Netherlands reached their first World Cup final since 1978 when the current crop finally stepped out of the shadows of Total Football to beat battling Uruguay 3-2 in a superb semi-final on Tuesday.
South Africa's World Cup hopes were left in tatters by a superior Uruguay side on Wednesday, who outwitted, out muscled and outpaced the home team.
Diego Forlan scrambled an early goal to give Atletico Madrid a deserved 1-0 win over a lethargic-looking Liverpool in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday.
Luis Suarez struck twice in three minutes as Uruguay beat Peru 2-0 in an enthralling encounter on Tuesday to reach the Copa America final and remain on course for a record 15th title.
Barcelona were handed their first defeat of the season by Atletico Madrid after a 2-1 loss on Sunday.
Diego Forlan fired Atletico Madrid into the King's Cup semi-finals on Wednesday when his clinical finish sealed a 2-1 aggregate win at second-division strugglers Celta Vigo.
A bizarre last-minute goal from Mesut Ozil wrapped up a 3-1 comeback win for Real Madrid at home to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Thursday, giving them a healthy advantage in their King's Cup quarter-final.
Real Mallorca earlier came from behind to beat a weakened Barca 2-1 and spoil the new Primera Liga champions' celebrations on Sunday. Barcelona had clinched their first league title in three years on Saturday after second-placed Real Madrid were beaten 3-2 at Villarreal.
Defending champions Brazil reached the Copa America final on Tuesday, beating a feisty Uruguay on penalties after twice surrendering the lead in a 2-2 draw.
Atletico Madrid secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers on Sunday after a goal from Diego Forlan earned them a 1-0 win over Deportivo Coruna and ensured they could finish no lower than fourth in the table. Atletico are now level on 64 points with Barca, but are in fourth because the Catalans have a better record in head-to-heads.
Inter Milan grabbed a slender advantage over Villarreal with a 2-1 comeback win the in Champions League first-leg quarter-final
Champions Manchester United crashed to a sensational 3-1 home defeat by Fulham, while Chelsea went top with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City.
Lightning struck twice when Uruguay suffered another surprise World Cup qualifying defeat at home, losing 3-1 to Peru on Tuesday.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o finished with 26 goals as he scored in his side's 3-1 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.
Man U's impressive pre-season tour of the US continued with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Mexico's Club America.
The Manchester United captain believes the club needs a new striker to partner Dutchman Ruud van Nistelrooy upfront.
An 87th-minute equaliser by Ronaldo helped Brazil salvage a 3-3 draw at home to Uruguay.
Emiliano Martinez said he had always wanted to come to India.
Former Manchester United and Mumbai City forward, Uruguay's Diego Forlan and La Liga's managing director for India, Jose Antonio Cachaza discussed ways for India to become a footballing powerhouse. Norma Godinho/Rediff.com sat in as the duo discussed Indian football and the Spanish League's new India tie-up.
Iain Hume struck twice as former champions Atletico de Kolkata rallied to edge past Mumbai City FC 3-2 in the first leg of the Indian Super League semi-finals, in Kolkata on Saturday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger used to dream about Luis Suarez, the signing that got away, and he will be hoping the Uruguayan striker doesn't give him nightmares when holders Barcelona visit in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Richarlyson Felisbino struck the only goal of the game as FC Goa breathed new life into their Hero Indian Super League campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Mumbai City FC at Mumbai Football Arena, in Mumbai, on Friday.
Following Angel Di Maria's nightmare stint, Bikash Mohapatra/Rediff.com says the 'Theatre of Dreams' has never been a happy a hunting ground for players from the continent
Two goals in four dramatic second-half minutes set lowly Costa Rica on their way to a deserved 3-1 victory over Uruguay on Saturday in the biggest upset of the World Cup so far.
Mumbai City FC ended their League engagements with a goalless draw against Delhi Dynamos to finish on top of Indian Super League football in Mumbai on Saturday.
India, currently ranked 132nd in the FIFA world rankings, have never played in the World Cup finals and kick off the latest phase of their attempt to qualify for the Asian Cup on Tuesday when they take on Myanmar in Yangon.
Luis Suarez could become Barcelona's highest scoring Uruguayan in Saturday's La Liga match at Granada, having equalled in only two seasons what compatriot Ramon Alberto Villaverde Vazquez aggregated in his decade-long stint with the club.
Brazilian great Pele is not the only football star scheduled to touch down in Kolkata with Indian Super League team Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Sourav Ganguly claiming that England superstar Wayne Rooney would also be visiting the city later this year.
Table toppers Mumbai City FC qualified for the semi-finals of the Indian Super League for the first time in three seasons after they outclassed defending champions Chennaiyin FC 2-0 in Mumbai on Wednesday. Mumbai scored a goal in each half through Matias Defederico (32nd minute) and Krisztian Vadocz (60th), and should have won by a much bigger margin but for India captain Sunil Chhetri muffing two of the three gilt-edged chances in the last 10 minutes of the game. Mumbai did not start the game at the frenetic pace they set during their 5-0 thrashing of Kerala Blasters at this same ground four days ago, but they clearly had the better of the exchanges with their slick passing upfront.
Zenit St Petersburg's Brazilian striker Hulk has pulled out of Saturday's World Cup qualifying draw, only days after complaining of "gross and ugly" racism in Russian football.
'There might be other opportunities in Asia. We've been looking at India for nearly two years now. I'd say this year we'll end up doing an investment in India'
The Copa America was played as a 12-team tournament from 1993 when the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) invited two teams from CONCACAF, the North and Central America and Caribbean region, to join in.
A goal by Salomon Rondon gave Venezuela an upset 1-0 win over Uruguay in Philadelphia on Thursday that put them on the verge of the Copa America Centenario quarter-finals with the record 15-times champions facing elimination. When midfielder Alejandro Guerra lobbed Fernando Muslera from more than 30 metres, the Uruguay goalkeeper chased back but only managed to tip the ball onto the bar and striker Rondon raced in to tap it into the net in the 36th minute. Venezuela, who beat Jamaica 1-0 in their opening Group C match, have six points, three more than Mexico, who beat Uruguay 3-1 on Sunday and were playing the Jamaicans later on Thursday in Pasadena. For Venezuela, looking for their maiden title, it was a first win in nine Copa America meetings with Uruguay while Rondon became the first "Vinotinto" (red wine) player to score at three tournaments.
He is certainly not the first to say this but World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo too feels India should follow the 'Japan model' in order to improve the standard of football in the country.
Surez comes to Uruguay's World Cup quarter-final against France on Friday an all-together wiser and maturer
'You have to have a good coach to direct you on the right path.' 'I had Arsene and Pep in my professional career, but I was lucky to have good coaches in my younger days.'
France football legend Thierry Henry, who's on his maiden visit to India, has put Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo among the top contenders to win this year's Ballon d'Or trophy.
News of all that transpired on and off the football field.
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