BRISBANE, Australia, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Australia are likely to bid to host the 2018 World Cup following FIFA’s decision to scrap its rotation policy, a senior official said on Tuesday.

Football Federation Australia (FFA) chief executive Ben Buckley said Australia was ‘very serious’ about bidding for the 2018 World Cup now that it was open to countries outside of North America.

‘We flagged our intention to bid for the World Cup at the earliest possible opportunity and we are delighted that the FIFA executive committee has decided to abandon the rotation policy,’ Buckley said.

‘That will give us the opportunity to bid for and hopefully be successful in securing the right to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

‘So whilst we will be competing with European-based nations and nations from all over the world, we think this will be a better system and a better opportunity for us.’
Buckley said the FFA had undertaken preliminary work looking at potential stadiums and the financial feasibility of hosting the World Cup. FIFA’s executive committee voted unanimously on Monday to ditch its policy of rotating the World Cup between the six continental confederations.

Japan are also set to launch their bid to the host the 2018 World Cup after FIFA ended their rotation policy, despite jointly hosting the event only five years ago.

Following the decision by the world governing body’s executive committee, Japanese Football Association (JFA) president Saburo Kawabuchi has revealed discussions would be held over the ‘possibility’ of launching a solo bid.

Japan jointly hosted the 2002 event with South Korea, but under JFA proposals released in 2005, they are seeking to host the World Cup by 2050 and win the tournament under long-term plans titled ‘JFA 2005 Declarations’.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said a final decision on the hosting of the 2018 event would likely be taken in 2011.

ZURICH, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Germany have been named as the hosts of the 2011 women’s World Cup, beating off a rival bid from Canada.

The decision was announced by FIFA president Sepp Blatter following a meeting of the organisation’s executive committee on Tuesday.

Germany have won the last two women’s World Cup finals.

Their winning bid comes just one year after the country hosted the 2006 men’s World Cup and ends a 16-year wait for Europe to stage the women’s version.

‘We are very proud and grateful for this distinction of being able to organise the 2011 women’s World Cup after hosting the 2006 World Cup,’ German football association president Theo Zwanziger said following the announcement.

‘A lot of progress has already been made in women’s football and we promise not of course to imitate the 2006 World Cup but to organise a World Cup characterised by respect and fair play.’

Using the motto ‘Welcome back’, the German bid team relied heavily on their successful staging of the men’s event in their final presentation to the executive committee.

Assisted by players Birgit Prinz and Fatmira Bajramaj, the bidders also emphasised the pedigree of the German national team.

The bid envisages the use of 12 stadiums, including the Berlin and Frankfurt grounds used in 2006.

‘We want to be good hosts and I am sure that the fans in Germany can help us stage another great summer show in 2011 - this time with women’s football,’ German

Chancellor Angela Merkel said while on a trip to India.

German men’s team coach Joachim Loew said on the DFB website: ‘I’m convinced the World Cup in Germany will be a great party, just like in the summer of 2006.

‘The good atmosphere across the nation will help the German team complete the hat-trick of world titles.’

Chelsea 6 - Manchester City 0 (Premier League, October 27, 2007) Frank Lampard took center stage, feeding in Essien who beat Hart into the opposite corner. Petrov worked Cech with a free-kick, but Chelsea then doubled their lead over City when Lampard’s outstanding pass beat Richards, and Drobga collected to finished expertly. Drogba bagged his second when Lampard’s shot was saved, before Michael Essien set up Joe Cole, Salomon Kalou and (even) Andriy Shevchenko for the remaining goals.

Manchester United 4 - Middlesbrough 1 (Premier League, October 27, 2007) Nani opened with a 30 yards screamer, only for Jeremie Aliadiere quickly equalised with a precise header after Tuncay teased O’Shea. Stuart Downing then embarrassed himself to play in Rooney to smash United’s second. (First-half highlights here.) After the break Carlos Tevez slotted in after a sublime Rooney back-heel and he added a fourth with a deflected shot.

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October 28, 2007 ZURICH, Switzerland (Ticker) - FIFA is expected to decide on Monday to change the system of rotating the World Cup finals between the continents.

FIFA’s executive committee, which will meet in Zurich, is to examine various options including whether more than one country from each continent can bid.

Under the current rotation system, the World Cup went to Africa for 2010 (South Africa won the contest), South America for 2014 and if rotation continued would go to a country from north and central America or the Caribbean in 2018. The United States plans to bid in 2018.

However FIFA president Sepp Blatter is concerned that only one nation - Brazil - bid for 2014 and said last week that he favored a change.

“My thoughts are that we shall open the market and make the World Cup available for everybody apart from the last confederation which has just organized it, which means South America cannot bid for 2018,” Blatter said. The FIFA president should get his way as the majority of the 23 FIFA executive members who meet in Zurich are understood to be of the same opinion.

West Ham 3 - Sunderland 1 (Premier League, October 21, 2007) Carlton Cole headed the opener but Sunderland equalised as Kenwyne Jones headed past Green. The Hammers took a fortunate lead when Nobby Solano’s shot hit the woodwork and went into the net off keeper Craig Gordon. Bellamy sealed the points with a neat finish in the 90th minute.***

Blackpool 1 - Crystal Palace 1 (Championship, October 20, 2007) Warnock drew his first game at the Eagles, as Fox grabbed a scrappy leveller after Tom Soares had earlier scored, only to be sent off at the death.

Wolves 2 - Charlton 0 (Championship, October 20, 2007)

Watford 1 - Hull 0 (Championship, October 20, 2007)

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Everton 1 - Liverpool 2 (Premier League, October 20, 2007) (Longer highlights here.) Liverpool started sprightly and had a questionable offside decision chalk out a goal for Voronin. But Everton took more control as the half progressed, creating more chances, and the Toffees were rewarded for their endeavor when Sami Hyypia sliced a ball past Reina. The turning point of the game came when Hibbert was sent off for stopping Gerrard’s surge in the box, and Kuyt converted the resulting penalty. The Reds struggled to make their extra man count, wasting several good chances. But in the final stages, Phil Neville ’saved’ Lucas’ shot on the line, earning him the second red card of the game, and Kuyt once again beat Howard from the spot.

Middlesbrough 0 - Chelsea 2 (Premier League, October 20, 2007) Want-away Chelsea striker, Didier Drogba, beat Middlesbrough’s offside trap to send the Blue one up. Cech preserved the lead with a point-blank save form Mido’s header. Chelsea extended their lead in spectacular fashion thanks to Alex’s thunderous, swerving free-kick.

Arsenal 2 - Bolton 0 (Premier League, October 20, 2007) (Longer highlights here.) Arsenal came close to taking the lead against Bolton, but Adebayor’s header went the wrong side of the post. After the break Eboue was guilty of wildly missing a clear-cut opportunity. But Kolo Toure struck from 25 yards on 68 minutes and Tomas Rosicky tapped in from Theo Walcott’s cross 12 minutes later to end Bolton’s resistance.

(Read full article…)

Playoffs start this Thursday, Oct. 25 on ESPN2 in Chicago

NEW YORK — Today the Chicago Fire seized the eighth and final spot in the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs by defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy, 1-0. Surging in to the playoffs on an eight-game unbeaten streak, the Fire will host D.C. United in the opening game of the playoffs this Thursday night on ESPN2.The pairings and schedule for the MLS Cup Playoffs are below. Each of the conference semifinals is decided by a two-game, total-goals series.

Each of the two conference championships is determined by a single game played at the higher seed’s home venue.

MLS Cup 2007 is Sunday, Nov. 18 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., at Noon ET (ABC and TeleFutura).

All times Eastern; schedule subject to change

EASTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:
Thurs., Oct. 25 Game 1: D.C. United at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Thurs., Nov. 1 Game 2: Chicago Fire at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Sat., Oct. 27 Game 1: New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)
Sat., Nov. 3 Game 2: New York Red Bulls at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

WESTERN CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS:
Sat., Oct. 27 Game 1: Chivas USA at Kansas City Wizards, 8:30 p.m. (Regional TV, DK)
Sat., Nov. 3 Game 2: Kansas City Wizards at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m . (HDNet, Regional TV, DK)

Sat., Oct. 27 Game 1: Houston Dynamo at FC Dallas, 8 p.m. (HDNet, Regional TV, DK)
Fri., Nov. 2 Game 2: FC Dallas at Houston Dynamo, 8:30 p.m. (Regional TV, DK)

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Thurs., Nov. 8 Teams, time and location TBD (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 10 Teams, time and location TBD (FSC, FSE, HDNet)

MLS CUP:
Sun., Nov. 18 Noon (ABC and TeleFutura) at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.

Key:
FSC - Fox Soccer Channel
FSE - Fox Sports en Español
DK - Direct Kick
Regional TV - Check local listings

Notes:
• As the fifth-place team in the Eastern Conference, Kansas City shifted over to become the fourth seed in the Western Conference playoff bracket. Full qualification procedure is described below.

• The team that scores the most goals in a home-and-home Conference Semifinal series advances to the single-game Conference Championship. If the teams are tied after 180 minutes, a 30-minute extra time period (two 15-minute halves) will be played. If the teams remain tied after that period, a penalty-kick tiebreaker will determine the team that advances. The same tiebreaking procedures are used if a Conference Championship is tied after 90 minutes.

FINAL MLS PLAYOFF RACE STANDINGS

Key:
Blue - Secured automatic berths in MLS Cup Playoffs
Black - Secured wildcard berths in MLS Cup Playoffs
Red - Did not qualify for playoffs
^ Chicago finished ahead of Kansas City due to a superior head-to-head record.

The qualification and seeding for the MLS Cup Playoffs are as follow:

• Eight teams qualify for the 2007 MLS Cup Playoffs
• Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season on Oct. 21; all 13 teams will have played 30 games.
· If two teams are tied on points, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head results, the second tiebreaker is goal differential, and the third is goals scored for the season. (Subsequent tiebreakers are available in the Fact and Record Book).
• The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets.
• The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive “wildcard” berths.
· The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first.
· If more than four teams qualify from one conference, those finishing lower than fourth in their conference will shift over to the other conference bracket.
· A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.

Russia 2 - England 1 (Euro 2008 qualifier, October 17, 2007) Russia dominated the opening thirty minutes without taking the lead, including Kerzhakov’s early penalty claim which fell on deaf ears and Zyrianov’s shot which hit the post. England then burst into life when the front two linked up expertly to score a wonder goal out of nothing. Owen’s flick-on was chested down by Rooney, who volleyed the ball into the roof of the net. England had two fantastic opportunities to extend their lead. Gerrard missed a sitter and Richards failed to connect at the back post. After almost constant Russian pressure throughout the second-half, Wayne Rooney stupidly brought down Zyrianov (outside the box), allowing Pavlyucenko to level from the spot. The English nightmare was completed only minutes later, as Robinson failed to handle a shot and the ball landed into the path of Pavlyucenko who netted his second and the game winner. (Read full article…)

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Jump TV will be offering the following matches live through their Live Streaming Service. Jump TV is a reputable company and has a robust infrastructure to deliver the streams.

JumpTV has all the qualifying matches for the Euro 2008. In addition, you can catch soccer matches from the Portuguese, Brazilian, Israeli and Egyptian soccer leagues.See below for available matches. (Read full article…)