The 56-year-old coach has shrugged off speculation suggesting that the Milan star could be dropped for the Azzurri in light of his three-game suspension for insulting an official Italy boss Cesare Prandelli has dismissed the notion that Mario Balotelli's domestic ban could see him be omitted for October's World Cup 2014 qualifiers with Denmark and Armenia this month. The AC Milan striker is ...Full Story »

Robbie Brady: Hull winger to undergo groin surgery Hull City winger Robbie Brady is to undergo an operation after being forced out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Germany and Kazakhstan. Brady has made an impressive start to the season with Hull and was included in interim coach Noel King's squad for next month's 2014 World Cup qualifiers. However, the 21-year-old has now withdrawn f...Full Story »

Hugh Robertson: Hoping for a 2022 compromise Sports minister Hugh Robertson has condemned FIFA for making "a mess" of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but sees no option other than moving the tournament to the winter. FIFA's executive committee is due to decide later this week on the principle of moving the tournament, and is expected to agree that it should be moved from its usual time of June and...Full Story »

Lionel Messi has been named in the provisional Argentina squad for their next two World Cup qualifiers despite his thigh injury. The Barcelona forward could be out for up to three weeks after suffering the injury against Almeria on Friday but is in the party to face Peru on October 11 and Uruguay on October 15. Messi is unlikely to play in either of the contests and Inter Milan striker Mauro...Full Story »

The BVB star says the Germany boss does not have much trust in his abilities as a defender after dropping him for their two most recent games Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels has slammed Germany coach Joachim Low for not showing him the same amount of trust as club boss Jurgen Klopp. The Nationalelf trainer opted to field Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker at the heart of defence during the ...Full Story »

The Everton midfielder has been named in Noel King's first squad as Ireland manager, while Andy Reid and Anthony Stokes have also been included Noel King has named Darron Gibson, Andy Reid, and Anthony Stokes in his preliminary squad for the Republic of Ireland's upcoming World Cup qualifiers with Germany and Kazakhstan. Gibson had not played for Ireland since falling out with previous manag...Full Story »

The 29-year-old has not featured for his country for three years but the Germany boss is planning to call him up amid an injury crisis among his main forwards Germany coach Joachim Low says he is planning to speak to Bayer Leverkusen star Stefan Kiessling over a possible international recall. The 29-year-old has not featured for his country since 2010, despite top-scoring in the Bundesliga l...Full Story »

The 21-year-old's Vicente Calderon captain, Gabi, was in a gushing mood after the Madrid derby win, while David Villa branded the game "unforgettable" Atletico Madrid captain Gabi believes that Koke is on the road to becoming a key player for the club as well as the Spain national team. The pair featured in Real Madrid's 1-0 defeat to the Colchoneros, in which Diego Costa's goalscoring strea...Full Story »

Javier Mascherano is included despite recent injury troubles, while three Inter stars are also given the nod, although Willy Caballero and Carlos Tevez again miss out Erik Lamela and Sergio Aguero are among the Premier League stars named in a strong provisional Argentina squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Peru and Uruguay. Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuain are also handed places in Aleja...Full Story »

Arena da Amazonia stadium is seen under construction in Manaus, Brazil. Brazil is readying A World Cup stadium being built in the isolated Brazilian state of Amazonas may not become a white elephant after all. At least one judge in the area has come up with a post-World Cup use: a prisoner processing center. Brazil is readying 12 stadiums for next year's World Cup, and several - including the...Full Story »