AFP
Soccer - AFP

France national football team coach Raymond Domenech, seen here during a training session in Clairefontaine and who is set to have talks with French football authorities over his future, will keep his post after France's draw against Romania, according to sports daily L'Equipe on Monday.(AFP/Franck Fife)

Romania revival will earn Domenech reprieve - media

Mon Oct 13, 12:34 PM ET

PARIS (AFP) - Raymond Domenech, who is set to have talks with French football authorities over his future, will keep his post after France's draw against Romania, according to sports daily L'Equipe on Monday.

  • Germany's midfielder Michael Ballack, seen here celebrating the victory over Russia on October 11, 2009, is an injury doubt for Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Wales after damaging a calf muscle, it was announced on Monday.(AFP/DDP/File/Sascha Schuermann)
    Ballack injury doubt for Germany ahead of Wales clash Mon Oct 13, 12:49 PM ET

    BERLIN (AFP) - Germany captain Michael Ballack is an injury doubt for Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Wales after damaging a calf muscle, it was announced on Monday.

  • West Ham United stopper Robert Green on Monday pulled out of England's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.(AFP/File/Ian Kington)
    West Ham keeper Green pulls out of England squad 1 hour, 40 minutes ago

    LONDON (AFP) - West Ham United stopper Robert Green on Monday pulled out of England's squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.

  • England midfielders Frank Lampard (right) and Steven Gerrard attend training at London Colney on October 7. Gerrard admits England stars like Ashley Cole have to be strong enough to cope if the fans turn on them.(AFP/File/Glyn Kirk)
    England stars must live with boo-boys, says Gerrard Mon Oct 13, 9:40 AM ET

    WATFORD, England (AFP) - Steven Gerrard admits England stars like Ashley Cole have to be strong enough to cope if the fans turn on them.

  • Italy's Antonio Di Natale (L) jumps for the ball with Bulgaria's Zhivko Milanov (R) during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia. Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete has said that Italy fans will be barred from buying tickets to away matches until further notice.(AFP/File/Dimitar Dilkoff)
    Italy bans fans from away travel Mon Oct 13, 10:53 AM ET

    ROME (AFP) - Italian football federation president Giancarlo Abete said on Monday that Italy fans will be barred from buying tickets to away matches until further notice.

  • The Liverpool soccer crest is pictured at the Club's stadium at Anfield in Liverpool. Liverpool have rubbished reports which claim they have scrapped plans to move to a new stadium and want to expand Anfield instead.(AFP/File/Paul Ellis)
    Liverpool dismiss reports of scrapped stadium plan Mon Oct 13, 11:12 AM ET

    LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - Liverpool on Monday rubbished reports which claim they have scrapped plans to move to a new stadium and want to expand Anfield instead.

  • Sevilla's Mali international Frederic Kanoute, who tore his right calf against Chad in an African World Cup qualifier at the weekend, will be out of action for at least three weeks, the Spanish first division club said.(AFP/File/Cristina Quicler)
    Sevilla striker Kanoute out injured for three weeks 40 minutes ago

    MADRID (AFP) - Sevilla's Mali international Frederic Kanoute, who tore his right calf against Chad in an African World Cup qualifier at the weekend, will be out of action for at least three weeks, the Spanish first division club said.

  • The European credit crisis will have an impact on Barcelona but the club will weather the storm, a top official at the Catalan club said Monday.(FC Barcelona)
    Barcelona will weather European credit crisis - club 2 hours, 6 minutes ago

    MADRID (AFP) - The European credit crisis will have an impact on Barcelona but the club will weather the storm, a top official at the Catalan club said Monday.

  • Coach of the Italian national football team Marcello Lippi, seen here in September 2008, has volunteered to take part in an anti-racism and anti-fascism film aimed at schoolchildren, its director Moni Ovadia said Monday.(AFP/File/Boryana Katsarova)
    Lippi to take part in anti-racism film Mon Oct 13, 1:47 PM ET

    ROME (AFP) - Italy coach Marcelo Lippi has volunteered to take part in an anti-racism and anti-fascism film aimed at schoolchildren, its director Moni Ovadia said Monday.

  • Former Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho, seen here in 2007, has been named the new boss of Osasuna after Jose Angel Ziganda was sacked earlier on Monday.(AFP/File/Francisco Leong)
    Camacho named new Osasuna coach 1 hour, 29 minutes ago

    MADRID (AFP) - Former Spain coach Jose Antonio Camacho has been named the new boss of Osasuna after Jose Angel Ziganda was sacked earlier on Monday.

  • Brazil's Robinho (L) celebrates his goal against Venezuela during their FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying football match at the Pueblo Nuevo stadium in San Cristobal, Venezuela. Brazil won 4-0.(AFP/Juan Barreto)
    Kaka and Robinho lead Brazil to victory in World Cup qualifier Sun Oct 12, 6:03 PM ET

    SAN CRISTOBAL, Venezuela (AFP) - World player of the year Kaka returned after an 11-month international absence to inspire five-time champions Brazil to a 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Venezuela here on Sunday.

  • England midfielders Frank Lampard (right) and Steven Gerrard attend training at London Colney on October 7. Former England manager Bobby Robson insists there is room for both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the England midfield engine room - but wants Fabio Capello to use them in a 4-4-2 formation.(AFP/File/Glyn Kirk)
    Robson insists room for Lampard and Gerrard Sun Oct 12, 7:44 AM ET

    LONDON (AFP) - Former England manager Bobby Robson insists there is room for both Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the England midfield engine room - but wants Fabio Capello to use them in a 4-4-2 formation.

  • Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo practices with the ball at the Maladiere Stadium in Neuchatel, Switzerland, June 2008. Real Madrid are still hoping to prise Ronaldo from Manchester United by next summer, according to an interview published Sunday with coach Bernd Schuster.(AFP/File/Fabrice Coffrini)
    Real looking at further tilt on Ronaldo Sun Oct 12, 9:18 AM ET

    MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid are still hoping to prise Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United by next summer, according to an interview published Sunday with coach Bernd Schuster.

  • Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, seen here in May 2008, has played down rumours linking him with a transfer to English Premiership big spenders Manchester City.(AFP/File/Lluis Gene)
    Henry plays down Man City rumours Sun Oct 12, 9:06 AM ET

    CLAIREFONTAINE, France (AFP) - Barcelona striker Thierry Henry has played down rumours linking him with a transfer to English Premiership big spenders Manchester City.

  • Jakub Blaszczykowski from Poland enjoys after scoring second goal against Czech Republic during their FIFA World Cup 2010 qualification match in Chorzow. The Czech football team is under increasing pressure after a 2-1 away loss to Poland, staying fourth with a single point from two games in its qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup.(AFP/Janek Skarzynski)
    Czechs under pressure after loss to Poland Sun Oct 12, 5:40 AM ET

    PRAGUE (AFP) - The Czech football team is under increasing pressure after a 2-1 away loss to Poland on Saturday, staying fourth with a single point from two games in its qualifying group for the 2010 World Cup.

  • Rio Ferdinand, seen here in September 2008, has warned England that only a victory is acceptable in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.(AFP/File/Ian Kington)
    Ferdinand warns England that only a win will do in Belarus Sun Oct 12, 9:21 AM ET

    LONDON (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand has warned England that only a victory is acceptable in Wednesday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus.

  • Germany coach Joachim Low said on Sunday he would no longer select striker Kevin Kuranyi, pictured in June 2008, after he went absent without leave, disappearing from the stadium following Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia in a World Cup qualifier.(AFP/DDP/File/Sascha Schuermann)
    German coach dumps AWOL striker Kuranyi Sun Oct 12, 1:29 PM ET

    DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) - Germany coach Joachim Low said on Sunday he would no longer select striker Kevin Kuranyi after he went absent without leave, disappearing from the stadium following Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia in a World Cup qualifier.

  • Hondura's Carlo Costly celebrates a goal against Canada during their FIFA World Cup South Africa-2010 qualifier match at the Metropolitan Olympic Stadium in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, on October 11. Honduras won 3-1.(AFP/Orlando Sierra)
    Hondurans boost World Cup hopes by beating Canada 3-1 Sun Oct 12, 1:03 AM ET

    SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (AFP) - Honduras took a major step toward advancement in 2010 World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 victory over Canada here Saturday while Mexico suffered an upset loss at Jamaica.

  • Guinea and Mozambique filled the final slots Sunday as six months of 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup second round qualifying drama ended. Guinea won 3-2 in Conakry. Ismael Bangoura, pictured in 2006, scored in the first half and Mamadou Bah and Kamil Zayatte in the second to give 'National Elephant' a three-goal cushion before the 'Harambee Stars' hit back.(AFP/File/Jean-Francois Monier)
    Guinea and Mozambique survive World Cup cull Sun Oct 12, 4:09 PM ET

    JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Guinea and Mozambique filled the final slots Sunday as six months of 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup second round qualifying drama ended.

  • Russia coach Guus Hiddink, seen here, insisted his team will keep learning from their 2-1 defeat to Germany as they prepare for their next World Cup qualifier against Finland.(AFP/File/Yuri Kadobnov)
    We'll learn from Germany defeat, says Hiddink Sun Oct 12, 11:49 AM ET

    DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) - Russia coach Guus Hiddink insisted his team will keep learning from their 2-1 defeat to Germany as they prepare for their next World Cup qualifier against Finland on Wednesday.

  • France's Florent Malouda (L) jumps for the ball with Romania's George Ogararu during their World Cup 2010 qualifying football match at Farul stadium in Constanta, Romania. The future of France coach Raymond Domenech was left hanging in the balance on Saturday after a spirited Romania took a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with the 1998 World Cup winners.(AFP/Daniel Mihailescu)
    Spirited Romania hold France 2-2 Sat Oct 11, 5:43 PM ET

    CONSTANTA, Romania (AFP) - The future of France coach Raymond Domenech was left hanging in the balance on Saturday after a spirited Romania took a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with the 1998 World Cup winners.

  • England's Wayne Rooney (L) jumps over a tackle from Kazakhstan's Sergey Ostapenko (C, down) during their FIFA World Cup European Qualifying group 6 football match at Wembley Stadium in London. Rooney scored twice as England kept their World Cup show on the road with a 5-1 Wembley win over group nine minnows Kazakhstan that was nothing like as convincing as the scoreline suggested.(AFP/Adrian Dennis)
    Rooney strikes twice to keep England on track Sat Oct 11, 3:13 PM ET

    LONDON (AFP) - Wayne Rooney scored twice as England kept their World Cup show on the road with a 5-1 Wembley win over Kazakhstan that was nothing like as convincing as the scoreline suggested.

  • Germany's midfielder Michael Ballack (L) fights for the ball against Russia's striker Andrei Arshavin during their Football World Cup 2010 qualifying match in Dortmund, western Germany. Ballack and Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski fired first-half goals to give Germany a 2-1 win over Russia in Saturday's World Cup qualifier.(AFP/DDP/Sascha Schuermann)
    Ballack, Podolski seal Germany win over Russia Sat Oct 11, 6:16 PM ET

    DORTMUND, Germany (AFP) - Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack and Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski fired first-half goals to give Germany a 2-1 win over hard-working Russia in Saturday's World Cup qualifier here.

  • Italy's Antonio Di Natale (L) jumps for the ball with Bulgaria's Zhivko Milanov (R) during their World Cup 2010 qualifying soccer match at Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia. Defending champions Italy put their injury concerns to one side to carve out a 0-0 draw against Bulgaria to stay on course for the 2010 World Cup finals on Saturday.(AFP/Dimitar Dilkoff)
    Solid Italy scrape point against Bulgaria Sat Oct 11, 5:07 PM ET

    SOFIA (AFP) - Defending champions Italy put their injury concerns to one side to carve out a 0-0 draw against Bulgaria to stay on course for the 2010 World Cup finals on Saturday.

  • Norway's Morten Gamst Pedersen (L) challenges Scotland's Scott Brown during their 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier football match at Hampden Park, in Glasgow, Scotland. Scotland's World Cup qualification on Saturday hung in the balance after a goalless draw against Norway at Hampden.(AFP/Paul Ellis)
    Scotland draw a blank against Norway in World Cup qualification Sat Oct 11, 1:38 PM ET

    GLASGOW (AFP) - Scotland's World Cup qualification on Saturday hung in the balance after a goalless draw against Norway at Hampden.

  • Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Estonia to maintain their 100 percent record after three matches in the World Cup qualifying Group 5. Spain coach Vicente del Bosque was finally able to field his two first-choice strikers, David Villa and Fernando Torres, seen here on October 8, 2008, after the Liverpool player returned from injury.(AFP/File/Pierre-Philippe Marcou)
    Spain make it three out of three with Estonia win Sat Oct 11, 5:09 PM ET

    TALLINN (AFP) - Spain cruised to a 3-0 win over Estonia to maintain their 100 percent record after three matches in the World Cup qualifying Group 5.

  • Nigerian Christian Obodo celebrates after scoring during a 2006 game. Nigeria consolidated their leadership of Group Four of the qualifying tournament for the 2010 World Cup with a 4-1 trouncing of Sierra Leone here on Saturday.(AFP/File/Issouf Sanogo)
    Four-goal Adebayor changes his mind and punishes Swaziland Sat Oct 11, 5:12 PM ET

    JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor ended a one-month national team boycott by scoring four goals as Togo sank Swaziland 6-0 Saturday in a 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifier.

  • Wales struggled to clinch a 2-0 victory over minnows Liechtenstein on Saturday to keep their hopes of making the World Cup finals alive. Skipper Craig Bellamy, pictured her ein July 2008, missed a penalty following almost a year out of the side due to injury.(AFP/Getty Images/File/Claus Andersen)
    Wales toil to victory over Liechtenstein Sat Oct 11, 3:35 PM ET

    CARDIFF (AFP) - Wales struggled to clinch a 2-0 victory over minnows Liechtenstein on Saturday to keep their hopes of making the World Cup finals alive.

  • Costa Rica became the first team to advance to next year's North American final qualifying for World Cup 2010 in South Africa by defeating host Suriname 4-1 here Saturday. Walter Centeno, seen here in action in 2007, scored in the 10th minute to give Costa Rica the lead for good and Bryan Ruiz added another in the 37th minute.(AFP/File/Geoff Robins)
    Costa Ricans advance with World Cup qualifying win Sat Oct 11, 6:54 PM ET

    PARAMARIBO (AFP) - Costa Rica became the first team to advance to next year's North American final qualifying for World Cup 2010 in South Africa by defeating host Suriname 4-1 here Saturday.