July 2 – Having looked like a team that were struggling to find any cohesion or common purpose after four straight losses, including a miserable performance in March at the Concacaf Nations League final, suddenly the USA look as though, if not the real deal, they are certainly worth a reappraisal.
July 2 – Elite football in the form of major tournament returns to Switzerland for the first time since 2008, with Euro 2025 and the quest for continental glory set to take over the Alpine nation this July with more than 600,000 tickets sold and increased prize money on offer for the 16 finalists.
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Whatever happens to England in South Africa, and whether or not the hurt of 44 years is finally assuaged on July 11, there has been one revolution in England’s national game that is undeniable.
And profound.
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By Andrew Warshaw
June 1 – Sunil Gulati (pictured left), the man leading the United States’ bid to host the World Cup, believes that going up against four Asian contenders for 2022 will work in favour of his country – rather than against it.
So Turkey narrowly failed in their efforts to upset France and win the right to host the 2016 European football championship.
Having come so close in Friday’s vote, I’m sure members of the Turkish bid team will need time to get over their disappointment.
But once they do, they can reflect that their efforts have secured an important legacy for Turkey: never again will a Turkish bid for any sports competition be taken lightly.
May 31 – Adrian Bevington (pictured right) will take up his new role as Club England managing director with immediate effect, the Football Association have announced.
May 31 – Netherlands and Belgium’s joint bid to host the 2018 World Cup has been backed by Abedi Ayew Pele (pictured), one of Africa’s greatest ever footballers.
May 30 - Milton Keynes, which is bidding to be one of the host venues for the 2018 World Cup if England are awarded the tournament , tonight hosted its first-ever full international fixture but only 100 people turned up to see it.
By Andrew Warshaw
May 30 – Marios Lefkaritis (pictured), a prominent member of FIFA’s 24-strong Executive Committee, says he has already virtually made up his mind who to back for the 2018 World Cup – but will not reveal where his vote is going.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 29 – Jack Warner (pictured), the FIFA vice-president, has been sworn in as Trinidad and Tobago’s new Minister of Works and Transport and has admitted that he will have to step down from a number of key football roles.
By Tom Degun
May 29 – Former Liverpool captain Phil Thompson (pictured) has claimed that Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett deceived former owner David Moores in order to gain control of the Premier League club.
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By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 28 – Frank Lowy (pictured left), the chairman of Australia’s bid to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, has hit back at critics after a website claimed that they had slipped behind rivals like Qatar and South Korea.
By Duncan Mackay
British Sports Internet Writer of the Year
May 28 – Claims by Lord Triesman that Spain and Russia were colluding to bribe referees at this year’s World Cup have been dismissed by FIFA’s Ethics Commission, it was announced today.
By Andrew Warshaw in Geneva
May 28 – Turkey’s most senior footballing official has refused to blame UEFA for playing safe after his country narrowly missed out to France in the race to stage the European 2016 Championships.
It was always going to be a close-run affair but you only needed to witness the relief on the faces of the victorious French delegation and the look of total despair on those of their Turkish rivals to understand just how agonising it was.
By Tom Degun
May 28 – Newcastle United have banned the Mail on Sunday as well as sister paper The Daily Mail from after the Sunday paper published details of Lord Triesman’s secretly recorded conversation which led to him being forced to step down as chairman of England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup.
May 28 – France have been awarded the 2016 European Championships, beating rivals Italy and Turkey, UEFA announced today.