Nationality cost Bradley transfer

United States international midfielder Michael Bradley was snubbed by Arsenal in January due to his nationality, claims his father Bob.

Verheijen blasts Van Gaal

Outspoken Dutchman Raymond Verheijen has taken aim at Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal for Robin van Persie's latest injury concern.

Winning top of the agenda

Beautiful football is not paramount to Brazil as they aim to win the FIFA World Cup, according to star striker Neymar.

Rays lose again in MLB

The Tampa Bay Rays' woeful form continued after they were beaten 11-6 by the Miami Marlins in MLB action on Thursday.

Cameroon must improve in attack

Stephane M'Bia is aware Cameroon must improve in the attacking third if they are to make an impact at the forthcoming FIFA World Cup.

Feghouli: Algeria can reach knockouts

Sofiane Feghouli is optimistic Algeria can defy the odds by advancing to the knockout stages at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Low attacks striking criticisms

Joachim Low hit back at claims he does not have enough strikers, saying his Germany squad is blessed with an array of attacking talent.

Zaccheroni unfazed by fitness concerns

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni insists his team remain on track for the FIFA World Cup despite fitness concerns over some of his players.

Tabarez: Uruguay showed fight

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was pleased with side's hard-fought 2-0 victory over Slovenia in an international friendly on Wednesday.

Real Salt Lake, Columbus share spoils

Real Salt Lake remain winless in three games after conceding a late goal to draw 1-1 at Columbus Crew in MLS action on Wednesday.

Rooney happy to play anywhere

England striker Wayne Rooney insists he is happy to play anywhere after he was forced to operate on the left against Ecuador on Wednesday.

Sterling red card harsh

England midfielder Frank Lampard claims the referee was harsh in sending off Raheem Sterling during Wednesday's friendly against Ecuador.

Bjorn withdraws from US Open

Dane Thomas Bjorn will miss the upcoming US Open after withdrawing due to neck and shoulder injuries on Wednesday.

Japan can win World Cup

Japan star Keisuke Honda is adamant his team can cause an upset by winning the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Uruguay 2 Slovenia 0

Uruguay wrapped up preparations for the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 win against Slovenia in a friendly at the Estadio Centenario on Wednesday.

Murray 'relieved' to reach semis

Andy Murray was relieved to progress to the French Open semi-finals after withstanding a late rally from Gael Monfils on Wednesday.

Price, Haas named team captains

Nick Price and Jay Haas have been named as captains of the International and United States teams respectively for the 2015 Presidents Cup.

Owen tips Argentina for World Cup

Argentina are favourites to claim a third FIFA World Cup title, according to former England international Michael Owen.

Vigneault unfazed by underdogs tag

New York Rangers coach Alain Vigneault is happy to for his team to be outsiders for the Stanley Cup finals against the Los Angeles Kings.

Preview: Japan v Zambia

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has called for an improvement in concentration ahead of Friday's international friendly against Zambia.

Brazil must utilise pressure

Brazil's rout of Panama in front of a vocal crowd should bode well for the upcoming FIFA World Cup, according to striker Fred.

Danubio 0 Wanderers 0

The Torneo Final in Uruguay remains evenly poised after Danubio and Wanderers played out a goalless draw in the opening leg on Tuesday.

Costa Rica can create history

Costa Rica defender Giancarlo Gonzalez says the country will be out to defy the odds and create history at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Van Persie will be fit

Netherlands captain Robin van Persie will be fit for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil, according to coach Louis van Gaal.

Hitzfeld pleased with Swiss preparation

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said his team is on the right track ahead of the FIFA World Cup after their win over Peru on Tuesday.

Lampard weighing up MLS switch

Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard says he is considering a move to MLS after departing Stamford Bridge.

Hazard set to stay at Chelsea

Eden Hazard appears set to resist Paris Saint-Germain and remain at Chelsea next season after he agreed to wear the number 10 shirt.

World Cup 2014: Japan

The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil will see 32 teams battle it out for football's ultimate prize. Here we profile Japan.

Pele: I would be the best today

Brazil icon Pele claims he would be the best football player in the world if he was still running around in the current era.

Del Bosque counting on team morale

Boosting team morale is the key behind Spain's chances of back-to-back FIFA World Cup titles, according to coach Vicente del Bosque.

Varane plays down Chelsea link

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane insists he is fully focused on the FIFA World Cup amid interest from Premier League club Chelsea.

Fitness the focus for Zaccheroni

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni said physical conditioning is paramount in the lead up to the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

WC 2014: Keisuke Honda (Japan)

The 2014 FIFA World Cup will bring together standout players from right across the globe. Here we profile Japan's Keisuke Honda.

Klinsmann prepared for Ghana

United States head coach Jurgen Klinsmann says he will be treating their opening FIFA World Cup game just like a knockout fixture.

Honduras v Israel

Honduras will go head-to-head with Israel in Houston on Sunday as they continue to step up preparations for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

Uruguay 1 Northern Ireland 0

Christian Stuani was the hero as Uruguay battled their way to a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland in a friendly at Estadio Centenario on Friday.

Italy class above England

FIFA World-Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi said Italy will be too strong for England when the two sides meet in Brazil next month.

Germany will reach semis

Former defender Christoph Metzelder is confident Germany can reach the semi-finals at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Saborio out of World Cup

Costa Rica have been dealt a major blow after leading scorer Alvaro Saborio was ruled out of the FIFA World Cup with a foot injury.

McIlroy three clear at Memorial

Rory McIlroy sent an ominous warning to the rest of the field, opening a three-stroke lead after day one at the Memorial Tournament.

Scott buoyed by Crowne Plaza win

Adam Scott says his remarkable triumph in Fort Worth last week has given him extra belief heading into the Memorial Tournament.

Mignolet plays down Belgium hopes

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet has played down Belgium's chances at the FIFA World Cup amid talk they could win the tournament.

Park to replace Kim

Mainz defender Park Joo-Ho has been called up to South Korea's FIFA World Cup squad after Kim Jin-Su was ruled out with injury.

Eduardo excited about World Cup

Croatia attacker Eduardo is relishing the opportunity to make his FIFA World Cup debut in his native Brazil.

Costa Rica up for challenge

Cristian Gamboa insisted Costa Rica will not shy away from the mammoth challenge that has been presented to them at the FIFA World Cup.

Valencia ruled out of World Cup

Colombia midfielder Edwin Valencia will miss the FIFA World Cup after failing to recover from injury in time for the showpiece event.

Friendly: United States 2 Azerbaijan 0

The United States kicked off preparations for the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park on Tuesday.

Italy can cause a surprise

Italy can cause a few surprises at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil, according to head coach Cesare Prandelli.

Jagielka defends partnership

England defender Phil Jagielka has hit back at critics, who have questioned his partnership with Gary Cahill ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Cesar ready to repay the faith

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar says he is ready to repay the faith shown in him by Luiz Felipe Scolari at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

France need miracle at World Cup

France need a 'miracle' to win the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil, according to their coach Didier Deschamps.

Welbeck frustrated by wide role

Danny Welbeck says he has grown tired of being played out of position at Manchester United, with the striker keen to operate up front.

Tsonga plays down hopes

Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga played down hopes of winning the French Open after he advanced to the second round at Roland Garros on Sunday.

Scott prevails in play-off to win

Adam Scott capped his first week as world number one with a sensational play-off victory over Jason Dufner at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.

Japan v Cyprus

Alberto Zaccheroni will get a clearer picture of how he will set up at the FIFA World Cup when Japan host Cyprus in a friendly on Tuesday.

I was not ready for England job

Steve McClaren admits he was not ready for the England job as he prepares to return to Wembley for the first time since he was sacked.

USA will struggle in Brazil

United States face such an uphill task at the FIFA World Cup not even the services of Lionel Messi would help, according to Robbie Keane.

Klose: Team before individual honours

Miroslav Klose insists Germany's overall performance at the upcoming FIFA World Cup takes pride of place over his individual aspirations.

Lambert lauds Hodgson impact

Rickie Lambert has heaped praise on England manager Roy Hodgson for instilling confidence in him ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Rooney wants United captaincy

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has officially thrown his hat into the ring to become the Premier League club's new captain.

Johnson earns early lead

Dustin Johnson produced a faultless round to take a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Donovan disappointed by snub

Landon Donovan has expressed his disappointment with Jurgen Klinsmann's decision to overlook him for the United States' final 23-man squad.

Evans upbeat after losing Giro lead

Australian Cadel Evans claims the race for the Giro d'Italia title is far from over, despite surrendering his overall lead on Thursday.

Donovan left out of World Cup squad

United States veteran Landon Donovan was a high-profile casualty as Jurgen Klinsmann named his final 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup.

Howard will start at World Cup

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Tim Howard will be the team's number one goalkeeper at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

World Cup test event cancelled

Preparations for the opening match of the FIFA World Cup were dealt a blow after a scheduled test event at Corinthians Arena was cancelled.

Todd wins Byron Nelson

Brendon Todd has broken through to claim his maiden PGA Tour title with a two-stroke victory at the HP Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday.

Diamondbacks crush Dodgers

Paul Goldschmidt led the way as the Arizona Diamondbacks routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 18-7 in MLB action on Saturday.

Matthews survives scare

Australian Michael Matthews was happy to escape unscathed as he retained the overall lead after stage three at the Giro d'Italia.

Nolan keen to aid Liverpool

West Ham captain Kevin Nolan is keen to play his part in Liverpool's success as they aim to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.

Aussies in contention as Kaymer, Spieth lead

Martin Kaymer and Jordan Spieth are three strokes clear atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of The Players Championship.

Giro going to plan

Michael Matthews said it was always the plan to replace Orica-GreenEDGE team-mate Svein Tuft as the race leader at the Giro D'Italia.

Evans happy with Giro start

BMC moved a step in the 'right direction' after finishing third in the team time trial at the Giro d'Italia, according to Cadel Evans.

Sherman signs new deal

Richard Sherman has become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL after signing a record four-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks.

Blue Jays power past Pirates

Colby Rasmus hit a grand slam as the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, while the Texas Rangers crushed the Los Angeles Angels.

Michael Clarke against day-night Test

Australia captain Michael Clarke is opposed to the idea of day-night cricket being introduced to the Test arena.

Flores, Cabrera share lead

Martin Flores climbed to the top of the leaderboard alongside Angel Cabrera at the halfway stage of the Wells Fargo Championship on Friday.

Canadiens edge Bruins

The Montreal Canadiens overcame the Boston Bruins after double overtime in the opening game of their second-round play-off series.

Rooney sent for scans

Wayne Rooney has caused panic amongst England fans after the Manchester United striker was sent for scans on Thursday.

Cabrera one clear in Charlotte

Angel Cabrera carded a six-under par 66 to grab a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Wells Fargo Championship on Thursday.

Penguins dump Columbus

The Pittsburgh Penguins survived a third-period onslaught from the Columbus Blue Jackets to reach the Eastern Conference semi-finals on Monday.

Mickelson back in Charlotte

Veteran American Phil Mickelson will be out to make amends when the Wells Fargo Championship tees off in Charlotte this week.

Gerrans wins Liege-Bastogne-Liege

It was an historic day for Simon Gerrans as he became the first Australian to win the Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday.

Klitschko distracted by Ukraine-Russia conflict

Wladimir Klitschko admitted it was difficult remaining focused during his world heavyweight bout amid turmoil in his native Ukraine.

Sterling embroiled in racism row

Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling is set to be investigated by the NBA for allegedly making racist comments over the weekend.

Yankees rout Red Sox

Pitcher CC Sabathia produced an almost faultless performance as the New York Yankees crushed the Boston Red Sox 14-5 on Thursday.

Capello to retire after 2018 World Cup

Russia head coach Fabio Capello has revealed his plan to retire after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

ACL Preview: Sanfrecce Hiroshima v Central Coast Mariners

Sanfrecce Hiroshima host Central Coast Mariners on matchday six of the AFC Champions League at EDION Stadium on Wednesday April 23 at 8.30pm AEST.

Aths stay top in East, Brewers finally lose

The Oakland Athletics remain top of the American League East after edging the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

McDowell looking ahead at RBC Heritage

Graeme McDowell is determined to forget about last year's triumph as he aims to defend his RBC Heritage crown.

Wiggins doubts spot in Tour de France

Former Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins admits to having doubts about his position in this year's race.

Scott satisfied with second round

Defending champion Adam Scott said testing conditions played a part in his poor start to the second round at The Masters on Friday.

Birdie blitz sends Watson clear at the Masters

Bubba Watson seized control of the Masters after a flurry of birdies saw him take a three-shot lead over Australia's John Senden after two rounds.

Bale dreaming of final

Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says reaching the UEFA Champions League final would be a dream come true.

Sturridge: I fell out of love with the game at Chelsea

In-form Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge said he fell out of love with football during his time at Chelsea.

McIlroy happy with first round

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy was pleased with his opening-round display at the Masters on Thursday.

Pacquiao desperate for revenge

Revenge is on the mind of Manny Pacquiao ahead of Saturday's WBO welterweight title fight with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas.

Pearson wins national title

Sally Pearson capped a successful weekend at the Australian Athletics Championships, winning the women's 100 metres final on Saturday.

Injury concern for Rooney

Wayne Rooney is in a race against time to be fit for Manchester United's Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Jedinak lauds Pulis impact

Crystal Palace captain Mile Jedinak heaped praise on manager Tony Pulis as the club edges closer to Premier League survival.

Jeter struggles as Yankees fall to Astros, Diamondbacks win

Derek Jeter endured a disastrous start to his final MLB season as the New York Yankees lost 6-2 to the Houston Astros.

Mickey Arthur wanted Australia to lose

Former coach Mickey Arthur has admitted he wanted Australia to taste defeat at the hands of England during the most-recent Ashes series.

Football's best team-mate bust-ups

Newcastle Jets Mark Birighitti and Taylor Regan aren't the first team-mates to come to blows, so Sacha Pisani has compiled a list of the best bust-ups in football.

Sydney FC lodge complaint to FFA over Ali Abbas vilification

Football Federation have confirmed Sydney FC will lodge a formal complaint after midfielder Ali Abbas was allegedly vilified during Saturday night's Sydney Derby.

Scott Gumbleton out for 12 weeks with hamstring tear

Fremantle recruit Scott Gumbleton has suffered another major setback after the club confirmed he is set to miss the next three months with a torn right hamstring.

Rebels crush Cheetahs in Melbourne

The new look Melbourne Rebels opened their Super Rugby season with a commanding 35-14 victory over the Cheetahs at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Brett Holman called up for Socceroos friendly

Forgotten Socceroo Brett Holman is back in World Cup calculations after he received a late call-up to replace the injured Ben Halloran for next week's international friendly against Ecuador.

Preview: Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United

Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United will meet in Round 20 of the 2013-14 A-League season at AAMI Park on Saturday, February 22 at 7:45pm AEDT.

NAB Challenge: Eagles thump Dockers

West Coast did not miss the opportunity to get one over their Western Australian rivals early in the year, leading from start to finish as they thrashed Fremantle by 84 points.

NAB Challenge: Gold Coast Suns win on the siren

Gary Ablett was in the midst of the action yet again as Gold Coast overcame a slow start to snatch an unlikely one-point victory over Essendon in humid conditions at Metricon Stadium.

India in control in Wellington

India hold the upper hand in the second Test after New Zealand struggled to be 24-1 at stumps on day two in Wellington.

David Ferrer cruises into Copa Claro semis

Top-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer cruised into the semi-finals of the Copa Claro after disposing of compatriot Albert Ramos in straight sets.

Bae grabs one-shot lead at Riviera

South Korean Sang-Moon Bae carded a bogey-free round to hold a one-stroke lead at the Northern Trust Open on Friday.

Ante Milicic named Socceroos assistant coach

Ante Milicic will join Ange Postecoglou on the plane to Brazil after being named as an assistant coach for the Socceroos on a three-year deal.

Adelaide United agree to release Steven Lustica

Steven Lustica is free to join the Brisbane Roar after Adelaide United agreed to release the disgruntled midfielder on Sunday.

Melbourne Heart release Golgol Mebrahtu

Attacking livewire Golgol Mebrahtu has been granted an early release by Melbourne Heart as he searches for regular first-team football.

Rhys Williams' World Cup hopes dashed

The Socceroos have been dealt another cruel blow ahead of this year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil with Middlesbrough confirming defender Rhys Williams will miss the remainder of the Championship season with a torn Achilles tendon.

Cairns Taipans shock Perth Wildcats, NZ Breakers topple Sydney Kings

The red-hot Cairns Taipans stunned NBL leaders the Perth Wildcats 99-94 in overtime at Perth Arena on Thursday night.

Scott Pendlebury named new Collingwood Magpies skipper

Collingwood will have a new captain for the first time in five seasons after Scott Pendlebury was named as Nick Maxwell's successor ahead of the 2014 campaign.

Preview: Perth Glory v Melbourne Heart

Perth Glory and Melbourne Heart will meet in Round 14 of the 2013-14 A-League season at nib Stadium on Friday, January 10 at 9:45pm AEDT.

Hawks stun Wildcats, 36ers beat Breakers

Cellar-dwellers the Wollongong Hawks have stunned NBL pacesetters the Perth Wildcats 96-91 in overtime at WIN Entertainment Centre on Saturday night.

Central Coast Mariners lose Marcos Flores to season-ending knee injury

Marcos Flores will miss the remainder of the 2013-14 A-League season after scans revealed the star Central Coast midfielder ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Preview: Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Heart

Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Heart will meet in Round 13 of the 2013-14 A-League season at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday, January 5 at 5pm AEDT.

Preview: Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar

Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar will meet in Round 13 of the 2013-14 A-League season at AAMI Park on Saturday, January 4 at 7:45pm AEDT.

Perth Glory re-sign Michael Thwaite

Perth Glory defender Michael Thwaite has rejected offers from rival A-League clubs to sign a new two-year extension.

Preview: Central Coast Mariners v Perth Glory

The Mariners edged Perth in last season's New Years Eve fixture and expect them to do the same on Tuesday night.

Manny Muscat re-signs with Wellington Phoenix

Wellington Phoenix utility Manny Muscat has signed a new two-year deal to remain with the A-League club.

Michael Rogers vows to prove his innocence

Australian cycling veteran Michael Rogers insists he is the victim of a contaminated food source after he was hit with a provisional suspension by the International Cycling Union.

Sidnei Sciola signs new Perth Glory contract

Perth Glory have finally received some good news with star Brazilian winger Sidnei Sciola signing a new two-year deal.

Shinji Ono open to offers from rival A-League clubs

Japanese star Shinji Ono has refused to guarantee he will remain with the Western Sydney Wanderers beyond the January transfer window.

Alistair Edwards sacked by Perth Glory

Alistair Edwards has become the first coaching casualty of the season after he was sensationally sacked by Perth Glory for his fallout with the club's senior players.

Brenton Sanderson re-signs with Adelaide Crows

Adelaide Crows coach Brenton Sanderson will remain at the club for a further two years after signing a contract extension on Thursday.

Mitchell Johnson issues England warning ahead of third Ashes Test

Australia's aggressive approach throughout the Ashes series has come under fire but paceman Mitchell Johnson and his team-mates have no intentions of backing down.

Damien Hardwick signs new deal with Richmond

Richmond have moved quickly to retain the services of coach Damien Hardwick, extending his contract for a further two years.

Adam Gilchrist to be inducted into ICC Cricket Hall of Fame

Former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist will be inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame in Perth on Friday.

NIS Adelaide United and Brisbane

NIS Former Manchester United

NIS And in case you missed it

NIS Entertaining match at Coopers Stadium

NIS Great start for Adelaide United

NIS Thanks

NIS Thanks

Adam Taggart has faith in Emile Heskey partnership

Their partnership failed to fire against Sydney FC but Newcastle Jets young-gun Adam Taggart says he is capable of forming a deadly combination with fellow striker Emile Heskey.

Mika Vukona stars as Breakers beat Tigers

The New Zealand Breakers' season is well and truly alive after Mika Vukona inspired the defending NBL champions to an 84-74 victory over the Melbourne Tigers in Auckland on Thursday.

Mark Winterbottom taking nothing for granted

Ford Performance Racing's championship contender Mark Winterbottom is wary of what is at stake in the penultimate round of V8 Supercars at Phillip Island this weekend.

Hunt for silverware driving Jacob Burns

Perth Glory captain Jacob Burns might be in the twilight of his career but he has no plans to hang up the boots as he approaches his 100th A-League match.

Tevita Kuridrani cops five-week ban

Australia centre Tevita Kuridrani will miss the Wallabies' season-ending Tests with Scotland and Wales, after being banned for five weeks.

Transfer drama puts Mark Bresciano's World Cup dream in doubt

Mark Bresciano, one of Australia's most decorated players, is in danger of missing the World Cup in Brazil after he was slapped with a four-month ban over an illegal transfer to Qatari outfit Al Gharafa.

Phil Moss named Mariners coach

Phil Moss is the new head coach of Central Coast Mariners after Graham Arnold officially took charge of J-League outfit Vegalta Sendai.

Jarrod Lyle makes emotional return

Leukaemia survivor Jarrod Lyle struggled to hold back the tears as he made an impressive comeback at the Australian Masters after spending two years away from the game.

Robbie Kruse wins PFA top gong

Socceroos forward Robbie Kruse has held off stiff competition to win the 2012/13 PFA Footballer of the Year at the Australian Football Awards in Sydney on Wednesday.

36ers heap more misery on Breakers

The New Zealand Breakers' stuttering title defence continued on Thursday night after they lost 96-93 to the Adelaide 36ers in Auckland.

Horwill dumped as Wallabies captain

James Horwill has been stripped of the Wallabies captaincy ahead of Saturday night's Test against England at Twickenham, with Ben Mowen set to skipper the side.

Unbeaten Wildcats down Breakers

The Perth Wildcats preserved their 100 per cent start to the NBL season with an impressive 96-89 win over defending champions the New Zealand Breakers on Thursday night.

Three-horse race for Socceroos job

The race to become the new coach of the Socceroos is down to three Australians, according to Football Federation Australia chairman Frank Lowy.

Heath off to Giants - we're pretty Shaw

Greater Western Sydney have won the race to sign Heath Shaw with the Collingwood defender confirming his intention to join the club.