|
|
| Qualifying for the 2012 European Championship begins in earnest Friday when defending champion Spain and three-time winner Germany lead the continent's traditional powers into action. Less than eight weeks after adding its first World Cup to the European title it won two years ago, top-ranked Spain is at lowly Liechtenstein in one of 22 qualifiers. |
|
| Goal.com's Kris Voakes believes the Italian prime minister deserves praise for his bold signing of Ibrahimovic, but questions the wisdom of adding Robinho to the Milan melting pot. |
|
| * Huntelaar and Jurado are late additions to side
|
|
| Diego Forlan scored twice as
Atletico Madrid beat Sporting Gijon 4-0 in their opening game of
the La Liga season on Monday, adding fuel to the festive
atmosphere among fans at the club.
|
|
| Ajax moved joint top of the Dutch league Sunday after trouncing De Graafschap 5-0. Luis Suarez, the league's top scorer last season, opened the scoring in the 14th off Gregory van der Wiel's pass before adding another with a free kick in the 41st. Urby Emanuelson netted the third from another free kick in the 68th and Demy de Zeeuw set up Suarez for the fourth in the 85th minute. |
|
| Strikers Modibo Maiga and Ideye Brown both scored as Sochaux beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 in the French league on Sunday. PSG was again let down by its defense as it slipped to a third straight defeat, trailing 3-0 at the interval with defender Damien Perquis adding the other goal. Striker Guillaume Hoarau pulled one goal back after the break. |
|
| David Trezeguet has left Juventus after 10 seasons and 171 goals with the Turin club. Juventus announced on Saturday that the former France international's contract had been ended by mutual consent, adding that the player would announce his new club shortly. Media reports indicate the 32-year-old Trezeguet will sign for newly promoted Spanish club Hercules in Alicante. |
|
| Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk has named a squad that includes most of the players who lost the World Cup final to Spain for a pair of European Championship qualifiers next month. PSV Eindhoven winger Jeremain Lens, who scored a goal in his international debut in the Netherlands' 1-1 draw with Ukraine earlier this month, is one of the few new additions. |
|
| The arrival of striker David Villa leaves Barcelona looking more like Spain FC as it begins its quest for a third consecutive league title. Villa gives Barcelona eight players from Spain's World Cup winning team and, for coach Pep Guardiola, hope of adding further trophies to his already impressive tally going into only his third season in charge. |
|
| Copa Libertadores champion Internacional says it has reached a deal to acquire former West Ham striker Ilan. The Brazilian club said on Tuesday that Ilan will arrive on Wednesday to sign a contract until the end of 2011. He will be the team's first addition for the Club World Cup at the end of the year in Dubai. |
