France striker Nicolas Anelka - sent home from the squad in disgrace - claims all Les Bleus players were in favour of striking. The Chelsea forward was at the centre of the France World Cup scandal, having been given his marching orders by the French Football Federation following a bust-up with coach Raymond Domenech. The…

Emile Heskey has brought his international career to an end after winning 62 caps for his country over an 11-year period. The Aston Villa forward featured in all four of England's South Africa 2010 games, starting the first two against the United States and Algeria. The 32-year-old, who made his debut in April 1999 against…

Andres Iniesta is delighted that he has been able to bring joy to the Spanish people. Iniesta, 26, settled Sunday's World Cup final with an extra-time strike against the Netherlands. And his goal sparked mass celebrations in Spain, with millions partying in Madrid and Barcelona. "It's hard to explain," he said when asked how his…

England coach Fabio Capello wants Stuart Pearce axed from his backroom staff. Capello will use crunch talks with the FA tomorrow to demand two new Italians are added to his coaching team. After England’s dismal World Cup showing, Capello is ready to axe the only two Englishmen in his backroom staff. He wants Stuart Pearce…

Liverpool attacker Dirk Kuyt has thanked the Dutch public for the reception Holland's players received. Kuyt was surprised by the amount of people who attended a welcome home ceremony for the beaten World Cup finalists in Amsterdam. "I did not know that the Netherlands could be so united, which is unique," said Kuyt. "It's amazing…

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is carrying a serious thigh injury. The 26-year-old striker came on as a substitute in Sunday's World Cup final against Holland, but pulled up as the end of extra-time approached. Torres returned to Spain following the triumph, along with the rest of Vicente Del Bosque's successful squad, and has now undergone…

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was delighted with Fernando Torres' show of commitment in Spain's World Cup celebrations. The Spain striker has been the subject of intense speculation over his future throughout the summer with the threat of a £70million Chelsea swoop still at large. But Torres showed his allegiance after Sunday's glorious triumph in Johannesburg…

England gave their worst ever World Cup performance in South Africa, according to official rankings. In their assessment of England's performances, FIFA have rated them only 13th. That is two places worse than their previous lowest mark, in 1958, when, shorn of Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor following the Munich air crash, England finished 11th.…

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says England blew their World Cup by relying too much on Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. While fans in England remain bitterly disappointed at Rooney's failure to reproduce his stunning Manchester United form in a Three Lions shirt, Wenger insists the best sides at the World Cup worked as a team.…

German legend Franz Beckenbauer insists he was misquoted over taunts towards England during the World Cup. Immediately after their opening match Beckenbauer was quoted saying: “And what I saw from England in their 1-1 draw with the USA had very little to do with football. It seems to me the English had gone back to…

Barcelona World Cup winner Andres Iniesta says he never lost faith he would be fit for South Africa. Iniesta, who scored the extra-time winner for Spain in the World Cup final against Holland on Sunday, struggled for long periods last season with a thigh problem and only reappeared for Barcelona right at the end of…

South Africa 2010 winners Spain were greeted to a triumphant return amid wild victory celebrations in the Spanish capital on Monday night. Fabregas said: "This is for the Arsenal players, the Arsenal fans, the manager Arsene Wenger and all the staff. I am really proud being an Arsenal player. It is for them. They deserve…

2024 is set to be a big year for football with a variety of big landmark events happening throughout the 2024 calendar. From the major dates in the big leagues to the international tournaments, there’s going to be plenty of opportunity for putting good bets on some of the most anticipated sporting events of the…