Ireland 0-1 Argentina
Norway 2-1 France
Denmark 2-2 Germany
England 2-1 Hungary

London: Spain returned to action exactly a month after winning the World Cup to draw 1-1 at Mexico with an injury-time goal, while the Netherlands drew 1-1 at Ukraine in its first game since losing the final.

David Silva scored in the second minute of added time for the Spanish, who trailed for almost the whole of what amounted to a practice game for the out-of-shape world champions -

Paris: The 23 members of France's World Cup squad have been suspended for the country's next game, the French Football Federation (FFF) said on Friday.The decision was taken during a meeting of the FFF's Federal council on the recommendation of new coach Laurent Blanc following the country's World Cup debacle, a statement said.

Winning start for Kerala

Kolkata: Assam routed Himachal Pradesh 10-0 to kick off their campaign on a spectacular note in the 64th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy here on Thursday.

Kerala, Orissa and Railways also got off to winning starts in their respective cluster matches of the day at various venues here.

New Delhi: The controversy surrounding India football coach Bob Houghton's resignation is finally over with the Briton himself announcing that he has struck a deal with the AIFF to continue till 2013.

"I have signed a contract till 2013," Houghton, who had threatened to resign in May after he learnt that the AIFF was looking for a new coach after the 2011 Asian Cup in Qatar, said at a press conference on the eve of national team's departure for a two-month training tour of Portugal.

Berlin: Former Germany captain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is poised to sign a two-year contract with his old team Bayer Leverkusen in a 15-million-euro deal, the club confirmed on Friday.

"My return to Bayer ... is the closing of a circle for me. I had a great and successful time here which I think back on with great pleasure. That played a role in my decision for Bayer," said the 33-year-old.

Madrid: Outgoing Barcelona chairman Joan Laporta believes Arsenal will finally agree to sell midfield star Cesc Fabregas, although he's not sure when that might happen.

Fabregas has made it clear to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger that he wants to rejoin his boyhood club before the start of next season.

Arsenal early this month rejected a 35-million-euro offer from the Spanish champions for Spain star.

Madrid: Barcelona's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to leave the Spanish side and could return to Italy or move to the England, Spain's sports media reported on Sunday.

The player has decided to quit the club after ending the season on the substitute's bench and, according to the Catalan sports daily Mundo Deportivo, he prefers a transfer to AC Milan over Juventus or Manchester City, the two other clubs which have shown interest.

Rival Catalan sports daily Sport said the 28-year-old would be "ideal" for AC Milan, which is

New Delhi: Now more women are found sitting glued to their television sets, screaming

and supporting for their favorite team and players in the ongoing FIFA games. Every

third television viewer in India rooting for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi or Wayne

Rooney during the first week of the soccer tournament happens to be a woman,

According to rating agency TAM.

AS reported by Meenakshi Verma Ambwani of Economic Times, it is interesting to

Barcelona: Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure is poised for a move away from Barcelona and Manchester City is a strong option, his agent Dimitri Seluk said Tuesday following talks at the Spanish club.

"In a few days we will have a definitive solution, although I must talk to him before," he told reporters after leaving Barcelona's offices.

"Manchester City is one of the options.

London: Brazil forward Robinho has revealed that he has not ruled out a return to Manchester City after the World Cup.

Robinho, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Santos, has been heavily linked with a permanent move away from Eastlands this summer.

However, quoted in the Daily Star Sunday, Robinho said: "I honestly don't know what will happen at City. We will just see what happens over the summer but I haven't ruled out a return.