"But what is sure is that the shock will be even worse for my father. He is 54 years old and he has never had to go through something like this."

Diego Maradona calls the first knockout stage of a Soccer World Cup the point "where history really begins."

The coaches of Mexico and Uruguay have dismissed suggestions they might collude to produce the draw that would put both their teams into the last 16.

Wayne Rooney has vowed to achieve redemption for his red-card exit from the last Soccer World Cup by firing England into the knockout stages.

Fabio Capello will be glad if he gets to Sunday without suffering any further setbacks to England’s preparations for the World Cup in South Africa.

Chelsea were crowned English champions on Sunday after thrashing Wigan 8-0 in an emphatic finale to a season in which they pipped Manchester United.

Chelsea may come to regard their exit from the Champions League as a blessing in disguise.