Deschamps still unsure what his best team is

PARIS (AP) ― With Europe’s World Cup playoffs looming, France coach Didier Deschamps still does not know what his best team is. France is second in Group I behind Spain and, barring a monumental collapse by the World Cup winner and two-time European champion, France will have to qualify through next month’s playoffs. Deschamps has had a difficult time so far as coach, and injuries have played their part. Ahead of Friday’s friendly against Australia and the final group qualifier against Finland o

Oct. 11, 2013

S. Korea to host Brazil in highly anticipated football friendly

In one of the most highly anticipated football matches here this year, South Korea will host Brazil in the nation's capital on Saturday.The match will take place at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m.According to the Korea Football Association (KFA), it is expected to draw a near-sellout crowd at the 66,000-seat venue and set a new attendance record for a football friendly there.The record for the largest turnout at Seoul World Cup Stadium is 62,884, when South Korea took on the Netherlands in Jun

Oct. 11, 2013

First batch of players report to nat'l football camp before facing Brazil

The first batch of players named to South Korean men's national football team reported to their training camp on Tuesday as they prepared to host five-time World Cup champion Brazil.South Korea, ranked 58th, will host the world No. 8 Brazil at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday. Players from leagues in Europe, China and Japan were the first to join the camp set up at the National Football Center here in Paju, north of Seoul. They will later be joined by players based in the domestic K

Oct. 8, 2013

Much-maligned footballer Ki Sung-yueng vows to apologize to ex-coach

South Korean footballer Ki Sung-yueng, heavily criticized over writing derisive online comments toward his former national team head coach, vowed on Monday to make a personal apology.The midfielder for Sunderland in English Premier League arrived at Incheon International Airport Monday to join the national team's training camp this week. South Korea is scheduled to host Brazil on Saturday and Mali on Oct. 15.Ki, once a fixture on the national team, is back on the squad for the first time under t

Oct. 7, 2013

United rallies to end EPL skid

LONDON (AP) ― Belgian teenager Adnan Januzaj scored twice in his first start for Manchester United, rallying the Red Devils to a 2-1 win at last-place Sunderland on Saturday that avoided their first three-game Premier League losing streak since December 2001.After losses against Manchester City and West Bromwich Albion, United fell behind in the fifth minute when Nemanja Vidic’s poor clearance attempt went into the path of Craig Gardner, who beat goalkeeper David De Gea.The 18-year-old Januzaj s

Oct. 6, 2013

Bayern Munich crush City as United draw

PARIS (AFP) ― Titleholders Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Paris Saint Germain emerged from the second batch of Champions League action with comfortable wins on Wednesday while the two clubs from Manchester endured differing fates.David Moyes’ United, after their worst start to a domestic campaign in 24 years, were held to a dour 1-1 draw by Shakhtar Donetsk in a game that went ahead without injured Wayne Rooney.The stalemate, after Danny Welbeck’s early opener was cancelled out by Taison 14 minu

Oct. 3, 2013

FC Seoul makes AFC Champions League finals

FC Seoul has reached the finals of the AFC Champions League.FC Seoul played to a 2-2 draw against Esteghlal in Tehran early Thursday, Korean time, to finish off a 4-2 aggregate victory over the Iranian club in their two-leg semifinals.FC Seoul is the fifth straight club from South Korea's K League Classic to make the finals at the top Asian club football competition.In the finals, FC Seoul will meet Guangzhou Evergrande of China. The Chinese club defeated Kashiwa Reysol of Japan 4-0 in the secon

Oct. 3, 2013

FC Seoul looks to finish off Iranian opponent in AFC Champions League

   (Yonhap) -- South Korean football club FC Seoul will look to finish off its Iranian opponent and make the finals at this year's AFC Champions League this week.   FC Seoul will travel to Azadi Stadium in Tehran to face Esteghlal in the second leg of the semifinals at the top Asian club football competition. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on Wednesday local time, or 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Korean time.   Last Wednesday, FC Seoul blanked Esteghlal 2-0 at Seoul World Cup Stadium, on goals by Dej

Oct. 1, 2013

Brazil eyes fringe benefits from Asia visit

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) ― Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said the door is still open for fringe players to force their way into his World Cup plans as he revealed his squad to face South Korea and Zambia in October friendlies.Scolari will be without experienced goalkeeper Julio Cesar and defender Thiago Silva, who are both injured, for the game with South Korea in Seoul on Oct. 12 and against Zambia, three days later in Beijing.In Cesar’s absence, Scolari’s 23-man squad includes Atletico Mineiro

Sept. 27, 2013

Brazil to bring top guns to football friendly vs. S. Korea

Five-time World Cup champion Brazil will bring most of its top guns to an upcoming football friendly against South Korea.FC Barcelona forward Neymar will headline the 23-man roster for the world No. 8 Brazil, which will visit Seoul World Cup Stadium on Oct. 12 for its fifth meeting against South Korea. Brazil has won three of the four previous matches between the teams.At a news conference, head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he was looking forward to having Neymar's services up front."It is int

Sept. 27, 2013

Torres on target as Chelsea ...advances

LONDON (AP) ― Fernando Torres made the most of a rare Chelsea start Tuesday by scoring one and setting up another in a 2-0 victory over third-tier club Swindon in the League Cup, while Manchester City and Tottenham advanced with stylish wins.Torres slotted in from close range in the 29th minute, and then wriggled through the defense six minutes later before slipping the ball through to Ramires to dink the ball into the net.“For the players who have not played in the last few matches it was good

Sept. 25, 2013

FC Seoul to host Esteghlal in semis

FC Seoul will try to become the fifth straight South Korean soccer club to reach the final of the AFC Champions League, as it opens the two-leg semifinals against Esteghlal of Iran at home this week.FC Seoul will host the Iranian club at Seoul World Cup Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Wednesday. The second leg will be held on Oct. 2 at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.The aggregate score after the two legs will determine who will reach the final at the top Asian club football competition. The away goa

Sept. 24, 2013

Park Ji-sung gets goal, assist in PSV’s win against Ajax

Midfielder Park Ji-sung of Dutch Eredivisie league’s PSV Eindhoven scored the second goal of the season along with an assist on Sunday, lifting his team to a 4-0 victory against Ajax.The South Korean played 90 minutes for the first time since he transferred to his current team, brushing off concerns among his fans that his recent injuries and fatigue might put a strain on his play at the new team.Eindhoven started off strong with Tim Matavz and Jetro Willems scoring the first two goals of the ma

Sept. 23, 2013

Barcelona beats Rayo 4-0 to stay perfect through 5

BARCELONA (AP) ― Pedro Rodriguez scored three goals and Victor Valdes saved another penalty in Barcelona’s 4-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, keeping the defending Spanish league champions perfect through five rounds.Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesday’s 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.The Spain forward has five goals this season, maki

Sept. 22, 2013