners.
Luís was a key member of the Atlético defence, backed up by the Chelsea loanee Thibaut Courtois in goal, that shipped only 26 goals in 38 games to claim a first league title since 1996. The 28-year-old full-back moved to Vicente Calderón from Deportivo la Coruña four years ago and, while he suggested after Saturday’s Champions League final defeat by Real Madrid that he intended to honour the final three years of his contract, the London club are confident they can lure him to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are seeking a replacement for the departing Ashley Cole, whose eight-year stay will end when his contract expires at the end of

World Cup CountDown!!!

Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller completes cup win against Dortmund

Arjen Robben and Thomas Müller struck in extra time for Bayern Munich to beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the German Cup final, giving their side the double in Pep Guardiola's first season in charge.
Robben scored in the 107th minute when Jerome Boateng intercepted Roman Weidenfeller's throw out for Kevin Grosskreutz, and then crossed for the Dutchman at the far post.
It set up a frenetic finale, with Dortmund pushing for the equaliser that would have taken the game to penalties. Marco Reus came agonisingly close to equalising in the final minute when his shot was deflected just over.
Müller then rounded Weidenfeller to wrap up the win in injury time.
Dortmund might have been awarded a goal in the second half, when Mats Hummels thought he had scored with a header, but Dante cleared
on or behind the line. The goal wasn't awarded, though TV replays suggested the ball crossed had the line.

Atlético Madrid celebrate La Liga title after draw at Barcelona

Atlético Madrid have done it. A year after they went to the Santiago Bernabéu and took the Copa del Rey from Real Madrid, they came here and took the league title from FC Barcelona. It is their first in 18 years. Next they travel to Lisbon to play their first European Cup final for 40 years. What Diego Simeone and his side have achieved is barely believable. Barcelona's supporters recognised the magnitude of what they had witnessed: when the final whistle went here, they immediately broke into applause.
Spain suffered a collective coronary as the season headed into the final minutes of the final day with a single moment sufficient to change the destiny of the title. Barcelona's goalkeeper, José Pinto, was even up for a corner that almost dropped his way. But in the end Diego Godín's header from a corner was enough to

Wenger hails FA Cup victory as Arsenal's most important trophy

Arsène Wenger described Arsenal's 3-2 victory over Hull City in the FA Cup final as a "big moment of happiness", and even went as far as to suggest that the club's first major piece of silverware in nine years was the most important in his time at the club.
Arsenal had to show all their fighting qualities on a sapping day at Wembley, after finding themselves 2-0 down inside eight first-half minutes, thanks to goals from James Chester and Curtis Davies. Wenger admitted feeling "shock" at the blistering start made by Steve Bruce's side and fearful that his "nervous" players would not overcome the setback.
However, Santi Cazorla's rasping free-kick after

Luis Suárez claims he is happy at Liverpool and does not want to leave

Luis Suárez claims to be loving life at Liverpool and has no thoughts of leaving Anfield.
The Uruguay striker has enjoyed a superb season, scoring 31 goals and winning the Professional Footballers' Association and Football Writers' player of the year awards.
That came after a hugely controversial summer last year, when Suárez – serving a ban after biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic – tried to force a move away.
Now transfer speculation has started again but Suárez, who earlier this week denied a clause allowing him to move to one of Europe's biggest

Louis van Gaal gives United ABC of targets before going Dutch

Louis van Gaal is adamant that he can juggle two jobs at once despite the distraction that his impending appointment as Manchester United manager could have on Holland's World Cup campaign. The Dutchman says he "can manage the situation" and has already handed the club a list of transfer targets to work on while he focuses on his national team duties.
United are taking instructions from the Netherlands about when they should make an official proclamation that they have appointed Van Gaal as David Moyes' permanent successor.
The club have agreed to delay the announcement until there is a rest day for the national team, which means Sunday is the earliest United could finally confirm his appointment. If not Sunday, then it could be Monday as that is also a rest day for the Holland squad before they fly to Portugal to continue their World Cup preparations.
Asked how important it is that his concentration is solely on Holland, Van Gaal said: "I have invested a lot of time in this, so you can imagine how very important [the World Cup] is for me and the players. I've been in football for 40 years. In three months

Lionel Messi agrees new deal worth £16m a year with Barcelona

Barcelona have reached an agreement with Lionel Messi over an extension to his contract. The Argentina forward has been in negotiations for several weeks. However a statement on Barcelona's website on Friday confirmed that they have agreed terms.
"Barcelona has reached an agreement to adjust the terms in the contract binding Leo Messi to the club as a professional first team player," it read. "The revised and updated contract will be signed over the next few days."
No details of the contract were disclosed, but the deal follows lengthy negotiations during which it was reported that the 26-year-old wanted to surpass Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo as the best-paid player in the world.
According to the Barcelona-based newspaper Sport, the contract is worth a record €20m per season (£16.3m), plus further incentives,
while tying Messi to the club until 2019.
Securing Messi's future is a major piece of business for Barcelona as they shape up for a crucial summer. The club were hit with a one-year transfer ban for violations of the rules on signing minors earlier this year. That ban has been suspended on appeal and Barça need to make a series of moves in order to guard against the possibility that they are reinstated for both the winter transfer window and next summer.
The news was announced on the eve of Barça's title decider against La Liga leaders Atlético Madrid, who will travel to Camp Nou on Saturday. Barcelona need a win to take the title, with a draw enough for Atlético.
Messi has scored 28 goals in 30 league appearances to lead Barça's charge once again, and has 41 in all competitions this season. In all the Argentinian has scored 354 goals in 424 matches for Barca, the highest scorer in the club's history.
The new contract will see Messi move into a second decade with the club, having come through the ranks to make his debut during the 2004-05 season. He has gone on to win six league titles, three Champions League crowns, two Copa del Reys, two Club World Cups and two European Super Cups.

Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out of Real Madrid's La Liga game at Celta Vigo

Cristiano Ronaldo is out of Real Madrid's La Liga match at Celta Vigo on Sunday, Carlo Ancelotti said on Saturday.
The Portugal captain, who has been struggling with minor injuries in recent weeks, limped out of Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Real Valladolid with an apparent thigh strain. With the Champions League final against Atlético on 24 May looming, it has been decided not to risk aggravating the injury, Ancelotti told a news conference.
"Cristiano Ronaldo is not playing tomorrow because

José Mourinho's end-of-term report will back Chelsea's experienced trio

Chelsea's José Mourinho said of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard: 'You could see this season these people were important to give some stability, some experience to the team.' Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images

José Mourinho is to submit a written report reviewing his first campaign back in English football on Monday and will state his case for the retention of the team's experienced core of John Terry, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole beyond the expiry of their contracts.
The Portuguese, who has been working on the report over the past few weeks, will also detail the tweaks he would like made to his squad in

Manuel Pellegrini fully expects his Manchester City side to win title

A bullish Manuel Pellegrini has said he expects to win the Premier League title after a 4-0 victory over Aston Villa took Manchester City two points clear of Liverpool going into Sunday's final game of the season, the visit of West Ham United.
Two goals from Edin Dzeko plus one apiece from Stevan Jovetic and Yaya Touré, all in the second half, swept City to 100 league goals for the season, with Pellegrini aiming what sounded like a barb at Chelsea's José Mourinho by claiming he has chosen creative football for his team.
While the implication of this was that the Portuguese utilises a more negative approach for Chelsea. "Of course I expect to win the title because now we are top of the table," Pellegrini said. "It is the last game. Win the next game and we can win the title."
In reality, given City's goal-difference advantage of 13 over Liverpool, a point would suffice.
Pellegrini pointed out that before victory City had led the standings for only 11 days. "It is a strange season, maybe, because we were never top of the table," he said. "Everyone said we were favourites but we were nine points behind Liverpool and eight

Tearful Ashley Cole unsure of Chelsea future after Norwich draw

Ashley Cole broke down in tears as he, Frank Lampard and John Terry saluted the arena during the Chelsea players' end-of-season lap of appreciation, and José Mourinho confirmed the club intend to take stock over the next few weeks before determining whether the experienced trio are to prolong their careers at Stamford Bridge.
Talks have been continuing with the representatives of the England men, who have 1,609 appearances for Chelsea between them but are out of contract on 1 July, over new one-year deals. Yet while Terry and Lampard are expected to stay, albeit on reduced terms, Cole's future appears less certain, with the 33-year-old having started only 14 Premier League games this season after losing his place to César Azpilicueta. There is interest, too, in

Pep Guardiola: Bayern Munich must decide if I'm the right coach for them

Pep Guardiola has challenged Bayern Munich to back him in the wake of the heavy defeat against Real Madrid on Tuesday night. The reigning European champions lost 4-0 on the night and 5-0 on aggregate with several players unhappy with being left out.
Guardiola said on Friday: "The club must decide if the coach is the right one for the club. I won't change my opinion about the club and

Ryan Giggs could leave Manchester United to manage 'somewhere else'

Ryan Giggs has hinted he would consider leaving Manchester United to play or to become a manager of another club "somewhere else", though the Welshman insisted any decision over his future will come at the close of the campaign. Louis van Gaal is the favourite to become the permanent United No1, with the Holland manager hopeful of being appointed before 7 May when he begins official preparations for the summer's World Cup.

Asked if Giggs would want to be No2 to Van Gaal or any new manager, the 40-year-old said: "I have got to decide if I want to play or not so there is no point thinking if I want to be an assistant or if I want to be a manager somewhere else. There are so
 many things to think about. The way I am thinking is I am enjoying it and then my concentration is on the remaining two games and then like I have just said, we will see what happens at the end of the season."

Giggs insisted he is just getting on with being the interim manager, with the Welshman having spent the week discussing youth player contracts and the club's summer tour. "Nothing has changed – it's until the end of the season. We'll chat when that's over," he said. "I've got a lot to think about, whether to carry on playing. But my concentration is just on now. The only peace and quiet you do get is when you are on the training pitch. As soon as you are back in the office, you have meetings, you have calls.

"For example this week has been planning pre-season, which has been testing because we have to way and see about the Europa League and the third qualifying round for that is round about the tour time, so different permutations. Also it is a difficult time for young players, extending contracts, renewing contracts, loan players, players that need to come back, players that need their future sorting out so there has been a lot of that this week."

Wayne Rooney is a doubt to face Sunderland as he has a stomach bug and "tight groin", with the other players in the United camp, including Anders Lindegaard, also suffering from the digestive complaint. Giggs said: "He has a bug and a tight groin too. But Wayne being Wayne, he wants to play."

Robin van Persie, who has not played since 19 March because of a knee injury, could be in contention for Saturday's match. "Robin's looked good in training. Whether tomorrow is too early, we'll just see how he goes today," said Giggs.

Chelsea's José Mourinho: Eden Hazard does not sacrifice himself for the team

José Mourinho has lamented Eden Hazard's error in Chelsea's Champions League elimination but has no qualms with the Belgian's comments following the midweek exit to Atlético Madrid. Hazard, one of Chelsea's best players for much of the season, failed to track back to allow Atlético to equalise in Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg and later said the Blues are set up to counterattack, not to take the initiative in games.
The comments were interpreted as a slight on Mourinho's tactics, which have been criticised of late, and coming from a player linked with Paris Saint-Germain this summer led to speculation over his future.
"I listened to the interview," said Mourinho, whose side lost 3-1 to Atlético and play Norwich in the Premier League on Sunday. "There was nothing critical in

Gareth Bale hopes for Champions League glory after Bayern crushed

Gareth Bale helped Real Madrid to dismantle Bayern Munich in their own stadium, taking his club to a first Champions League final since 2002, and said that momentous nights such as these were the reason why he moved from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record £86m last summer.
Real won 4-0 at the Allianz Arena to advance 5-0 on aggregate and they will face either Chelsea or Atlético Madrid in the final in Lisbon. Carlo Ancelotti, the Real manager, said he would be happy to face Chelsea, who sacked him in 2011 while José Mourinho, the Stamford Bridge manager, would surely like to face Real, from where he departed last summer.
It was the sheer force of Real's first-half performance against the defending champions that took the breath away, with Sergio Ramos heading two

Terry, Eto'o and Hazard give Chelsea injury boost ahead of Atlético tie

Chelsea will have John Terry, Samuel Eto'o and Eden Hazard fit and available for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Atlético Madrid on Wednesday, with Petr Cech having also made a surprise appearance at training at Cobham on Tuesday morning.
The goalkeeper strode out into the Surrey drizzle with his team-mates just a week after dislocating his right shoulder during the goalless draw at Vicente Calderón in the first leg. The injury is still expected to rule Cech out for the remainder of the season – there remains the possibility he will undergo surgery – and he appeared to be

Tottenham approach revealed by Frank de Boer

The Ajax coach Frank de Boer has confirmed that Tottenham Hotspur have approached the Amsterdam club to test his interest in coaching the club.

In an interview with the national broadcaster NOS on Tuesday, De Boer said he had been informed of Tottenham's call by the Ajax football director, Marc Overmars.

De Boer added that until the season ends next week, he is concerned only with Ajax, who clinched a fourth consecutive Eredivisie title

Manchester United's new manager will make final decision on transfers

Manchester United will give their new permanent manager the final decision on transfers, which means the club could face another traumatic summer in the market if their first choice, Louis van Gaal, is given the role.
The 62-year-old is hopeful that a deal to make him David Moyes' successor will be sealed this week, with the Holland coach keen to do so before starting his World Cup preparations on 7 May.
United are intent on avoiding a repeat of last year when Moyes and Ed Woodward, the executive vice-chairman, oversaw a disastrous window during which the pursuit of Cesc Fábregas, Leighton Baines, Ander Herrera and Fábio Coentrão ended in failure. Marouane Fellaini arrived from Everton on the closing day for £27.5m, £3.5m more than his buyout clause.
United are aiming for an overhaul of the squad. Yet even
 if Van Gaal was appointed in the next few days it would leave him almost no time to finalise targets before starting his World Cup buildup. As with most managers, his preference is to meet a player in person.

Chelsea critics are just jealous of José Mourinho, says André Schürrle

André Schürrle has claimed "everybody" at Chelsea believes they can win a Champions League and Premier League double, this season and critics of José Mourinho's tactics are simply jealous of his success.
Chelsea are two points behind the league leaders, Liverpool, following Sunday's 2-0 win at Anfield and take a goalless draw into the Champions League semi-final second leg against Atlético Madrid at Stamford Bridge. Mourinho, true to form, rubbished Chelsea's Premier League title prospects in the aftermath of their Liverpool victory but Schürrle suggested an opposing view is held inside the club's Cobham training ground. The Germany international also

Swansea City's Jonjo Shelvey hits wonder goal as Aston Villa wobble

Swansea's Premier League place is safe for another year after achieving back-to-back wins for the first time since December 2012 but Villa remain embroiled in the relegation battle to the dismay of their supporters, who derided the fifth defeat in the last six games with choruses of "We want Lambert out" and demanded to know what was going on.
Paul Lambert has seen his team take just one point from those last six matches. For the moment a cushion of four points separates them from the bottom three, but they do need to win their last home game, against Hull next Saturday. After that

Manchester United give Ryan Giggs fine start with Norwich demolition

"The Story Continues" was the banner headline on Manchester United's match-day programme alongside a picture of Ryan Giggs, the club attempting to put some positive spin on a week of turmoil.
The worry for United supporters is how long the story will continue, with Sir Alex Ferguson giving his backing to Giggs even as rumours spread through Manchester that Louis van Gaal is now the chosen one and that a deal with the Holland coach may already have been agreed. At least this was a positive chapter, with Giggs receiving a tremendous ovation from the crowd as he made the touchline walk in club suit and tie. There was even a chant of "Attack, attack, attack" from the Stretford End as the game kicked off as if in anticipation of the

Arsène Wenger: I have given Arsenal my word I will sign new contract

Arsène Wenger has promised Arsenal he will sign a new deal to stay on as manager beyond this season, he revealed on Friday.
The Frenchman's contract runs out in the summer and an extension has remained unsigned as Arsenal's Premier League title challenge has unravelled in recent months, leading to suggestions Wenger might be ready to leave after 18 seasons in charge.
However, the 64-year-old now looks certain to

Manchester United refuse to deny reports of deal for Louis van Gaal

Manchester United have refused to deny a report that Louis van Gaal will be the club's next permanent manager.
According to De Telegraaf, a leading Dutch newspaper, a deal has been agreed in principle with the Holland coach for him to take over United once the national side are eliminated from the World Cup.

Reacting to the story on Saturday morning, United said:

'Your fight is our strength' a fitting legacy to Tito Vilanova at Barcelona

On the eve of Tito Vilanova's first season in charge of Barcelona, he stood in the middle of the Camp Nou pitch with a microphone in hand. Tradition dictates that the new campaign is welcomed with the Gamper Trophy and the manager always has a message to deliver. This time, in August 2012, it carried a special emotive power. "I'm so happy that you're here with us," Vilanova turned to tell the French defender Eric Abidal. "Your fight is our strength."
Abidal had undergone a liver transplant in April of that year after suffering cancer and Vilanova knew something of what the Frenchman was going through: in November 2011 he had been diagnosed with cancer of the parotid gland in the throat while assistant manager to Pep Guardiola. The following May it was formally announced that he had fully overcome the illness and he looked forward to a future as the manager of the club. His club. Abidal was

Sevilla's Stéphane Mbia sets up win over Valencia with backheeled goal

Stéphane Mbia and Carlos Bacca were on target for Sevilla as they took a big step towards reaching the Europa League final with a 2-0 victory over Valencia.
After a frantic start to the game Mbia backheeled Ivan Rakitic's free-kick over the Valencia goalkeeper, Vicente Guaita, to put the Andalusian side in front on the half-hour mark.
Bacca added another four minutes later when he used his pace to get clear before finishing clinically.
Valencia came close to reducing the arrears when an Edu Vargas shot curled just wide of the post midway through the second half and then in the final moments he also the same player the crossbar, but they now have it all to do in the second leg at the Mestalla.
Sevilla's victory continued a run of good form which has seen them win nine of their last 10 La Liga games.

Lima gives Benfica narrow lead after Juventus's Carlos Tevez ends drought

A brilliantly-worked Lima goal gave last year's runners-up Benfica a 2-1 win at home to Juventus in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.
Ezequiel Garay headed the recently-crowned Portuguese champions in front early on and were resolute in defence for 73 minutes until Carlos Tevez waltzed through the defence to score a fine equaliser.
The Argentinian ended a European goal-drought stretching back to April 2009 to give the visitors a priceless away goal, but the smiles were wiped off Juventus faces with a flash of Lima's right boot late on.
The forward arrived late in the penalty area to drill the ball into the top corner and put the hosts ahead in the tie . Benfica still needed a brilliant save by goalkeeper Artur from Claudio Marchisio to take a slender but valuable lead to Turin for next Thursday's second leg.

World Cup Countdown!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Michel Platini: 'No clubs to be excluded from Europe for breaching FFP rules'

No clubs will be kicked out of European competition next season for breaking financial fair play rules, UEFA president Michel Platini said in an interview on Thursday.
Uefa's financial fair play (FFP) policy, designed to stop clubs spending more than they earn, comes into effect next season with a maximum penalty of exclusion from European competition for those failing to comply.
"In effect, the first decisions will be announced at the

Chelsea's Ramires accepts four-game ban and will miss title run-in

Ramires has accepted a four-game ban after being charged with violent conduct by the Football Association following an off-the-ball incident that was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.
The incident occurred during Chelsea's Premier League fixture against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 19 April. The ban includes three matches for this offence plus an additional game for his sending off at Villa Park last month.
The suspension means the midfielder will miss the

Luis Suárez says Liverpool have surprised even themselves with title run

Luis Suárez has admitted Liverpool are punching above their weight to be competing for the title against big-spending clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City and acknowledged that this season has surpassed all of his expectations.
After a season that began with him serving a 10-match ban for biting Branislav Ivanovic and having a transfer request rejected, the Uruguayan goes into Sunday's crucial meeting with Chelsea at Anfield as the favourite to win the Professional Footballers' Association player of the

Manchester United set sights on Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani

Manchester United intend to plough ahead with their transfer business during the potentially long process of waiting for a new manager to start – almost three months in Louis van Gaal's case – and their extensive inquiries include exploring the possibility of whether Paris Saint-Germain might sell Edinson Cavani.
United confidently expect to close a deal of around £30m for Luke Shaw, offering the teenage Southampton full-back a lucrative financial package that could be

Wilmots: Januzaj's chosen Belgium

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj has chosen to play international football for Belgium, according to coach Marc Wilmots.

The 19-year-old's breakthrough into the Old Trafford first team at the start of this season started the debate over which country he would go on to represent.

Born in Brussels, Januzaj is also able to play for Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey, while he was strongly linked with selection for England after

Benzema gives Real a lead

Real Madrid took a step towards their first Champions League final in 12 years by beating Bayern Munich 1-0 at the Bernabeu thanks to a first-half goal by Karim Benzema.
Carlo Ancelotti's side must still survive another 90 minutes against the European champions, but head to the semi-final second leg in Munich with the added advantage of not conceding an away goal.
The visitors dominated possession but were unable to

Cristiano Ronaldo to have late fitness test on Wednesday before Bayern tie

Cristiano Ronaldo will undergo a fitness test on Wednesday morning to decide if he can take part in the Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu.
The Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said he was "confident" that the competition's top scorer would be available but insisted that they will not take any risks with his fitness. Gareth Bale is doubtful after having suffered with a bout of flu.
Ronaldo has missed the last four games, including the final of the Copa del Rey, through injury. The Portuguese had suffered a knee injury and then had hamstring problems. The club had been cautious about his prognosis, saying little publicly, and Ronaldo had also

Sir Alex Ferguson will help to choose David Moyes's successor

Sir Alex Ferguson will be asked to take a prominent role in deciding Manchester United's next manager despite an acknowledgement within the club that he was responsible for choosing the wrong man last time.
United are deliberating between Louis van Gaal and Carlo Ancelotti to replace David Moyes after the former Everton manager was sacked in a 7.40am meeting with the club's chief executive, Ed Woodward. Diego Simeone, the Atlético Madrid coach, is also being considered but United are leaning towards a more experienced candidate and their initial discussions, involving Ferguson, have concluded that the job has come too early for Ryan Giggs, even if he exceeds expectations in his four games as interim manager.
Laurent Blanc has also been ruled out, despite Ferguson's close ties with the Paris Saint-Germain coach, and it has been made clear that the