Fighting Fit

Cassano wants to live fast and die fat

The Sampdoria striker's indiscipline and insubordination means he has never come close to tapping his outrageous talent

Mourinho’s nous shows Nietzschean qualities

The manager has taken on allcomers this season, seemingly seeking confrontation, but crucially, he has also evolved

'Level playing field' may redraw Premiership

Proposed new EU super-national body's wide-ranging regulatory powers could radically alter football across European Union

Schuster now just a puppet at Real

It is hard to see the manager as anything but a yes-man, conforming to the wishes of Ramón Calderón, the president

Europe’s elite fear losing their bite

Hull are not the only over-achievers, a quick glance around the Continent reveals 2008-09 may be the year of the underdog

When are drugs performance enhancing?

The number of pills professional footballers are popping would have made Hunter S. Thompson proud, is it really necessary?

AC Milan aim to cash in on Beckham glitz

The Italian club's commercial know-how will ensure that both parties profit from player's planned switch to Italy

Sarkozy's kneejerk gesture prolongs farce

From now on, if the French national anthem is booed before an international, that match is to be immediately called off

Uruguay burdened by the weight of history

Players and fans alike are tormented by the ghosts of those who led this tiny country to two World Cups over 50 years ago

Power and glory of Zenit under scrutiny

Intercepted phone calls suggest Russia's Tambov Gang paid Bayern Munich to throw last season's Uefa Cup semi-final

Mourinho speaks his mind and incurs wrath

Those who expected fireworks off the pitch from the new Inter coach have not had long to wait as the war of words begins

Weak pound hits Premier League imports

About £30m that English clubs spent on players from the eurozone last summer went up in smoke due to currency fluctuation

Mystery in defining clubs’ true colours

The case of "Poli Timisoara" epitomises the potential excesses when free markets and football collide, says Gabriele Marcotti

Moments in time for Capello that shaped future

In the final extracts from his new book, Gabriele Marcotti reflects on key dates in the making of the man and the manager

Dark clouds on the Madrid horizon

In our second extract from his new book, Gabriele Marcotti tells how dropping Beckham was not Fabio Capello’s wisest move

Famagusta fairytale is portent of future

Teams from leagues ranked between 16 (Denmark) and 53 (San Marino) will be guaranteed slots in the Champions League

Olympic interlopers appear unwelcome

Football attracted the largest audience in Bejing, but the organisers did their best to knock the game down a few pegs

Hoffenheim enjoy health and wealth under Hopp

Hoffenheim are joint-top and their rise rise has been facilitated by their sugar daddy, a man named Dietmar Hopp

Gabriele Marcotti

Gabriele Marcotti says a world-record deal for the Brazil playmaker could suit both clubs involved, even if AC Milan deny it

A welcome lack of patriot games

If you like your clichés corny and your stereotypes tired, you'd have loved New England Revolution versus Atlante clash