Sweden 3 Poland 0
July 8 – Sweden secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 3-0 win over Poland under the Tuesday night lights, as Lucerne’s stunning scenery provided a fitting backdrop to a commanding Group C performance.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 12 - Australia should be awarded the 2022 World Cup because the 2000 Sydney Olympics was such an outstanding success that showed the country is capable of staging majors events better than anyone else, Cathy Freeman has claimed.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 12 – The ruling Scottish National Party have complained to Geoff Thompson, the chairman of England’s bid to host the 2018 World Cup, because they claim that Scottish fans are unable to pledge their support to a campaign first launched by Gordon Brown, a Scot and keen Raith Rovers supporter .
September 11 – Plans by West Bromwich Albion fans to display a banner answering the alleged racist send-off given to Peter Odemwingie from Lokomotiv Moscow fans at today’s match against Tottenham Hotspur were scuppered by technical problems.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 12 – Bolivia’s boys football team that won the gold medals at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Singapore last month contained up to five players that were over-aged, it has been alleged.
September 11 - The Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) have launched an appeal against the decision that they must pay country’s 2006 World Cup squad, including Stern John, multi-million dollar bonuses they claim they were promised.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 11 – The expansion of Major League Soccer (MLS) illustrates the benefits of hosting a World Cup in the United States, the country’s coach Bob Bradley (pictured) has claimed.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 10 – Saint-Clair Milesi (pictured), head of communications for Rio 2016, is quitting to take up a new role with the 2014 World Cup, which is also being staged in Brazil, he has announced.
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September 10 – Qatar Airways has been announced as as the official airline of the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
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By Duncan Mackay in London
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
September 10 – England 2018 will not be drawn into a war of words with its main rival Russia following potentially explosive claims by that country’s World Cup bid leader Vitaly Mutko, Sports Minister Hugh Robertson has promised.
September 9 – Premier League Liverpool has successfully trademarked the Liver Bird, the city’s world-famous symbol.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 10 – The head of the United States bid to stage the World Cup admitted today that a growing number of FIFA’s 24 voting members favoured the 2018 tournament going to Europe.
The European Club Association may not be a household name among football fans but Europe’s largest grouping of clubs is beginning to show its teeth.
Unlike its predecessor, the elitist G14, the ECA has no fewer than 197 members across the entire spectrum of the professional game, all speaking with one voice.
By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 – Sepp Blatter says the controversial “golden goal” rule could be brought back to stop defence-minded teams deliberately playing for penalties.
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By Andrew Warshaw
September 9 - FIFA’s technical inspection team wound up its tour of the United States today with Bid President Sunil Gulati hinting strongly that there was more work to do to clinch the tournament in either 2018 or 2022.
September 9 – Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, which is due to stage the 2014 World Cup final, has been closed down for two years to be undergo a major $300 million (£175 million) renovation.