LONDON (SW) – There is concern in the Chelsea camp over the injury suffered by Michael Ballack in their 4 – 0 win over Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge earlier in the day.

A hat-trick delivered within the space of seven minutes by Gabriel Agbonlahor secured a 4-2 home win at Villa Park on Sunday over Manchester City.

Manchester United started the defence of their Premier League title with a 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Old Trafford, with Darren Fletcher´s goal cancelling out Obafemi Martins´ effort for the visitors.

Olympique Marseille´s inter-season signing from Nice, Bakari Kone, was instrumental in OM´s 4-0 victory over Auxerre at a packed Stade Velodrome on Sunday.

Stuttgart, bidding to dislodge last season´s Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, got their campaign off to a solid start Sunday in winning 3-1 away at promoted Borussia Moenchengladbach.

HOUSTON (SW) — Brian Ching had a goal and assist to help the Houston Dynamo beat Real Salt Lake 4-3 Saturday night and move into first place in the Western Conference.

Players and coaches heaped praise on Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi after he helped defending champions Argentina into a glamour Olympic semi-final against Brazil.

ROME (SW) – Recently transferred fullback Luciano Zauri expects his new team ACF Fiorentina of Florence to surprise everyone and be right up there come the end of the season.

TURIN (SW) – Juventus captain Alessandro de Piero says that Juventus can now compete with the best in Italy if not Europe.

LONDON (SW) – It has been reported that the pending transfer of Andrei Arshavin from Zenit St Petersburg and Tottenham Hotspur may be on the rocks.

Big money signings and managers with legendary reputations guarantee nothing in football or so LA Galaxy have been finding out recently. As if things weren't bad enough with having to...

South America's big two, Argentina and Brazil, will face off in the Olympic soccer tournament semi-finals after pushing aside The Netherlands and Cameroon respectively in their quarter final games. Barcelona striker...

LONDON (SW) – England’s football manager Fabio Capello has expressed confidence in his side ahead of Wednesday night’s friendly against the Czech Republic.

DURBAN (SW) – It has been announced here that former Bafana Bafana coach Carlos Alberto Parreira has been asked to return to this country to act as the South African team adviser.

Zenit St Petersburg striker Andrei Arshavin´s move to Premier League side Tottenham has stalled, the player´s agent claimed on Sunday.

Fit-again Manchester United captain Gary Neville can secure a new contract at Old Trafford, manager Alex Ferguson said Sunday.

Tottenham´s Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov on Monday pleaded to be allowed to follow his dream.

Germany captain Michael Ballack is ruled out of his country´s squad for their international friendly against Belgium on Wednesday, the German football federation (DFB) said on Monday.

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp on Monday dismissed suggestions he is being lined up to return to West Ham.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Michael Carrick will miss up to three weeks with an ankle injury and Ryan Giggs can expect a similar spell on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring problem after Sunday´s 1-1 draw with Newcastle.