Franck Ribery insisted he was no "saviour" despite scoring a brace to help France to a crucial World Cup qualifying win over Belarus. France had not scored in five games prior to Tuesday night but ended that unwanted sequence with an emphatic second-half display that secured their place in the play-offs. Ribery, passed fit after a buttock injury, equalised twice after first Egor Filipenko an...Full Story »

Italy striker Mario Balotelli believes his side has the quality to go far at the 2014 World Cup. The Azzurri on Tuesday night joined Holland as the only European sides to have so far booked their ticket to next year's tournament in Brazil. Cesare Prandelli's side beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Turin yesterday, courtesy of a Balotelli penalty, to qualify with two games to spare. "I think we ...Full Story »

Frank Lampard has backed England's returning stars to fire the Three Lions to World Cup qualification. Roy Hodgson's men moved a point clear at the top of Group H with a 0-0 draw in Ukraine on Tuesday night, but the performance at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev drew stinging criticism from former England striker Gary Lineker. The ex-Tottenham forward, who scored 48 goals for his country, mocked...Full Story »

Manchester City forward Jesus Navas saved Spain's blushes by netting a late equaliser against Chile in an international friendly in Geneva. Eduardo Vargas, who currently plays his football in Brazil, got both of the South American side's goals in the first half, which came either side of Roberto Soldado's equaliser. World and European champions Spain were far from their best and for much of ...Full Story »

The AC Milan star insists the Azzurri will challenge next summer after his penalty against Czech Republic secured their place in Brazil Mario Balotelli claims teams should be scared of facing Italy at next summer's World Cup. The Azzurri confirmed their place in the 2014 finals with a 2-1 in over Czech Republic on Tuesday, with Balotelli scoring the winner from the penalty spot, and the AC M...Full Story »

Italy are yet hit their straps in Group B but coach Cesare Prandelli hopes they have enough motivation to clinch the points needed to make the 2014 World Cup. Victory at the Juventus Stadium against Czech Republic in Turin - which is hosting its first-ever Italy game - would guarantee the four-time world champions a place at next year's finals in Brazil. The Italians, who remain unbeaten in ...Full Story »

Germany coach Joachim Low believes the hostile conditions of the north Atlantic Ocean will give a "rough and tough" Faroe Islands side a helping hand. The Nationalmannschaft are just one win away from booking their place at next summer's Brazil finals, providing Sweden fail to beat Kazakhstan in Astana, and the odds are stacked firmly in Germany's favour given their hosts' dismal record in Wo...Full Story »

Argentina will qualify for the 2014 World Cup with a win over Paraguay on Tuesday, while their passage to Brazil could even be secured before kick-off. The Albiceleste sit top of the South American group and a party atmosphere will be guaranteed among those travelling to Asuncion. As a result of the high stakes, striker Sergio Aguero wants to get the job done with the minimum of fuss. The M...Full Story »

Russia coach Fabio Capello is quite happy to endure more criticism as long as his team beat Israel on Tuesday. Capello's side are second in Group F of the World Cup qualifiers and can go top with a win in St Petersburg. Russia have won five of their seven qualifiers so far, most recently beating Luxembourg 4-1 last week. But that result was not enough to placate Capello's critics who, follo...Full Story »

Giovanni Trapattoni has accepted his reign as Republic of Ireland boss will end after the current World Cup campaign - regardless of whether they qualify or not. Both the 74-year-old Italian and his assistant Marco Tardelli have spoken in recent days of an extended stay despite calls for them to go in the wake of Friday's 2-1 home defeat by Sweden, which left their qualification hopes in tatt...Full Story »