Reuters Football - European Football

Henry considered quitting over handball scandal - report

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:18:25 GMT

PARIS, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Thierry Henry considered ending his France career over the uproar that surrounded the striker's blatant handball in last week's World Cup playoff victory over Ireland.

Russian fans start petition to retain Hiddink

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:22:30 GMT

MOSCOW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Russian soccer fans have started a petition to retain Guus Hiddink as national coach despite the team's failure to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.

Round-up-Defoe lights up Spurs, Real top La Liga

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:24:58 GMT

LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe scored five second-half goals in an astonisnhing 9-1 demolition of Wigan Athletic in the Premier League on Sunday.

Henry not a cheat, says Zidane

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:31:45 GMT

PARIS, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Thierry Henry is not a cheat and will get over his handball in France's controversial World Cup playoff against Ireland, Zinedine Zidane was quoted as saying on Saturday.

Germans demand stiff sanctions for match-fixing ring

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:47:46 GMT

BERLIN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - German coaches and officials on Saturday demanded stiff sentences for members of a ring suspected of having fixed or tried to rig at least 200 matches across Europe, including three in the Champions League.

Hiddink's decision depends on Russian FA, says adviser

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:46:26 GMT

MOSCOW, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Guus Hiddink's decision to continue as Russia coach would largely depend on the new leadership of the country's FA and their ability to make drastic changes in the national game, his adviser said on Friday.

Russia could lose Hiddink after World Cup flop

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:46:45 GMT

MOSCOW, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Russian football could lose its most precious asset in the form of coach Guus Hiddink as well as millions of dollars after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time.

Police expose Europe's biggest match-fixing ring

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:29:17 GMT

BOCHUM, Germany, Nov 20 (Reuters) - A match-fixing ring with more than 200 suspected members fixed or tried to fix around 200 matches across Europe, including three in the Champions League, in what UEFA called the biggest betting scandal in Europe.

Rubin clinch second consecutive Russian title

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:07:24 GMT

MOSCOW, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Rubin Kazan held Zenit St Petersburg to a 0-0 draw to seal their second consecutive Russian Premier League title on Saturday.

UEFA reinstates Dinamo's docked Europa League points

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:47:00 GMT

BELGRADE, Nov 20 (Reuters) - UEFA has reinstated the three points it docked from Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb following crowd trouble during their Europa league match at Timisoara last month, European soccer's governing body said on Friday.

German police make arrests over match-fixing allegations

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 09:37:02 GMT

BERLIN, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Police in Germany and abroad have made several arrests and conducted searches on suspicion of an international illegal betting ring allegedly fixing matches in top European leagues, Bochum prosecutors said on Thursday.

Dutch scoring drought continues in Paraguay draw

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:17:01 GMT

HEERENVEEN, Netherlands, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Netherlands were held 0-0 by Paraguay in a friendly on Wednesday, their third successive game without a goal.

Berbatov becomes Bulgaria's leading goalscorer

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:07:43 GMT

PAOLA, Malta, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Dimitar Berbatov became Bulgaria's all-time leading scorer with 48 goals after netting twice in a 4-1 win against Malta in a friendly on Wednesday.

Rampant Spain sound off another warning

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:58:13 GMT

VIENNA, Nov 19 (Reuters) - European champions Spain sounded off another warning to the other World Cup finalists with their resounding 5-1 win in Austria on Wednesday.

Wins for Spain and Italy but Germany are held

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:47:00 GMT

MADRID, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Spain marked their return to the Vienna stadium where they won Euro 2008 by thrashing 10-man Austria 5-1 while Germany were held to a 2-2 draw by Ivory Coast in friendlies on Wednesday.

Germany rescued by late goal against Ivory Coast

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:46:32 GMT

GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany, Nov 18 (Reuters) - An injury-time goal by Lukas Podolski earned Germany a 2-2 friendly draw against Ivory Coast on Wednesday, the home team's first game since last week's suicide of national keeper Robert Enke.

Irrespressible Spain thump Austria 5-1

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:59:02 GMT

VIENNA, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Irrepressible Spain thumped Austria 5-1 in a friendly on Wednesday to celebrate in style their return to the stadium where they won Euro 2008.

Chiellini heads Italy to win over Sweden in friendly

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:57:32 GMT

CESENA, Italy, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Giorgio Chiellini headed an experimental Italy side to a 1-0 win over Sweden in a friendly in the northern city of Cesena on Wednesday.

Italy coach Lippi's future to be decided before World Cup

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:16:14 GMT

ROME, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Marcello Lippi's long-term future as Italy coach will be decided before the world champions travel to South Africa for next year's World Cup, the head of the Italian soccer federation said on Wednesday.

Serbia end South Korea's 27-match unbeaten run

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:36:48 GMT

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Serbia ended South Korea's 27-match unbeaten run when Nikola Zigic earned a 1-0 victory in a lively friendly between the two World Cup qualifiers at Craven Cottage on Wednesday.

Denmark bounce back to beat United States in friendly

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:39:16 GMT

AARHUS, Denmark, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Denmark came from behind to beat the United States 3-1 in a friendly on Wednesday thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Johan Absalonsen, Soren Rieks and Martin Bernburg.

Danish fan ordered to pay $181,100 damages for ref attack

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:02:52 GMT

COPENHAGEN, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Danish fan who attacked German referee Herbert Fandel during Denmark's Euro 2008 qualifier with Sweden in June 2007 has been ordered to pay 900,000 Danish crowns ($181,100) in damages.

Abramovich's deputy tipped to replace Russian chief Mutko

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:38:36 GMT

MOSCOW, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich's right-hand man Sergei Kapkov has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Russian soccer chief Vitaly Mutko, officials said.

Germany need to excite fans in friendlies, says Bierhoff

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:38:32 GMT

BERLIN, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Germany must entertain their fans with more exciting performances in friendly matches if they are to fill stadiums to capacity, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said on Tuesday.

France duo to miss Ireland match through injury

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:47:51 GMT

PARIS, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Defender Eric Abidal and midfielder Jeremy Toulalan will miss France's World Cup playoff second leg against Ireland in Paris on Wednesday through injury, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Sunday.