International Team-Mates To Fight For Place At Chelsea - Why Diego Costa Needs A Good Start

With his signing now announced, Chelsea’s newest striker Diego Costa has claimed he is ready to make an impact for the Blues in the Premier League.  The first thing he has set his sights on, according to the Express, is the battle with Fernando Torres for a place in the starting lineup.

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Manchester United Have Herrera Offer Rejected - Why They Could Still Sign Him

Manchester United supporters have lamented their club’s lack of central midfield options for a while now.  Despite being strongly linked with a move for Athletic Bilbao’s Ander Herrera, will they be able to agree a deal for him?

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Was Mourinho Wrong To Let Mata Join Manchester United?

Hands up, who saw that coming then? Juan Mata making the jump from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford is one of the most surprising transfer stories of recent years, and there we all were predicting a quiet January transfer window.

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5 Teams With Their Flights Booked For Next Summer's World Cup

With World Cup qualification coming to a close, let us take a quick look at the five nations already sure of their place in Brazil:

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Why Brazil's loss is Spain's gain with La Liga striker

With Diego Costa expressing his desire to play for Spain instead of his birth country, Brazil, how crucial could it be in a World Cup year, though?

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Why is the Number 10 role so important?

This is actually quite a new phenomenon, or at least it's importance is new. In the past the 'number 10' has usually been the secondary striker, or in more simple terms, the player that plays behind the striker. Dennis Bergkamp was a famous 'number 10' and one of the best. Henry was the player that played beyond him with Dennis instigating most attacks. However, these 'number 10's' could also play as the main striker if needs be. In this day and age, the 'number 10' role is often played by the attacking midfielder. So a few current examples are Mesut Ozil, Juan Mata and David Silva. They will still instigate most attacks but will not be a replacement striker.

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Why Cynicism Is The Wrong Message To Send Out To The England Squad

The favourites for next year's World Cup are undoubtedly the hosts of the tournament, Brazil, and with good reason.

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A Bit Of Perspective On The Gareth Bale Saga

Real Madrid really are cheeky bunch of so and sos, aren't they?

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Can Swansea's Success Story Continue?

Swansea City won their first major trophy last season after picking up the Capital One Cup in February, and although they are unlikely to win another, it doesn’t mean things can’t get better for the Welsh club. Teams such as Aston Villa and Newcastle United, who have been top half sides for most of the Premiership era, have slipped away over the last few years – the exception being the Toon’s 2011/2012 campaign - so can Michael Laudrup’s establish themselves as a top half club?

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How to become a Premier League player - 3 light-hearted steps to becoming Fernando Torres

We have all been there. Frantically kicking the ball around the garden, or a park, whilst commentating out loud as to which players we are taking the ball round. The exaggerated celebration when you slot the ball between two wilting trees, much to the bemusement of the old lady walking her cocker spaniel. We have all been there.

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Andrea Pirlo: still the best (Video)

Initially, I was going abstain from watching the Confederations Cup.

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Santi Cazorla: Arsenal's maestro (Video)

OK, so this is it now, no more football for another month or so following Brazil's triumph at the Confederations Cup. 

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A closer look at the art of the substitution and why Jose Mourinho should be admired

I would like to issue a warning before you (hopefully) read this blog post. 

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Chelsea could lose key man to Bayern Munich, but where would he fit in?

Brazilian international David Luiz is being hunted by Bayern Munich, but if he does move, how will he fit in at the German side?

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Where did Spain go wrong against Brazil? Have they been found out?

If there is one criticism about the all-conquering Spanish national team it is that they can be boring to watch. The endless passing, nice triangles and interchanging of positions are all done as they wait for the crucial moment when their opponents make a mistake and they can suddenly attack. However, as we witnessed during the semi-final of the Confederations Cup against Italy, what do they do when the rival team is well organised, disciplined and happy for them to have the ball?

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