Just as anxious Korean mothers head to temples to pray for good test results for their children, football chiefs in South Korea have been doing something similar in the hope that the championship play-off final will be between arch-rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul.

It came true on a chilly Sunday afternoon as FC Seoul defeated Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I 4-2 in the penultimate round to set up the 'dream final'. Click to continue reading...

The last World Club Cup in Japan before the competition moves to Dubai in 2009 kicks off this month in Tokyo on December 11.

Teams

Manchester United (England; Europe/UEFA)
LDU Quito (Ecuador; South America/CONMEBOL)
Adelaide United (Australia; Asia/AFC)
Al Ahly (Egypt; Africa/CAF)
Gamba Osaka (Japan; Asia/AFC)
Pachuca (Mexico; CONCACAF)
Waitakere United (New Zealand; Oceania)

Schedule

FIFA Club World Championship TOYOTA CUP 2008 tournament schedule
Play Off Match
Match Date KO Teams Venue
1 Thurs 11 Dec 19. Click to continue reading...

Kashima Antlers hold all the cards in the race for the J. League title after beating Oita Trinita 1-0 in front of 31,744 fans at the Kyushu Oil Dome.

The loss was just Oita's second league defeat at home this season, but it has ended their title hopes after the Kyushu side succumbed to a fifty-fifth minute strike from Kashima's dynamic young full-back Atsuto Uchida, who is currently attracting interest from a host of European clubs. Click to continue reading...

We are quickly approaching that wholesale time of the year again when everyone is out for a bargain following the Christmas rush, the same going for the top clubs around Europe. Whilst many people will be looking for a cheap television every manager across Western Europe will be on the hunt for that missing element in their side.

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It wasn't the prettiest and it wasn't without controversy but South Korea's 2-0 win over Saudi Arabia in qualification for the 2010 World Cup in Riyadh was one of the team's best results in years and a seventh successive appearance at the World Cup looks a good deal closer.

It had been 19 long years since the Taeguk Warriors last defeated the Sons of the Desert in a competitive match but late goals from Lee Keun-ho, his fifth in three games for the national team, and Park Chu-young in the early hours of Thursday morning Korean Time, gave the visitors the three points. Click to continue reading...

World Cup 2010 Betting

Latest odds from Paddy Power

5/1 Brazil
6/1 Argentina
15/2 Spain
9/1 England
11/1 Italy
11/1 Germany
14/1 Holland
20/1 France
22/1 Portugal
28/1 Russia
33/1 Ivory Coast
125/1 Ireland
350/1 Scotland
1000/1 Wales
1500/1 N. Click to continue reading...

Qatar take on Japan on Wednesday in an Asian qualifying match for World Cup 2010.

Qatar is a hot, arid desert country - but don't worry, for at this time of the year the climate is perfect. In this brief guide we provide some basic travel essentials along with an idea of what to do and where to do when you get there. Click to continue reading...

Football eyes have been fixed on the K-league in recent weeks but Wednesday's 2010 World Cup qualifier in Saudi Arabia has been casting a large shadow over the domestic scene for weeks. Wednesday's game in Riyadh is the first big test in South Korea's bid to qualify for South Africa.

Until now, the obstacles on that road have been provided by the likes of Turkmenistan, Jordan, North Korea and UAE. Click to continue reading...

World Soccer News

for week of November 14th

Drogba investigated over coin throwing
Chelsea's great run this season has come to a halt in the fourth round of the Carling Cup against Burnley. While the fans are likely to dismiss the penalty loss as a minor setback, Didier Drogba may find himself out of action should the FA find him guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct. Click to continue reading...

Although the Carling Cup isn't the most prestigious of competitions, with the football odds suggesting that a Premier League side is bound to lift the trophy. But when a side from outside the top flight defeats one of the best teams in the country you expect it to receive some extra media coverage.

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At a time when the J. League is crying out for a team to take the championship by the scruff of the neck, the top five continue to falter in their race for the title.

Kashima Antlers continue to lead the way on 54 points, but they will be disappointed with their most recent 0-0 draw at home to the defensive-oriented Albirex Niigata. Click to continue reading...

European champions Spain stay top of this month's Fifa world rankings followed by Germany and Italy in 3rd. England are up to equal 10th place with Portugal while rivals Scotland fall again.

Brazil are in 5th. Cameroon are the highest African team in 14th. Russia are up to 8th.


1 Spain
2 Germany
3 Italy
4 Netherlands
5 Brazil
6 Argentina
7 Croatia
8 Russia
9 Czech Republic
10 Portugal
10 England
12 France
13 Turkey
14 Cameroon
15 Israel
16 Bulgaria
17 Paraguay
18 Greece
19 Romania
20 Ukraine


Full world rankings

Last month's Fifa World Rankings

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World Soccer News

Soccer betting tips

Soccer Books & DVDs

Tags

Soccer News soccer football fifa Click to continue reading...

Shimizu S-Pulse lost the Shizuoka Derby against relegation-threatened Jubilo Iwata 0-1 at Ecopa Stadium. A poor game was settled in the first minute of the second half after a terrible mistake from the kick-off by the S-Pulse defence.

Shimizu, fresh from defeat in the League Cup, were booed off the field by their passionate support. Click to continue reading...

The regular season of the K-League has come to an end; now six teams are standing and dusting themselves down in preparation for the championship play-off series.

Despite a mid-season dip that threatened to go the way of Seoul's KOSPI index and head into a plunge, Suwon Samsung Bluewings bounced back to finish in first – just. Click to continue reading...

Nottingham is best known for Robin Hood, and a statue to the famous outlaw is perhaps the city's most famous photo op.

But today Hood has a rival as an eight-foot memorial to legendary coach Brian Clough was unveiled in front of thousands in the city's main square today. Clough died in 2004 but his legend grows:

Duncan Hamilton's memory of him, 'Provided you don't kiss me' is the UK's Sports Book of the Year, and David Peace's stunning novel about Cloughie's ill-fated 44 days in charge of Leeds, 'The Damned United', is released as a feature film next year. Click to continue reading...