USA 2 Costa Rica 2 (USA win 4-3 on pens)
June 29 – You’d hate to use the word ‘sterile’ to describe a Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final, but following the drama and passion of Guatemala versus Canada, it all felt a little flat as the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Costa Rica kicked off for the right to face Guatemala in St. Louis. After 90 minutes and the drama of penalty kicks,
April 16 – Italy is facing the prospect of losing a place in the Champions League to Germany and falling behind France in the order of Europe’s top leagues, AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani (pictured) has warned.
By Andrew Warshaw
April 16 – Liverpool’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have given in to mounting pressure by agreeing to sell up, ending a long-running dispute over their suitability to run one of the world’s most iconic clubs.
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April 16 – Japan have signed-up another three sponsors as its campaign to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup steps up a gear.
April 16 – The Premier League has confirmed its intention to launch a legal challenge against Ofcom’s price cut for Sky’s premium sport channels.
April 15 – Danny Jordaan (pictured), the chief executive of South Africa 2010, admitted that the number of fans currently planning to attend the World Cup stands at between 100,000 and 200,000 – less than half of the original forecast of 450,000.
April 15 – Essex County Cricket Club have announced ambitious plans to share the London 2012 Olympic Stadium with Premier League West Ham United and Newham Council.
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By David Owen
April 15 - Guus Hiddink (pictured), the internationally renowned Dutch football manager, is to go to Korea at the end of this month as part of his efforts to help the Dutch/Belgian World Cup bid.
April 15 – Singapore have unveiled a new six-year strategic plan which has set the target of the national team being ranked among the top 10 nations in Asia by 2015.
By David Owen in Istanbul
April 14 – Turkey may bid to stage the 2026 World Cup. Orhan Gorbon, manager of Turkey’s current bid for the 2016 European Football Championship, told insideworldfootball exclusively that a campaign for the 2026 tournament was part of a personal “10-year plan”.
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April 14 - Alisher Usmanov (pictured), one of Arsenal’s largest shareholders, is keeping all his options open as speculation over the ownership of the club intensifies.
April 14 – UEFA President Michel Platini today renewed his attack on the Premier League when he claimed that the massive debt being carried by clubs was destroying the sport.
April 14 – Global food supplier Seara, part of the Marfrig Group, has signed up as a sponsor of the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup, it was announced today.
By David Owen in Istanbul
April 14 – Coaches call it a winning habit. Usually it refers to events on the field of play. But Turkey is starting to develop a winning habit when it comes to bids to host international sports events.
April 13 – Chelsea’s wage bill in the last financial year was £142.6 million ($219.3 million) while the value of the club’s squad, including John Terry, Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack (pictured), dropped by nearly £40 million ($61 million).
The national stadium is supposed to represent the maximum a country can offer, an iconic venue that provides the best possible platform for deciding the outcome of the most important fixtures.
A venue that should give players the freedom to express themselves, managers the ability to change tactics without fear of accident and fans the unique experience of watching football at its most expansive.