QATAR have launched their campaign to secure the 2022 World Cup.

Juventus on Monday fired coach Claudio Ranieri and replaced him with junior team coach and former player Ciro Ferrara, the club said in a statement.

Australian midfielder Jason Culina on Monday defended his decision to leave Europe in the prime of his career and return home to play in the domestic A-League against his national coach´s wishes.

Football legend Eric Cantona, the star of a new film competing at Cannes, on Monday predicted triumph for his former team Manchester United over Barcelona in the Champions League final.

David Beckham launched England´s bid to host the 2018 World Cup by insisting no other country can match their passion for the globe´s biggest sporting event.

Leading South African football club Kaizer Chiefs named little known Serb Vladimir Vermezovic as coach on Monday.

Sunderland´s struggle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire after a 3-1 loss at Portsmouth´s Fratton Park here on Monday.

David Beckham admits helping England win the right to host the 2018 World Cup would mean as much as all the success he has enjoyed during his illustrious career.

Johannesburg airport, expensively refurbished for the 2010 World Cup, wants to welcome visitors with open arms.

Unheralded Wolfsburg, founded in the grim aftermath of World War II and cursed by a history of mediocrity, are 90 minutes away from a maiden Bundesliga title and a place in the Champions League.

Influential Werder Bremen playmaker Diego has backed his team-mates to win their UEFA Cup final against Shakhtar Donetsk here on Wednesday, despite his absence through suspension.

In football´s parallel universe, it pays to fail. Manchester United celebrated an 11th English Premier League title at the weekend - as well as eyeing a potential third European crown under Sir Alex Ferguson - which was achieved on a 2008 wage bill of 121 million pounds ($185 mln).

England manager Fabio Capello will have to rely on third-choice goalkeeper Robert Green for next month´s World Cup qualifiers against Kazakshstan and Andorra after David James opted for shoulder surgery.

History beckons for the winners of the UEFA Cup final between Germany´s Werder Bremen and Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine in Istanbul on Wednesday night.

Juventus announced on Tuesday the re-signing of Italy World Cup-winning captain Fabio Cannavaro from Real Madrid.

Sacked Bayern Munich coach Jurgen Klinsmann claimed Tuesday he could have led the reigning German champions to a successful defence of their Bundesliga crown.

Newcastle will have to do without key defender Sebastien Bassong for their relegation crunch at Aston Villa on Sunday after the Frenchman failed in an appeal against the red card he received at the weekend.

South Korean powerhouse Suwon Bluewings booked their spot in the AFC Champions League knockout rounds Tuesday as Kawasaki Frontale set up an all-Japanese last 16 clash with Gamba Osaka.

FC Seoul and Australia´s Newcastle Jets clinched the last spots in the AFC Champions League knockout rounds in dramatic fashion Wednesday, as defending champions Gamba Osaka suffered a shock loss.

Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has been told to prove his fitness in Sunday´s league game against Hull or risk missing out on a starting place in the side to take on Barcelona in next week´s Champions League final in Rome.