Merkel goes for goal with Germany at World Cup final

You half wonder if Germany might apologise for winning the World Cup on Sunday. After the total demolition of the Brazilian side in the semi-final, victorious German footballers tweeted a torrent of sympathy.  Of course, it is hard to know how much is the work of PR agencies on their behalf, but the sentiment was out there and appreciated.  "Brazil, I love you", "Brazil will always be the land of soccer" and "You have a beautiful country, wonderful people and amazing footballers"...

READ MORE - Merkel goes for goal with Germany at World Cup final

Soccer-Messi wins Golden Ball, Rodriguez top scorer

Soccer-Messi wins Golden Ball, Rodriguez top scorer - Argentina captainLionel Messi won FIFA's 'Golden Ball' award as the best player of the World Cup after leading his team to Sunday's final, while Colombia forward James Rodriguez finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals. Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who kept a clean sheet as his side beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the Maracana to claim their fourth World Cup, was awarded the Golden Gloves as the tournament's top keeper. Four-times...

READ MORE - Soccer-Messi wins Golden Ball, Rodriguez top scorer

Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win

Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win - Ghana's Black Stars are keeping their feet on the ground ahead of Tuesday's decisive Africa Cup of Nations Group C clash against South Africa after a dramatic win over Algeria. On Friday, skipper Asamoah Gyan returned from a bout of malaria to sink tournament favourites Algeria in stoppage time in Mongomo as the Black Stars bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Senegal with a 1-0 success against the continent's best team. Ghana forward Asamoah...

READ MORE - Ghana take aim at South Africa after big Cup win

Ronaldo, Real sink Sevilla to claim Super Cup

Ronaldo, Real sink Sevilla to claim Super Cup - Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice to ensure a successful Wales homecoming for his team-mate Gareth Bale as Real Madrid comfortably won the UEFA Super Cup in Cardiff by beating Sevilla 2-0 on Tuesday. The former Manchester United star struck in each half to earn a brace and underline Madrid's dominance of a game they controlled throughout. The Spanish giants thrilled a capacity 33,500 crowd at Cardiff City Stadium with their all-singing, all-dancing...

READ MORE - Ronaldo, Real sink Sevilla to claim Super Cup

Forster focused on Euro 2016

Forster focused on Euro 2016 - Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster hopes to once again use the Champions League to keep himself in England contention. The imposing shot-stopper forced his way into Roy Hodgson's World Cup squad this summer, having come to prominence through a pair of virtuoso displays against Barcelona in Europe two seasons ago and continued his form consistently with the Hoops. Fraser Forster wants a Champions League return to boost his Euro 2016 hopes This...

READ MORE - Forster focused on Euro 2016

No mercy as Houghton leads dominant England

Football - No mercy as Houghton leads dominant England - Steph Houghton's team are crushing their World Cup qualifying group - and she doesn’t understand Germany's wish not to humiliate Brazil.  After going 5-0 up in the World Cup semi-final, Mats Hummels has since revealed that the Germany team did not want to humiliate the hosts in their own back yard. New England captain Houghton doesn’t understand that attitude. She’s been part of an intensely successful World Cup qualifying...

READ MORE - No mercy as Houghton leads dominant England

Messi's World Cup ends on a bitter note

Messi's World Cup ends on a bitter note -- Lionel Messi's final act in the 2014 World Cup was lifting a free kick high over the bar, wasting Argentina's last chance to equalize in the final against Germany. It was far from a fitting finish for the four-time world player of the year. This was supposed to be Messi's World Cup, just like the 1986 tournament belonged to another Argentine great, Diego Maradona. But after carrying his team through the group stage in Brazil with four goals,...

READ MORE - Messi's World Cup ends on a bitter note