Piast Gliwice became the first leaders of the Ekstraklasa after a 2-0 defeat of Cracovia in their first-ever top flight match.

Fabio Capello has guaranteed England will qualify for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

LONDON (SW) – England’s manager and former Juventus player himself has praised manager Claudio Ranieri and his Juventus team.

New Zealand´s slim hopes of making the men´s Olympic football quarter-finals worsened Monday when inspirational captain Ryan Nelson had to return to his English club Blackburn Rovers.

A former Manchester United player was awarded more than 4.3 million pounds (5.4 million euros) damages at the High Court in London on Monday over a tackle which ended his career.

LONDON (SW) – Despite the rumours of unrest within the West Ham United camp the players have sounded their support for their manager Alan Curbishley.

French first division side Monaco confirmed Monday they have reached agreement with AC Milan to sign Croatian international defender Dario Simic.

Former Real Madrid midfielder Ivan Campo has sealed a move from Premiership side Bolton to Ipswich on a two-year contract, the Championship side said on Monday.

Valencia´s Portuguese international midfielder Manuel Fernandes, who has spent two loan spells at English Premiership side Everton, says he wants to stay at the Spanish club.

Tottenham defender Younes Kaboul on Monday signed for FA Cup winners Portsmouth on a four-year contract, the south coast club said.

Celtic defender Darren O´Dea was fined after a team-mate with the Scottish Premier League champions was assaulted outside a Glasgow nightclub Monday, the BBC reported.

Yuichi Nishimura will be the referee of several matches in the Polish Ekstraklasa in August, the Polish FA (PZPN) announced today.

Dutch manager Ruud Gullit had made an immediate end to his stay with the LA Galaxy. The club says that personal reasons are the cause.

Belgian Vincent Kompany will be leaving his national side after all in order to spent the rest of the pre-season with Hamburger SV.

Ruud Gullit resigned on Monday as coach of the struggling Los Angeles Galaxy who also fired general manager Alexi Lalas.

Scottish Premier League newcomers Hamilton Academical FC began their campaign with an impressive 3-1 win over Dundee United on Monday.

Rangers confirmed on Monday they had given the thumbs up to a 7.8-million-pound (10-million-euro) offer from Aston Villa for their Spanish defender Carlos Cuellar.

Valencia CF defender Carlos Marchena will have to miss the start of the coming season as result of an ankle injury and is expected to be out for three weeks.

Former Arsenal player Marc Overmars is making a return to professional football. The winger will be joining Dutch First Division side Go Ahead Eagles, where it all started in 1990.

Gordon Strachan admitted Celtic lacked imagination after their opening day 1-0 victory at home to St Mirren - but he believes new signing Marc Crosas could be the man to provide it.