World Soccer News

David Moyes sprang to the defence of Tom Cleverley after an online petition was launched calling for the Manchester United midfielder to be excluded from England's World Cup squad.

Tony Pulis believes Southampton have solved the puzzle of bringing through academy players - but warned that tempting offers from other clubs could still see that homegrown talent fly the nest.

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho thinks it would be wrong of football's authorities to banish managers to the dugout following Newcastle manager Alan Pardew's technical area headbutt on Hull midfielder David Meyler.

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has warned Saturday's opponents Fulham that his team will settle for nothing but a win.

Foul? On this occasion against West Brom, the referee awarded a penalty for a foul on Chamakh, but the Frenchman is not always that honest in the penalty area Tony Pulis has called for other Premier League clubs to join Crystal Palace in helping referees in the fight against diving.

San Antonio beats Miami to close within half a game of Oklahoma City for the NBA Western Conference lead, as the Thunder loses to Phoenix.

SUNDERLAND are on the verge of naming Welshman Lee Congerton as the club's new director of football and work is already underway on transfer plans for the summer.

Bayern Munich, which visits Wolfsburg on Saturday, is playing in a league of its own with Borussia Dortmund 20 points off the pace.

Barcelona can add pressure with a victory at Valladolid on Saturday, a day before Madrid faces Levante.

Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere will be sidelined for at least six weeks after sustaining a hairline fracture to his left foot, the Premier League club announced on Thursday.

With Liverpool inactive and fellow title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City in FA Cup action, Chelsea can extend its lead in the Premier League to seven points by beating Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Wayne Rooney thinks Roy Hodgson will find it much harder to select a 23-man World Cup squad following England's victory over Denmark.

Karim Benzema kept up his prolific form by scoring a superb goal and helping to create another as France beat the Netherlands 2-0 in a pre-World Cup friendly on Wednesday.

David Silva's second-half introduction opened up Spain's attack and the Manchester City midfielder was involved in the move that finished with Pedro squeezing a hard shot under goalkeeper Gianlugi Buffon in the 63rd minute.

Gareth McAuley was sent off in the second half as Northern Ireland laboured to a grim goalless draw at lowly Cyprus.

WALES boss Chris Coleman has vowed to play star man Gareth Bale for the full 90 minutes in tonight's friendly against Iceland.

FC Porto says coach Paulo Fonseca will leave his post after the club's worst string of results in almost 10 years.

Liverpool defender Glen Johnson has outlined just why he believes Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is a better man-manager than Chelsea's Jose Mourinho.

IN A bid to boost his team's mental strength at the World Cup, England coach Roy Hodgson revealed he has hired a psychiatrist for the lead-up to the tournament in Brazil.

Long-serving Barcelona defender Carles Puyol has announced he will leave the Catalan giants at the end of the season.