World Soccer's Sid Lowe recently sat down with Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano to discuss the club's reborn Galáctico policy under Florentino Pérez, the team's new signings, chasing Barcelona and soccer economics.
A second half goal from Nilmar gave Brazil to a 1-0 victory over an understrength England in a prestige friendly international in Doha on Saturday.
If you're a Liverpool fan, you're probably pretty angry right now. You've won one game since September (albeit a pretty important one, against Manchester United), qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League seems extremely improbable right now and you're sixth in the English Premier League, after finishing second last year.
The exit remains open, its doors flung wide, but the entrance to the Santiago Bernabéu has been closed and bolted.
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini believes his squad is now "complete" and ready for the challenge of a new Primera Division campaign.
After an off-season of big-money transfers and endless speculation in Spain the focus finally turns to matters on the pitch. The first round of La Liga fixtures kick off this weekend and Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
The new English Premier League season kicks off with the first round of fixtures this weekend - Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani has passed his medical and agreed a five-year contract with English Premier League Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hopes that Alberto Aquilani will prove to be an adequate midfield replacement for Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso once he completes his move to the English club.
Xabi Alonso completed his medical at Real Madrid on Wednesday as club director general Jorge Valdano said their close season transfer spending spree was over.
World Soccer's Sid Lowe recently sat down with Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano to discuss the club's reborn Galáctico policy under Florentino Pérez, the team's new signings, chasing Barcelona and soccer economics.
A second half goal from Nilmar gave Brazil to a 1-0 victory over an understrength England in a prestige friendly international in Doha on Saturday.
If you're a Liverpool fan, you're probably pretty angry right now. You've won one game since September (albeit a pretty important one, against Manchester United), qualification to the knockout stage of the Champions League seems extremely improbable right now and you're sixth in the English Premier League, after finishing second last year.
The exit remains open, its doors flung wide, but the entrance to the Santiago Bernabéu has been closed and bolted.
Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini believes his squad is now "complete" and ready for the challenge of a new Primera Division campaign.
After an off-season of big-money transfers and endless speculation in Spain the focus finally turns to matters on the pitch. The first round of La Liga fixtures kick off this weekend and Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
The new English Premier League season kicks off with the first round of fixtures this weekend - Fanzone details what to expect from the new campaign:
Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani has passed his medical and agreed a five-year contract with English Premier League Liverpool.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez hopes that Alberto Aquilani will prove to be an adequate midfield replacement for Real Madrid-bound Xabi Alonso once he completes his move to the English club.
Xabi Alonso completed his medical at Real Madrid on Wednesday as club director general Jorge Valdano said their close season transfer spending spree was over.
Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso is expected to sign for Primera Liga giants Real Madrid on Wednesday after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be in the region of $50 million for the Spanish international.
Manchester United and Liverpool fans dream of the arrival of superstar players ahead of a new campaign, but it seems the spending power of both Englsih giants could be on the wane.
If Manchester United and Liverpool fans are expecting the arrival of superstar players ahead of the new season then they had better think again, as the cost of refinancing debt could significantly curb the club's spending power according to industry experts.
Real Madrid's incredible summer spending spree will go past $300 million this week as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema sign on the dotted line at the Bernabeu.
Newcastle United edged closer to relegation from the Premier League as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Anfield, a result that keeps Liverpool's slim title hopes alive.
Steven Gerrard is winning the race to be fit for Liverpool's crunch Premier League clash against relegation battlers Newcastle on Sunday.
An injury-time goal from Albert Riera earned European champions Spain a 2-1 victory against Turkey in Istanbul to retain their 100 per cent record in World Cup qualifying Group Five.
Yossi Benayoun headed home a late winner as Liverpool beat in-form Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabeu to take control of their Champions League last-16 showdown.
David Villa and Fernando Llorente scored the goals as European champions Spain extended their amazing unbeaten run to 29 games with a 2-0 victory over an England side for whom David Beckham equalled the Three Lions record of 108 caps for an outfield player.
Rafael Benitez is facing a "big decision" over whether to risk star striker Fernando Torres for Liverpool's trip to Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday.
Frank Lampard's appeal against the red card he received in Chelsea's 2-0 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday has been successful.
Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has confirmed he will not be undergoing an operation on his damaged knee.
Arsenal have suffered a major blow with the news that captain Cesc Fabregas has been ruled out for four months with his knee injury -- prompting manager Arsene Wenger to hint he might sign a replacement for the Spaniard in the January transfer window.
Emmanuel Adebayor was sent off and skipper Cesc Fabregas suffered a worrying knee problem as Arsenal battled to hold Premier League leaders Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
Liverpool leapfrogged Chelsea to lead the Premier League by a point, but there was little else to celebrate after a stalemate against West Ham saw Anfield's second successive goalless draw.
It's hard to believe nearly six months have passed since Spain began its title march at the European Championship and killing off one of the biggest jinxes in the soccer world. (Know the pheeling, Phillies fans?) Even today, despite a few nasty side plots, everything feels right on Planet Football.
Liverpool ended Chelsea's 86-match unbeaten run in league matches at Stamford Bridge as Xabi Alonso's goal gave them a 1-0 win on Sunday.
In-form striker David Villa scored twice on Wednesday night to help European champions Spain beat Armenia 4-0 to make it two wins from two games in World Cup qualifying.
England international striker Wayne Rooney is struggling to make the start of Manchester United's Premier League title defense after picking up a stomach virus on his club's preseason tour of Nigeria.
Emmanuel Adebayor believes he still has the backing of Arsenal's fans despite his reported attempts to leave the English club this summer.
Inter Milan have stepped up their bid to reunite England international Frank Lampard with former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho -- at the right price.
Juventus have made it clear that they want to keep French striker David Trezeguet, whose 19 goals helped them to finish third in Italy's Serie A last season.
Dani Guiza and Ruben de la Red scored second-half goals Wednesday to rally Spain to a 2-1 win over defending champions Greece at the European Championship.
After a lackluster 2-1 win over Peru last Saturday, Spanish national-team coach Luis Aragonés is likely to make several changes when his troops face the U.S. in their final pre-European Championship warm-up on Wednesday in Santander (live on espn360.com at 4 p.m. ET; on delay on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m.).
Liverpool's Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso could be on the brink of a $24 million move to Italians giants Juventus.
John Arne Riise scored a nightmare own-goal in the fifth minute of time added on to give Chelsea a 1-1 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal away to Liverpool on Tuesday night.
What's going on at Anfield? Liverpool was expected by many pundits -- ourselves included -- to be serious title contenders in the English Premier League this year.
Disgruntled Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is resigned to losing Fernando Torres for their crucial Premier League game at Chelsea on Sunday.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has handed 17-year-old Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic his first full call-up for the February 6 friendly against France.
Liverpool's Spanish international striker Fernando Torres will be out of action for three weeks because of an adductor muscle suffered against Arsenal on Sunday.
Liverpool set off for Champions League action in Istanbul without star striker Fernando Torres, who is still bothered by a thigh problem, but with Xabi Alonso, who could start after recovering from a metatarsal problem.
Liverpool have suffered an early season injury blow with defender Daniel Agger and midfielder Xabi Alonso sidelined for lengthy spells with broken metatarsals picked up on international duty.
Spain were four minutes away from defeat by Iceland in their Group F Euro 2008 qualifier in Reykjavik when Andres Iniesta slid home an equalizer and the 1-1 draw took the Spaniards onto 16 points, level with second-placed Northern Ireland and three behind Sweden.
Spaniards Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso both scored twice as Liverpool thrashed Derby County 6-0 and went to the top of the English Premier League for the first time in five years.
Fernando Torres scored a debut goal for Liverpool on his first appearance at Anfield but Chelsea salvaged a point with a Frank Lampard penalty after a controversial decision by referee Rob Styles.
Mali midfielder Mohamed Sissoko has signed a new four-year contract with Liverpool, becoming the fifth first-team player to commit his future to the club in recent weeks.
World Sport reporter Pedro Pinto reflects on AC Milan's Champions League Final win over Liverpool.
Five things we learned from AC Milan's 2-1 victory over Liverpool in Wednesday's Champions League final:
Two goals from Filippo Inzaghi gave AC Milan a 2-1 win over Liverpool in the Champions League final at the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday.
Liverpool will start favorites but PSV Eindhoven coach Ronald Koeman will fancy another English scalp when the Dutch club host the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal on Tuesday.
Substitute John O'Shea grabbed a stoppage time winner as 10-man Manchester United beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to take a huge step towards securing the Premiership title on Saturday.
Liverpool gave West Ham a lesson in finishing as brilliant goals from Dirk Kuyt and Peter Crouch gave them a 2-1 victory at Upton Park.
Leaders Manchester United began their holiday fixtures with a resounding 3-0 victory at Aston Villa as the goals flowed in the English Premier League on Saturday.
Dirk Kuyt and Xabi Alonso with another impudent long range effort from inside his own half scored as Liverpool wrapped up a morale-boosting win over Newcastle in the English Premier League on Wednesday.
PSV Eindhoven and Liverpool played out a 0-0 draw in a disappointing Champions League Group C opening match on Tuesday.
Liverpool came from behind to defeat Maccabi Haifa 2-1 in a tense Champions League qualifier thanks to new signings Craig Bellamy and Mark Gonzalez.
Spain made their best start to a World Cup finals, demolishing 10-man Ukraine 4-0 on Wednesday on an afternoon the tournament debutants would rather forget.
Spain captain Raul appears certain to start on the bench in their opening Group H match against Ukraine on Wednesday.
Liverpool received a pre-FA Cup final boost as key midfielder Xabi Alonso was given a fighting chance of being fit for Saturday's match against West Ham at the Millennium Stadium.
Spain coach Luis Aragones has included Barcelona midfielder Xavi in his 27-man squad for a World Cup get-together on May 8.
Group H | World ranking: 5
Liverpool are in talks with potential investors which may lead to the takeover of the English Premier League club.
Newcastle United midfielder Lee Bowyer must serve a three-match ban after his claim for wrongful dismissal against Liverpool was rejected on Thursday.
Newcastle have appealed against the sending off of Lee Bowyer in their Boxing Day Premiership match at Liverpool.
Newcastle's Lee Bowyer is unlikely to get the backing of his manager Graeme Souness if the Football Association decide to investigate the midfielder's fourth red card in just over a year.
Liverpool maintained their English title challenge with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Newcastle at Anfield to record their eighth straight Premier League victory.
Sao Paulo midfielder Mineiro ended Liverpool's club record of 11 successive clean sheets with a 27th minute goal which gave Brazilians Sao Paulo a 1-0 win over the European champions in the World Club Championship in Yokohama on Sunday.
Liverpool climbed to fourth place after a straightforward 2-0 victory at bottom club Sunderland on Wednesday gave them five wins in a row in the Premier League.
Real Betis midfielder Alberto Rivera has won his first Spain call-up for their World Cup playoff against Slovakia next week.
Holders Liverpool and Chelsea remained joint top of Champions League Group G after a goalless draw in their all-English clash at Anfield on Wednesday.
Steven Gerrard scored twice inside a minute to secure a 3-0 victory for holders Liverpool against Welsh minnows TNS in the Champions League first qualifying round return on Tuesday.
Liverpool produced one of the greatest comebacks in football history to claw back a three goal deficit before beating AC Milan in a penalty shoot out to win the Champions League final.
Uncapped Villarreal goalkeeper Pepe Reina has been named in a 27-strong Spain squad for a team-building session next Monday.
Liverpool's Champions League hopes have been boosted by the return to fitness of German midfielder Dietmar Hamann.
Jose Mourinho and Rafael Benitez are playing up the chances of their teams for the return leg of the all-English Champions League semifinal.
French international striker Djibril Cisse could return to the Liverpool team during their Champions League quarterfinal against Juventus in Turin, even though he may be less than 70 percent fit.
Liverpool suffered a devastating blow when captain Steven Gerrard was ruled out of Wednesday's Champions League quarterfinal return against Juventus in Turin.
Liverpool's French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle faces a lengthy layoff after tearing a knee ligament during Tuesday's 1-0 League Cup semifinal victory at Watford.
Argentine defender Mauricio Pellegrino has completed his move to Liverpool on a free transfer from manager Rafael Benitez's former club Valencia.
Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso is ruled out for up to two months with the broken ankle he sustained in the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea on New Year's Day.
England international Joe Cole gave English Premier League leaders Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Liverpool when his 80th minute shot was deflected into the net off Jamie Carragher.
Liverpool striker Neil Mellor dented Arsenal's title hopes with a stunning winner at Anfield on Sunday to leave the champions five points adrift of pacesetting Chelsea in the Premier League.
Valencia midfielder Miguel Angel Angulo has earned his first Spain call-up for next week's friendly against England.
Liverpool paid more than £10 million ($18.44m) to pay off former coach Gerard Houllier and his backroom staff, the Premier League club said.
Spain will hope to overcome an unconvincing start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a confident performance against Group Seven leaders Lithuania.
A rare double from French defender Mikael Silvestre handed Manchester United teammate Rio Ferdinand a victorious Premiership return in a 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday.
Spain coach Luis Aragones kept faith with the squad that beat Venezuela last week when he named the same 22 players for next month's friendly against Scotland and a World Cup qualifier in Bosnia.
Monaco hammered 10-man Nova Gorica 6-0 in their third qualifying round return on Tuesday to sail through to the group stage of the Champions League 9-0 on aggregate.
Liverpool hope to complete the signing of Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso by the weekend, manager Rafael Benitez has said.
Real Sociedad midfielder Xabi Alonso is on the verge of a move to Liverpool, the Primera Liga club said on Monday.
Real Madrid are trying to close a deal to sign Real Sociedad and Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso before Euro 2004 gets underway.
Valencia reclaimed Primera Liga top spot from Real Madrid after a last-gasp strike by Mista earned them a priceless 2-2 draw at home to Real Sociedad.

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