Beckham Fan

Diego Maradona said he wanted to continue coaching Argentina's national soccer team but only if he could keep absolute control over the choice of his assistants.

Mano Menezes became the new coach of the Brazil national team on Saturday, one day after first choice Muricy Ramalho turned down the job because of his contract with Fluminense. Menezes has been coaching Corinthians but will now replace Dunga, who was fired days after Brazil lost to the Netherlands in the World Cup quarterfinals in South Africa.

The Iraqi government said Tuesday it did not sanction a recent raid on the Iraqi Football Association's offices, while FIFA warned Baghdad not to meddle in the federation's affairs ahead of elections for a new president later this week. Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said men in military-style uniforms who appeared on Sunday at the federation's offices with arrest warrants for...

Barcelona have agreed to sign Sevilla midfielder Adriano Correia for up to 13.5 million euros ($17.5 million), subject to medical checks, the La Liga champions said on Friday.

In Paul Vlaar's rural church, the candles, the piano, even the pastor's robes were orange for a day. Vlaar kicked off his sermon to about 300 orange-clad worshippers by praying for Dutch teamwork to lead to victory in the World Cup final against Spain in Johannesburg on Sunday. During the service, Vlaar kicked a football down the aisle and "You'll never walk alone" was played...

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho rates the Champions League bigger than the World Cup. Inter plays Bayern Munich in the final at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday. "This game is the most important in the world," Mourinho said on Tuesday. "It is even bigger than the World Cup because the teams in it are at a higher level than national teams, who can't buy the best players.

Germany captain Michael Ballack will miss the World Cup because of a right ankle injury, dealing the three-time champions a serious blow less than a month before the tournament. The German football federation said Monday that the 33-year-old Chelsea midfielder had torn ligaments in his right ankle from a tackle during his club's 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth on Saturday.

Goal.com marks out its selection for the best XI...

Manchester United fans have protested against the owning American Glazer family before the final match of the season. At least one gold-colored smoke bomb was set off outside the club's Megastore before Sunday's match against Stoke -- a reflection of the green and gold protest scarves adopted by fans.

Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel plans to keep playing at least until his 40th birthday at the end of next season. The 38-year-old Friedel has starred for Villa since joining from Blackburn in 2008 and the former United States international is unfazed by his approaching milestone. Friedel has been in the Premier League since joining Liverpool from Major League Soccer in 1997, but said Wednesday...

English soccer must clean up its financial mess or face government intervention to save the national game's reputation, the UK opposition Conservative Party's spokesman for sport said.

* Milan coach says relationship with Berlusconi difficult