Friendlies are the problem, not clubs, says Ferguson

Football

International soccer interferes with clubs' ambitions rather than the other way round as England boss Roy Hodgson has declared, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

Ba and Bertrand should be back for Chelsea's Wembley trip

London: Holders Chelsea should have striker Demba Ba and defender Ryan Bertrand available for Sunday's FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley. Senegal international Ba, who was

Barca-Bayern, Real-Dortmund in Champions League semis

Nyon: It's Spain vs. Germany twice over in the Champions League semifinals. Barcelona play Bayern Munich in a clash of teams ranked by UEFA as the two best in Europe. Bayern hosts the first leg.

Chelsea reach Europa League semis despite loss

Manchester: Chelsea stumbled into the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday after losing 3-2 at Rubin Kazan following a rousing second-half fightback by the Russian team.

English Premier League to use Hawk-Eye goal-line technology

Manchester: The English Premier League is the first leading club competition to approve the use of goal-line technology, and Hawk-Eye will be deployed at stadiums from next season.

Brazil slip to 19th in FIFA rankings, Croatia climb to 4th

Zurich: Croatia made a big move to No. 4 in the FIFA rankings after two World Cup qualifying wins, and tournament hosts Brazil dropped to No. 19 on Thursday. World and European champions Spain led an

Barcelona draw 1-1 at Nou Camp, make it to semis on away goals

Barcelona: Barcelona needed a Pedro equaliser to draw 1-1 with Paris St Germain on Wednesday in their Champions League quarter-final, second leg and advance to the last four on away goals.

Champions League: Mandzukic sends clinical Bayern into semis

Turin: Bayern Munich weathered an early Juventus storm before Mario Mandzukic headed a second-half goal to help the Germans to a 2-0 win at Juventus on Wednesday and send them into the Champions League

Brazil to miss FIFA deadline for World Cup stadiums

Brasilia/Sao Paulo: More than half a million tickets have been sold for the Confederations Cup in June, but host nation Brazil has yet to finish the main stadiums to be used in the dress rehearsal for the 2014 soccer World Cup. On the eve of yet another FIFA deadline, Brazil has delivered only three of the six venues for

Late goal drama leaves Dortmund dizzy, Malaga fuming

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund's dramatic 3-2 Champions League quarter-final win over Malaga on Tuesday left the Germans dizzy with success while their opponents were fuming over the late winner. Former

Real Madrid into semis despite 3-2 loss at Galatasaray

Istanbul: Real Madrid reached the Champions League semi-finals for the third straight season on Tuesday despite losing 3-2 at Galatasaray following a second-half resurgence by the Turkish team. Madrid needed a

Borussia Dortmund beat Malaga 3-2 to enter Champions League semis

Dortmund: Borussia Dortmund completed a dramatic comeback Tuesday by scoring twice in stoppage time to defeat Malaga 3-2 and advance to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in 15 years. Trailing

Premier League set to adopt goal-line technology: FA

London: English Football Association (FA) general secretary Alex Horne believes the Premier League will approve the introduction of goal-line technology from next season at a meeting this week. Horne told the BBC he thought the equipment was always an "ideal piece of technology to allow into the game" ahead of the

Sergio Aguero scores as City beat United 2-1 in Manchester derby

London: Substitute Sergio Aguero scored a superb late winner as Manchester City slowed Manchester United's charge to the Premier League title by beating the leaders 2-1 in a frenetic derby on Monday. The

Juventus cannot afford another selection mishap against Bayern

Antonio Conte made an uncharacteristic hash of his team selection against Bayern Munich last week and the Juventus coach cannot afford to get it wrong again as his side chase a two-goal deficit on Wednesday.