Commentary

Defending champions Egypt made sure of a record extending number of CAF Africa Cup of Nations finals appearances, but it was Mali who stole the plaudits as the final three places at Ghana 2008 were claimed on Friday and Saturday.

Wayne Rooney scored his first goal in a competitive international in over three years as England warmed up for their crunch UEFA EURO 2008 qualifier in Russia by beating Estonia 3-0 at Wembley. It was Steve McClaren squad's fifth successive 3-0 win in group E, but that run will count for little if they are defeated by Russia in Moscow on Wednesday.

Tottenham marked their 125th anniversary with an extraordinary fightback to earn a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa that may just have been enough to save manager Martin Jol from the sack.

THE DAY REPLAYED - The best players produce on the biggest stages. It is a maxim as old as the game itself. And so the FIFA Women's World Cup went to Germany for the second time in the new century because when the pressure was at its most intense, Birgit Prinz kept her nerve and Marta did not.

Iceland coach Eyjolfur Sverrisson is full of praise for his young team after their recent run of success. "All our players are ready to take on any opponents," said Sverrisson proudly after their 2-1 win over Northern Ireland in the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers. Sverrisson, who used to ply his trade on the pitch for Stuttgart and Hertha Berlin, has every reason to look to the future with confidence.

England coach Steve McClaren was on Tuesday facing up to the likelihood that he will have to do without Michael Owen for next month's crucial UEFA EURO 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia.

Professional football clubs are meant to strive for the championship title but there is scant evidence of any real effort in the 2007 V-League apart from Becamex Binh Duong, which has won the premiership by a wide margin.

Football fields are full of tricks. Hang Day Stadium last Sunday afternoon was no exception. However, “man proposes, god disposes” and so the danger of a relegation play-off still looms large over Hoa Phat Ha Noi.

Few would dispute that the main attractions of the Brazil women's national team are Marta and Cristiane, two immensely talented players who boast a celebrity status to match. But while the gifted duo undoubtedly merit their star billing, there are a host of other Seleção girls with many attributes of their own, notably Rosana and Daniela Alves, the two remaining members of Brazil's fantastic four.

Every game at the FIFA Women's World Cup carries a weight of importance, but Japan-England has arguably an additional slice of significance. With holders Germany and South American champions Argentina lying in wait, the teams will view Group A's second match as a must-win affair.

Fourteen months on from the final of the 2006 FIFA World Cup™, Italy and France will meet again on Saturday at the San Siro, this time in a crucial Group B qualifier for UEFA EURO 2008.

Two-time world champions USA are always among the favourites when a FIFA Women's World Cup rolls around. But they will be in for a baptism of fire on 11 September when they take on Korea DPR in their first Group B match. With some new faces, the Americans will have their hands full against the speedy Asians who have been tipped by many as outside favourites.

Valencia said on Wednesday they would open disciplinary proceedings against Spain winger Vicente after he criticised the club's medical staff.

As every football fan knows, any team with designs on glory needs a solid backbone. And the first key element in the spine of a successful side is the goalkeeper. Get a reliable pair of hands between the posts and you are well on the way to grabbing some silverware.

During his general audience of 1 August 2007, during which Pope Benedict XVI received a delegation of over 200 scouts from all around the world, the head of the Roman Catholic Church gave a special mention to the Iraqi team's victory at the AFC Asian Cup at the end of July in Jakarta, Indonesia.