News Headlines

Didn't he used to be rubbish? Chris Killen of New Zealand | Harry Pearson

Kiwi Killen's performances had Boro fans pining for Mikkel Beck – but now he will play on the biggest stage of allThe 28-year-old Kiwi is an old-fashioned target man – though only in the sense that many supporters of the clubs he's played for would like to throw things at him. A product...

Italy 1-1 Paraguay

Wigan Athletic players are not generally known for their capacity to humble the defending world champions on football's grandest stage but the remarkable storyline might have played out if it were not for a subsequent goalkeeping howler.When Antolín Alcaraz completed his move to the DW Stadium...

Football quiz: Asian teams at the World Cup

Today's questions can see the great firewall from space ...Alan Gardner

World Cup 2010: Wizardry of Mesut Ozil marks out Germany's next star

Once courted by Arsenal, the 21-year-old dazzled in destroying Australia and increased the belief within the German squadNo matter what lies ahead Mesut Ozil has already left memories that will become part of this World Cup's identity. That is quite an impact from a 21-year-old making his first...

World Cup 2010: Franz Beckenbauer attacks England's 'kick and rush'

• Former Germany captain says England have gone backwards• Germans have advantage with Jabulani, says CarragherFranz Beckenbauer has launched a scathing attack on England's style of play and claimed Fabio Capello's side have "gone backwards into the bad old times of kick and...

World Cup 2010: Jamie Carragher quick to deny lack of pace a problem

The Liverpool defender was made to look pedestrian against the USA but his leadership is invaluable to EnglandSeveral troubling images from England's stalemate with the USA endure. The most obvious is that of an agonised Rob Green scrambling helplessly back towards his line as the loose ball...

World Cup 2010: Why I love goalkeepers | Simon Armitage

Poet Simon Armitage on England's Robert Green and football's other perennial misfitsRead his ode to goalkeepersI've always thought of poets as the goalkeepers of the literary world – the last line of defence. Guardians, custodians, gatekeepers, sentries – they maintain the final...

Beckenbauer: England have regressed under Capello

Franz Beckenbauer has stored up potential for a stormy clash between England and Germany by declaring that Fabio Capello's side have headed "backwards into the bad old days of kick and rush" on the evidence of Saturday's opening match against the United States and he has also suggested that there...