This week, the European continental competitions -- the Champions League and the newly re-christened Europa League -- kick off, and I keep thinking of Allen Iverson.
Is German soccer in trouble? A German club hasn't won the Champions League in eight years, and success in the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) has been few and far between as well. World Soccer chats with German national-team coach Joachim Löw, who explains the need for speed at the top level, not just in the legs, but in the mind, too.
This year is the 50th birthday of the Copa Libertadores, South American football's equivalent of Europe's Champions League.
Britain's Prince William is to attend tonight's Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona in Rome, in his capacity as President of the English Football Association (FA).
Shakhtar Donetsk became the third former Soviet club to win the UEFA Cup in the past five years, following CSKA Moscow in 2004-05 and Zenit St. Petersburg last season.
Shakhtar Donetsk are setting their sights on Champions League glory after beating Werder Bremen to become the final-ever winners of the UEFA Cup.
With Atlante's scoreless draw over Cruz Azul in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League final on Tuesday, los Potros punched a ticket to the FIFA Club World Cup, where they could meet either Manchester United or Barcelona come December.
Serie A's status suffered another blow with the failure of any Italian clubs to make the last eight of this season's Champions League. Is Italian soccer on the slippery slope of irreversible decline and fall? The question inevitably asks itself in the wake of Serie A interest in the Champions League being ended by teams from the English Premier League for a second successive season.
Ordinarily, Manchester United making a trip to Craven Cottage isn't much of a story. Fulham hasn't beaten United at home in league play since 1964. But an unusually high amount of attention is focused on this weekend's encounter.
Are Sir Alex Ferguson's men are still favorites to take the Premier League and win the five big trophies after their 4-1 loss to Liverpool at the weekend?
Remember when there was talk of a European super league, where the top teams from across Europe would play each other on a weekly basis?
The way Francisco Marcos saw it, all he wanted was a chance. For years, the president and founder of the United Soccer Leagues felt his supposed second-tier teams deserved respect and recognition instead of banishment and obscurity. All they needed was a platform on which to perform.
Wembley Stadium has been chosen by UEFA as the venue for the 2011 Champions League final.
Real Madrid have failed in ar bid to overturn UEFA's ruling denying them the right to register both Klaas Jan Huntelaar and Lassana Diarra to play in the Champions League knockout stages.
FIFA will announce its Player of the Year for 2008 at a ceremony in Zurich today, and here is a look at the leading contenders for the award.
Sometimes less is more and this maxim might well have been coined for the UEFA Champions League.
Veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has agreed a one-year extension to his contract to keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2010.
A Japanese football club has won the Asian Champions League for the second year in a row after Gamba Osaka claimed the crown with a 2-0 win over Adelaide United on Wednesday.
When Major League Soccer sent four clubs to the CONCACAF Champions League, there was a glimmer of hope that the teams would compete and possibly bring an international trophy to American soil.
Danish champions Aa Aalborg have parted company with coach Bruce Rioch following their 6-3 Champions League defeat by Villarreal on Tuesday.
One of Michael Platini's pledges when he was named UEFA President was to give some of the smaller nations a chance to compete for Champions League glory -- and tentative moves are already in the offing to eventually limit the maximum number of teams that can qualify for the competition from Europe's more prestigious leagues.
Holland gave everything to Euro 2008. The team played dazzling soccer against France and world champion Italy. Pundits swooned over an updated version of total football and praised the individual skills of Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart & Co.
Portuguese champions Porto have been successful in an appeal against their exclusion from next season's Champions League.
CSKA Sofia have joined Porto in being banned from next season's Champions League after they were sanctioned by Bulgaria's soccer federation because of unpaid debts.
UEFA have thrown Porto out of next season's Champions League after the Portuguese club were found guilty in a bribery scandal.
Five things we learned while watching Manchester United's win on penalty kicks over Chelsea (after a 1-1 tie) in Wednesday's Champions League final from our lair in Baltimore, aka Moscow-on-the-Patapsco:
Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard looks set to return to the side for Wednesday's Champions League semifinal, second leg, against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
England manager Fabio Capello has warned Serie A leaders Inter Milan to expect a backlash when they face Liverpool in the last 16 of the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday.
Behold, the Underdog. Overlooked, underpaid and unloved except by his local fans who dwell in ancient backwaters on the edges of Europe, like Istanbul or Athens or Oporto.
Europe has the UEFA Champions League, South America has the Copa Libertadores. Almost by default, North America also has to hold an international club tournament that pits champion against champion.
After years of ups and downs, it finally seems like Inter Milan has reached its full potential. The Italian Serie A leaders have been sensational this season, and if they continue their outstanding form, there's little doubt they'll cruise to their third successive Scudetto in May.
Twelve months is a long time in soccer. In 2006, Italy demonstrated the international game's ability to triumph in adversity. A year later, the club game fought back and reasserted itself over national-team concerns.
Holders AC Milan will face English Premier League leaders Arsenal in a massive Champions League last 16 clash in the new year, while city rivals Inter will come up against Liverpool.
Teenage star Karim Benzema scored twice in three minutes to condemn Rangers to the UEFA Cup as Lyon beat them to a Champions League last-16 place with an emphatic 3-0 victory at Ibrox.
Since the day my Uncle George -- who was a panty-hose wholesaler and walked with a limp from a boyhood accident -- took me to my first Panathinaikos game, I've bled green.
It's that time of the year when attention turns to the annual individual player awards.
If you suggest to AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti that his side is too old and that perhaps the club has failed to adequately strengthen itself with new signings this summer, he just smiles. In fact, as he sits at the boardroom table at Milan's lair, Milanello, he sounds very upbeat about the new season.
Two rounds into this season's Champions League group stages and already some of the big guns are floundering -- or so their critics would have us believe.
Trying to explain the Champions League to your typical cheesesteak-loving, MGD-swilling American sports fan is like trying to explain the infield fly rule to a Prussian aristocrat. Something gets lost in translation.
Last week I had the privilege of hosting the UEFA Champions League draw, and from what I saw, I can safely say that European football's governing body has successfully been able to create a brand which is respected by everyone -- club directors, managers and players.
German giants Bayern Münich will take on Portuguese side Belenenses in their first UEFA Cup tie for a decade.
The Champions League will almost certainly be revamped in 2009, with domestic cup winners given a place in the qualifying stages, UEFA president Michel Platini has revealed.
The draw for the group stage of the Champions League takes place on Thursday in Monte Carlo as the movers and shakers of European soccer congregate for their annual get-together, organized by governing body UEFA.
Ajax Amsterdam scored three second-half goals to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-0 on Sunday and win the Dutch Champions League playoff final 4-2 on aggregate.
AC Milan's season -- a classic Italian tale of trial, redemption and revenge worthy of the city's famous Scala opera house -- reached an ecstatic finale on Wednesday as they captured the European Cup for a seventh time with a 2-1 win over Liverpool in Athens.
AC Milan's season -- a classic Italian tale of trial and redemption worthy of the city's famous Scala opera house -- reached new heights of drama during Tuesday's Champions League semifinal with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
AC Milan's hopes of securing a Champions League place next season were dented when they were held to a 1-1 draw at second-placed Roma on Saturday.
Two goals from England international striker Jermain Defoe enabled Tottenham Hotspur to beat Dinamo Bucharest 3-1 and maintain their 100 percent record to finish clear winners of Group B in the final series of UEFA Cup qualifying matches on Thursday.
Feyenoord will be walking a tight-rope in more ways than one when they face Wisla Krakow of Poland in their decisive UEFA Cup Group E match in Rotterdam on Wednesday.
Manchester United stormed back from a goal down to book a place in the Champions League knockout phase with a 3-1 win over Benfica on Wednesday.
Ronaldo scored two goals in the last four minutes to earn Real Madrid a 2-2 draw against Dynamo Kyiv in their final Champions League Group E match on Wednesday.
Robbie Fowler's first-ever Champions League goals failed to prevent Liverpool from sliding to a 3-2 defeat to Galatasaray in their final Group C match on Tuesday.
Bayern Munich secured top spot in Champions League Group B despite conceding a last-gasp equaliser to Inter Milan in a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Holders Sevilla breezed into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Wednesday with a crushing 4-0 win at Switzerland's Grasshoppers.
Inter Milan went through to the last 16 in the Champions League after a Hernan Crespo strike gave them a 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in Group B on Wednesday, eliminating the Portuguese side.
Three weeks after recording their first ever win in the group stages of the Champions League, AEK Athens posted number two when they stunned AC Milan 1-0 at a packed Olympic Stadium on Tuesday.
Defender Emmanuel Eboue spared Arsenal's blushes by firing a late goal in a tense 3-1 Champions League victory over Hamburg that sent the Gunners to the top of Group G.
Celtic striker Kenny Miller has recovered from an ankle injury and will face Manchester United in their Champions League Group F clash on Tuesday.
Valencia qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League after twice coming from a goal down to claim a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in Group D on Tuesday.
Tim Matthijs scored a hat-trick as modest Belgian side Zulte Waregem recovered from a goal down to crush Austria Vienna 4-1 away in their opening UEFA Cup Group F game on Thursday.
A brilliant second-half strike by Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a 1-0 Champions League victory over holders Barcelona at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
Real Madrid turned in a superb performance, striking twice in each half, to beat Steaua Bucharest 4-1 in their pivotal Champions League Group E match on Tuesday.
Barcelona right back Juliano Belletti will miss Wednesday's Champions League match against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after dislocating his shoulder in Sunday's 3-1 win over Sevilla.
UEFA have received a complaint from Manchester United over alleged racist chants from Benfica fans during a recent Champions League match.
Next season's Champions League final will take place in Moscow's Luzhniki stadium, UEFA's Executive Committee announced on Wednesday.
Palermo reached the group stage of the UEFA Cup on Thursday when they outclassed West Ham United 3-0 to complete a 4-0 win on aggregate.
Chelsea went top of Champions League Group A as Didier Drogba's hat-trick eased them to a 3-1 victory over injury-hit debutants Levski Sofia.
Bayern Munich went clear at the top of Champions League Group B after late strikes by Claudio Pizarro and Lukas Podolski gave them a 2-0 win over nine-man Inter Milan at the San Siro.
FC Copenhagen may have paid a heavy price for their first point in the Champions League group stages with playmaker Jesper Gronkjaer suffering a suspected recurrence of a groin injury.
First half goals from Filippo Inzaghi and French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff and a 77th minute Kaka penalty gave AC Milan a comfortable 3-0 victory over AEK Athens in Champions League Group H on Wednesday.
Manchester United won a pulsating British derby when they came from behind to beat Celtic 3-2 in their opening Group F match at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Holders Barcelona will play Chelsea for the third successive season after being placed together in the same opening-round group when the draw for the Champions League was made on Thursday.
Arsenal grabbed a late 2-1 win over Dynamo Zagreb on Wednesday as the English Premiership became the only league to send a full contingent of four clubs into the group stage of the Champions League.
The winner of this season's Champions League could earn up to 100 million euros ($130 million) on top of UEFA prize money and tournament gate receipts, a study said on Wednesday.
AC Milan marched confidently into the Champions league group stage with a 3-1 aggregate win over Red Star Belgrade in the third qualifying round on Tuesday.
Arsenal defender Ashley Cole has made himself available for their Premier League opener against Aston Villa on Saturday despite the widespread belief that he is headed across London to Chelsea.
AC Milan striker Filippo Inzaghi celebrated his 33rd birthday with the goal that secured a 1-0 win over Red Star Belgrade in their Champions League third qualifying round, first leg match.
Arsenal look set for a place in the Champions League group stage after Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas scored twice in a 3-0 qualifying win at Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.
UEFA have ruled that AC Milan can play in this season's Champions League but theyr heavily criticized the club for their role in the Italian match-fixing scandal.
Thierry Henry will sit out Arsenal's Champions League opener next week as the French striker will have only just returned to training, manager Arsene Wenger said on Tuesday.
UEFA will decide next week whether to allow AC Milan to participate in this season's Champions League.
AC Milan's place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League is not a foregone conclusion and could be blocked by UEFA's emergency panel on Thursday.
England are likely to rest midfielder Steven Gerrard in Tuesday's final Group B match against Sweden and give Owen Hargreaves his first start in two years.
Celtic have officially congratulated their former striker Henrik Larsson after his match-winning performance helped Barcelona beat Arsenal in the Champions League final on Wednesday.
Real Madrid lost 4-3 at Sevilla but still came second in the Primera Liga as Osasuna beat Valencia 2-1 to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their last games of the season on Tuesday.
Anderlecht will win their 28th Belgian title on Friday if they beat Zulte Waregem on the final day of the season.
The Belgian first division title will be decided on the final day of the season after the top two were held to 0-0 draws -- Anderlecht at Ghent and Standard Liege at Roeselare on Sunday.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti insists AC Milan will go all-out for victory in Tuesday's Champions League first knockout round first leg at German giants Bayern Munich.
Marseille, who have lost in the UEFA Cup final twice in the last six years, have been drawn to meet newcomers Bolton in the first knockout phase.
Monaco and Hamburg SV both won their final Group A games on Thursday to progress to the final-32 knockout phase of the UEFA Cup.
Holders CSKA Moscow were eliminated from the UEFA Cup without playing on Wednesday when a late winner from Andre Hanssen put Heerenveen through to the knockout stage from Group F.
Defending champions Liverpool won Champions League Group G on Tuesday after holding English champions Chelsea to a goalless draw.
Former Champions League finalists Monaco are back in the frame for the UEFA Cup with a convincing 2-0 victory at Slavia Prague in a Group A match on Wednesday.
Marseille made sure of reaching the knockout stage of the UEFA Cup by beating Dutch side Heerenveen 1-0.
English champions Chelsea qualified for the Champions League knockout phase after a convincing 2-0 victory at Anderlecht in Group G on Wednesday.
Roy Makaay scored twice as Bayern Munich beat Rapid Vienna 4-0 in Champions League Group A and book their place in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Holders Liverpool found their scoring touch to defeat Anderlecht 3-0 on Tuesday, a win that took them to the brink of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.
Giovanni Trapattoni's position as coach of VfB Stuttgart was strengthened Thursday as his side eased to a 2-0 win away to Rennes in the first round of UEFA Cup group phase action.
Thierry Henry set an Arsenal scoring record as his team took a stranglehold on Group B of the Champions League with a 2-0 away win against Sparta Prague.
Bayern Munich won the clash of the Group A heavyweights with a 2-1 home win over Italian giants Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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