FIFA.com - News

Belgium move clear, Portugal claim key win

Sat, 08 Jun 2013 03:01:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews Friday's matchday in European qualifying for Brazil 2014 as Belgium and Portugal improved their prospects, while Croatia and Montenegro both stumbled at home.

Crunch time for Portugal in Europe

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:09:00 GMT

Russia's trip to face an under-pressure Portugal side is arguably the highlight of an intriguing programme of European Zone qualifiers on Friday, which also includes Belgium-Serbia, Czech Republic-Italy and Austria-Sweden.

USA, Sweden, France trump rivals

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:46:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the latest in women’s football as USA overwhelmed Canada in a typically full-blooded north American derby, while Sweden and France received morale-boosting wins ahead of July's UEFA Women’s EURO.

Cazorla: It makes no sense to doubt Spain

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 15:21:00 GMT

Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla has insisted that "it makes no sense" for the FIFA World Cup™-holders' detractors to doubt them, despite back-to-back draws in qualifying Group I.

Lack of precision frustrates Del Bosque

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 03:29:00 GMT

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque lamented his side's inability to turn possession into goals after a shock home draw against Finland left the world champions likely needing a win over France in Paris on Tuesday if they are to top the group.

Spain stumble, Portugal rescue point

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:25:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews all the action from a massive evening of Brazil 2014 qualifiers in Europe highlighted by a shock draw at home for world champions Spain against Finland, while Portugal narrowly avoided defeat in Israel.

Spain draw, slip to second

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:52:00 GMT

Reigning champions Spain dropped two priceless points in their FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign as they were held to a shock draw with Finland at the El Molinon stadium in Gijon.

Ramos: We cannot live in the past

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 09:49:00 GMT

WIth a crucial week in their quest to reach the 2014 FIFA World Cup™, Sergio Ramos - who is set to become Spain's youngest player to earn 100 caps - insists the world champions must not live in the past.

Busquets: Barça and Real players are in the same ship

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 14:07:00 GMT

Sergio Busquets has insisted there is no divide between the Barcelona and Real Madrid players while they are on international duty, and outlined the importance of the France-Spain clash.

Ramos: I want to be in Spain's history books

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:56:00 GMT

Sergio Ramos has expressed his satisfaction at being on the cusp of reaching 100 caps for Spain and discussed their upcoming Brazil 2014 qualifiers against Finland and France.

North European hopefuls set for action

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 08:27:00 GMT

As many European leagues are rounding into their final straights, those to the north of the continent are just firing up their engines. FIFA.com previews the 2013 campaigns in Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Finland.

Del Bosque denies negative selection

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:16:00 GMT

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque has dismissed suggestions that his squad for crucial FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers against Finland and France is lacking in forwards.

England exact revenge in Cyprus

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 08:14:00 GMT

Some four months prior to UEFA Women's EURO 2013 in Sweden, England laid down a marker with victory over Canada in the Cyprus Cup final. FIFA.com reviews the action.

Finns target major tournament breakthrough

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 07:30:00 GMT

Finland are warming up for the 2013 UEFA Women’s EURO at the Cyprus Cup. FIFA.com spoke to striking duo Sanna Talonen and Linda Sallstrom about the July tournament and their dream of breakthrough qualification for Canada 2015.

Women’s round-up: February 2013

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:13:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the latest from the women’s game in a busy month with Germany 2011 finalists USA and Japan undergoing a period of change, while the United States' new national league is fast approaching.

Happy Birthday to you!

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 09:22:00 GMT

As is tradition on a Sunday, FIFA.com looks ahead to the week of footballing birthdays, including creative maestros Beppe Signori, Enzo Scifo and Jari Litmanen as well as some midfield steel in the shape of Claude Makelele.

Martic takes charge of Finnish futsal

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 12:51:00 GMT

Mico Martic has taken over as Head Coach of the Finnish futsal national team, signing a contract until the end of September 2013.

Who should your club sign?

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 10:54:00 GMT

FIFA.com wants to know who you reckon your club should sign in January 2013.

UEFA confirm multi-city EURO 2020

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:50:00 GMT

UEFA have confirmed that UEFA EURO 2020 will not take place in a single country, instead being staged across multiple cities around the continent.

Northern Europe’s confirmed champions

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:12:00 GMT

While some of the more headline-grabbing divisions across Europe are only meeting their mid-point, however in much of Scandinavia and the north of the continent their champions have been crowned. FIFA.com rounds-up these leagues.

Moller Nielsen, Moisander & Saari scoop Finnish awards

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:03:00 GMT

Richard Moller Nielsen has been awarded the prestigious Captain’s Ball for his contribution to Finnish football, while Niklas Moisander and Maija Saari have pocketed the country's top annual male and female honours respectively.

What is international football’s biggest rivalry?

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 10:36:00 GMT

FIFA.com wants to know what you feel is the biggest rivalry in the international game.

EURO draw pits old foes together

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:33:00 GMT

The draw for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 was made in Gothenburg on Friday, with France and England set to renew their rivalry and holders Germany facing familiar foes.

Excitement as Euro elite face off

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Five games pit table-toppers against close rivals on Matchday 4 of European Zone qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil, as FIFA.com explains.

Ten-man Finland rescue Georgia point

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:56:00 GMT

Kasper Hamalainen's strike rescued a point for ten-man Finland in tonight's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Georgia in Helsinki.

High stakes in Belgrade, Moscow and Piraeus

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 07:08:00 GMT

England, the Netherlands and Sweden may be expected to build up their goal difference on Matchday 3, but in Serbia-Belgium, Russia-Portugal and Greece-Bosnia-Herzegovina, the menu has some fascinating, hard-to-call fixtures.

Quartet reach Euro finals

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:53:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews the latest international action as the 2013 UEFA Women’s EURO field narrowed with Norway, Denmark and England amongst those celebrating, while Pia Sundhage ended her USA tenure in style.

Euro contenders vie for last-ditch qualification

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:29:00 GMT

FIFA.com wraps up all the latest women’s international action, highlighted by a host of crucial UEFA Women’s EURO qualifying matches as France and Finland became the latest nations to secure a berth to next year’s continental finals.

Powerhouses make steady progress

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 00:23:00 GMT

FIFA.com reviews all the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ qualifying action from Europe on a positive evening for the continent's major nations, although both Germany and Spain were made to work overtime before collecting wins.

World champions join the party

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:26:00 GMT

After a dramatic opening weekend of FIFA World Cup qualifying action in the European Zone, Spain begin their campaign tomorrow with a match in Georgia. FIFA.com looks ahead to all the action in the old continent.

Deschamps hails 'complete' Diaby

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:31:00 GMT

After his match-winning goal against Finland yesterday, France coach Didier Deschamps labelled Abou Diaby "a complete midfielder", following his return from a long-running injury saga.

Big guns hit ground running

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 23:56:00 GMT

The likes of England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal made winning starts to European Zone qualifying for Brazil 2014, while Italy were held to a 2-2 draw in Bulgaria.

Diaby return sparks French in Finn win

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 21:42:00 GMT

Abou Diaby marked his return to international football with the only goal of the game as France began their bid to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ finals with a 1-0 win against Finland.

Valbuena: We can do better than Spain

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 14:37:00 GMT

Mathieu Valbuena insists France have what it takes to pip Spain to first place in Group I as the European Zone FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers for Brazil 2014 begin on Friday evening.

Road to Brazil begins in Europe

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:41:00 GMT

All 53 European member associations will be involved in the first round of FIFA World Cup preliminaries this Friday and Saturday as the road to Brazil begins in the Old Continent.

Menez back for France

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:04:00 GMT

Jeremy Menez has been recalled to the France squad for the FIFA World Cup™ qualifiers against Finland and Belarus in early September.

League leaders stay on course

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:07:00 GMT

FIFA.com rounds up all the latest action from Europe’s top women’s leagues, where the leading clubs in England, Sweden and Denmark all flexed their muscles to maintain their positions at the respective summits.

Moisander seals Ajax return

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:26:00 GMT

After successful spells at Zwolle and AZ Alkmaar, Finland international Niklas Moisander has returned to Ajax in a €3m deal.

O'Neill willing to stick with Rangers duo

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 07:58:00 GMT

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill intends to stick with Rangers duo Dean Shiels and Andy Little, despite the fact they both play in Scotland's fourth tier.

Celtic eye Champions League progression

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 03:00:00 GMT

Celtic will need to overcome one of the worst away records in European football if they are to reach the next UEFA Champions League stage and provide a boost to Scottish football.

Inter, Liverpool enter latest round

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:01:00 GMT

Inter Milan and Liverpool are among the sides to enter the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League, for which the draw was announced on Friday.

Third qualifying round draw revealed

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:36:00 GMT

The draw for the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League was held on Friday, with sides such as Anderlecht, Celtic, Dynamo Kyiv, Feyenoord and Panathinaikos discovering their fate.

No changes at the top

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:57:00 GMT

As the Swedish and English leagues head into their summer breaks, the action is just hotting up in Finland. FIFA.com rounds up the latest from selected women's leagues around Europe.

Jaaskelainen agrees Hammers switch

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:18:00 GMT

After 15 years at Bolton Wanderers, Finnish goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has agreed to move to Premier League returnees West Ham United, joining up with former boss Sam Allardyce.

Finland hosts first INTERPOL pilot training workshop

Thu, 31 May 2012 16:50:00 GMT

FIFA.com reports from Finland on the first workshop organised by INTERPOL as part of its ten-year initiative with FIFA to tackle match-fixing and corruption in football.

African aces stalking European stage

Fri, 25 May 2012 06:06:00 GMT

FIFA.com takes a look at some of the many African strikers who have made their goalscoring mark in Europe during the recently completed season.

FIFA extends further sanctions for match-fixing

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:35:00 GMT

The Chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has extended sanctions imposed by the Disciplinary Committee of the Finland Football Federation on six players to have worldwide effect.

Streaks, strikes and a new sensation

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:06:00 GMT

Mario Gomez, Eden Hazard and 17-year-old Joel Pohjanpalo feature alongside Fluminense and Manchester United in FIFA.com's latest stats review.

Goals aplenty as national teams grab spotlight

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:59:00 GMT

With the weekend designated for international women’s fixtures, FIFA.com runs the rule over UEFA Women’s EURO 2013 qualifiers and the latest contest between Germany 2011 finalists USA and Japan.

Dutt dismissed by Leverkusen

Sun, 01 Apr 2012 11:14:00 GMT

Robin Dutt has been sacked as Bayer Leverkusen coach after their fourth consecutive Bundesliga defeat at home to Freiburg yesterday, with Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski taking temporary charge.