Reuters Soccer Blog

Before the match began there was hope mixed with concern. Follow along as things get ugly, really really ugly.

At the rate I'm going, the number of people I follow on Twitter will have dropped from 640 to zero on July 13, after the last World Cup match concludes.

At least 55 of FIFA’s 209 member countries apparently have their very own Lionel Messi. The original Messi, is, of course, Argentinian. But Messi is also a simple shorthand for an extremely talented, slightly built, and maybe but not necessarily left-footed player with freakish dribbling ability.

Paris, France

By Gonzalo Fuentes

Since David Beckham arrived in Paris the media have captured every move, every training session, every single time he and his family have roamed around the city.

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Dear readers,

The Reuters Soccer blog is merging with our sister site, Left Field -- Reuters' global sports analysis and opinion page.

The clock said 68 minutes, and no one at the Emirates Stadium in north London was looking at the action on the pitch as the fourth official held aloft his lit-up board to signal the re-introduction of Thierry Henry to English football.

By Philip O'Connor, Scandinavia sports correspondent

For many football fans, the post-Christmas blues will be banished by the prospect of their club buying big when the transfer window opens in January.

By Steve Keating

'Tebow Time' runs out this week when the Broncos host the Patriots but the Lineman's time has come. We've been close to a perfect week a few occasions this season but with time ticking down Week 15  looks like a promising bet.

There was the usual hushed silence and then sudden intake of breath heard in Nyon on Friday, though not for the Champions League Round of 16 draw but the first two ties of the Europa League Round of 32.