Friday night’s last ever Basque derby to be held at Athletic Bilbao’s Estadio San Mames should have been a celebration of La Catedral’s 100-year history, but instead turned into yet another low point in one of the club’s worst seasons.

Argentina midfielder Javier Mascherano believes it will be difficult for his country to prevent Spain from retaining the World Cup in two years’ time.

Javi Martinez has no intention of leaving Athletic Bilbao this summer despite speculation linking him with some of Europe’s top clubs.

Former England boss Fabio Capello and Harry Redknapp have been included on a wish list of candidates to become the new Russia manager.

From Spain, all the old worries; from Italy, all the old strengths.

Atletico Madrid 3 Athletic Bilbao 0

Given the — justifiable — excitement over Marcelo Bielsa’s Athletic Bilbao at the moment, it would be easy to overlook just how significant a part Schalke 04 played in their thrilling meeting in the Europa League last Thursday.

It is rare in modern football to see something quite so startling as Athletic Bilbao’s two victories over Manchester United.

The shortage of Premier League fixtures on Saturday meant Swansea’s flattening of Fulham took centre stage on Match of the Day, with their manager Brendan Rodgers interviewed by Gary Lineker via video link.

One of the great joys of South American competition is that nobody knows anything.

Thursday night football may be second-best but there is a lot to anticipate from the tie between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao.

With Spain’s top two recognised strikers injured or out of form, Ireland could face an even bigger threat in Gdansk on June 14

Frank Rijkaard’s agent has denied the former Holland international is a potential candidate to take over as Chile coach following the resignation of Marcelo Bielsa.

BACK in the not-too-distant past, it was virtually impossible to find a footballer or hurler whose favourite film wasn’t The Shawshank Redemption.

Chile 1 Spain 2

SPAIN playmaker Xavi has welcomed the news that Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa is not willing to settle for a draw from today’s crunch Group H encounter between the two sides.

CHILE coach Marcelo Bielsa claimed his team must play better despite opening their World Cup campaign in impressive fashion yesterday.

CHILE coach Marcelo Bielsa has played down suggestions he has unfinished business at the World Cup.

Chile talisman Humberto Suazo looks set to play some part in his country’s World Cup opener against Honduras tomorrow.

Argentina’s foreign minister was detained and questioned at Miami International Airport after he allegedly requested permission to enter the cockpit of a plane to question pilots about why the flight was delayed.

Carlos Bianchi has rejected an offer to take over as Argentina boss and Jose Pekerman is now the favourite to succeed Marcelo Bielsa.

ARGENTINA national football coach Marcelo Bielsa has resigned from his post just over two weeks after he guided them to their first ever Olympic title.

Argentina have named 19 foreign-based players in their squad for the first two matches in their South American qualifying round for the 2006 World Cup.

RIVALDO has warned that he could retire from international football if he is not part of the plans for the 2006 World Cup.

The ’Group of Death’ was ready to claim its second victim today with World Cup favourites Argentina facing a win-or-bust situation.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has backed his players to correct the mistakes they made against England - and beat Sweden.

Pablo Aimar does not want to play in another game like Friday’s defeat to England.

Argentina midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron claimed the penalty converted by Manchester United team-mate David Beckham had forced the South Americans to revise their game plan during the 1-0 defeat by England...

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa claimed his side did not deserve to lose today’s World Cup showdown because they were ‘‘more skilful’’ than the England team.

By Frank Malley

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa insists he is thinking only of booking a place in the second round of the World Cup - not of sending England home.

Argentina have made one change to the side which overpowered Nigeria as they prepare to face England in Sapporo tomorrow.

Juan Sebastian Veron has raised the temperature ahead of Argentina’s World Cup clash with England in Sapporo on Friday by raising the spectre of the Falklands War.

Revenge for Agentina’s defeat in the Falklands War is all the motivation goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero needs in Friday’s World Cup clash with England.

Gabriel Batistuta has got the nod to spearhead Argentina’s attack against Nigeria in Ibaraki on Sunday.

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa sent another clear signal that Hernan Crespo will be his first-choice striker at the World Cup.

Nestor Sensini traipsed off the Wembley pitch to a cacophony of jeers and you had to feel a jot of sorrow for the balding Argentinian.

Argentina have announced 12 out of the 23 players that they will take to the World Cup.

Claudio Caniggia believes he is close to cementing his place in Marcelo Bielsa’s Argentina squad for the World Cup finals.

Gabriel Batistuta has been left out of the Argentina squad for their World Cup warm-up game with Cameroon on March 27.