Arsenal are monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt’s Japan midfielder Takashi Inui. Chief scout Steve Rowley has watched the 24-year-old recently as he helps manager Arsene Wenger formulate a list of targets ahead of an expected summer spending spree. Playmaker: Inui has scored six and made six in the Bundesliga this season The Gunners have prioritised a centre back, defensive midfielder and st...Full Story »

Japan will have to wait to book their place at the 2014 FIFA World Cup after suffering a shock 2-1 loss to Jordan in Tuesday's Asian qualifier. Heading into their game at the King Abdullah Stadium needing only a draw to qualify from Group B, the Samurai Blue found themselves trailing at the break after Khalil Bani Attiah handed the hosts the lead on the stroke of halftime with a firm header. ...Full Story »

(Reuters) - Japan wasted a second half penalty as they blew the chance to become the first team to qualify for the World Cup finals when they were humbled 2-1 by Jordan in a pulsating clash in Amman on Tuesday. The Japanese dominated possession and created numerous chances but the West Asians secured a memorable win thanks to some resolute defending and efficient finishing against a side who ha...Full Story »

It was a 12,000-mile round trip that failed in its quest to make the club world champions. But it may just be that Chelsea’s recent journey to Yokohama, where they lost 1-0 in the Club World Cup final to Corinthians, has been the catalyst to reinvigorate Chelsea’s season. It is early days in Rafa Benitez’s reign at Stamford Bridge and already there have been setbacks, notab...Full Story »

On the same day Rafael Benitez's Chelsea were beaten in the Club World Cup final his predecessor Roberto Di Matteo was seen smiling again after being named coach of the year in Switzerland. Italian tactician Di Matteo was sacked last month by Blues owner Roman Abramovich despite winning both the Champions League and the FA Cup in his short spell in charge at Stamford Bridge. All smiles: Di M...Full Story »

Rafa Benitez blamed missed chances for Chelsea’s demise at the hands of Corinthians in the Club World Cup final but tried to insist this should be a reason for optimism. The Blues, who finished with 10 men after a red card for Gary Cahill, wasted a string of chances and were beaten by a 69th-minute goal by Paolo Guerrero. Fernando Torres was the chief culprit, missing a wonderful oppor...Full Story »

A big wheel flashes and spins in front of Chelsea's team hotel, a fairground attraction that lights up Yokohama harbour and dares to promise an upturn in fortunes for Rafa Benitez. The defence of their European title may have gone badly but the club arrived in Japan in good spirits after two wins, with Fernando Torres smiling and among the goals and Benitez satisfied with progress after a roc...Full Story »

Chelsea's interim boss Rafa Benitez has named the strongest possible squad for next month's FIFA Club World Championship in Japan, as the Blues look to become just the second English club to win the global title. All of the biggest names have been included in the travelling party, including injured pair Frank Lampard and John Terry. The Spanish manager has experience in the tournament, which h...Full Story »

Fulham boss Martin Jol is prepared to battle with his former club Hamburg for the signature of Catania's Takayuki Morimoto. Jol is believed to be on the lookout for a new forward despite new recruits Mladen Petric and Dimitar Berbatov impressing since their summer moves to Craven Cottage. And the Dutchman is thought to have identified Japan ace Morimoto as the man to complete his attacking o...Full Story »

Shinji Kagawa has handed Manchester United another injury headache after sitting out Japan's World Cup qualifier with Iraq with back pain. The midfielder suffered the knock in training on Monday and was ruled out of his country's match just an hour before kick-off. Kagawa is now a doubt for United's clash with Wigan on Saturday and their Champions League opener against Galatasaray next Wedne...Full Story »

Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa pulledout of Japan's home World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Tuesdayjust an hour before kickoff.The Japan Football Association (JFA) said the playmaker felta twinge in his lower back during training for the Group Bqualifier in Saitama.Coach Alberto Zaccheroni decided not to risk Kagawa, whoseinjury will also be a concern to United manager Alex Ferguson ashis te...Full Story »

 Iraq coach Zico is bracing himself for an emotional return to Japan for his side's World Cup qualifier in Saitama on Tuesday but firmly believes the Asian champions can be beaten.  The former Brazil great, who coached Japan from 2002-06, said his team would try to tear into the home side right from the kickoff (1030 GMT).  "Uzbekistan beat Japan if you remember," Zico told...Full Story »

TOKYO (AP) -- FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Friday that Japan would be a ''good candidate'' to host the 2019 Women's World Cup even though the country will stage the Rugby World Cup the same year. The 2019 Rugby World Cup will be played in Japan from Sept. 6 to Oct. 20. Blatter said the country could hold the women's tournament beforehand. Blatter said ''Japan would be a good candidate o...Full Story »

Mike Havenaar spared Japan's blushes with a 69th-minute winner to give the Asian champions a 1-0 victory over the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup qualifying warm-up game on Thursday. The Dutch-based forward powered home a close-range header from Yuichi Komano's cross just when the Japanese appeared to be running out of ideas in front of 42,000 in Niigata. Midfielder Keisuke Honda blazed ju...Full Story »

 Japan's Homare Sawa, the reigning women's world player of the year, is set to retire from international soccer after finishing with a silver medal at the London Olympics.  The 33-year-old, who spearheaded Japan's stunning triumph at last year's World Cup in Germany, will continue her career at club level, local media reported.  "I've achieved what I can and have no regrets," Sa...Full Story »

LONDON (AP) -- Japan's expectations are building that its women's soccer team will win Olympic gold to add to the World Cup it won a year ago. But to stand a chance, the champions must first beat a French team on Monday intent on causing a shock in its second tournament semifinal in a row. A win for Japan could set up a final with the United States, which is desperate to avenge its loss to Japa...Full Story »

Japan's football team has a tradition of politely bowing toward the crowd after its games. After Saturday's victory at Old Trafford, taking a bow was certainly in order.Japan advanced to its first Olympic semifinal in 44 years by beating Egypt 3-0 in the quarterfinals, giving it a chance to improve on the bronze it won in 1968. "We are now in the position to challenge the world," Japan coach T...Full Story »

Great Britain's women saw their maiden Olympic football tournament end with a 2-0 quarter-final defeat by Canada in Coventry on Friday. Just days after beating Brazil in front of a raucous crowd of more than 70,000 -- a British record for a women's match -- at Wembley Stadium, they were unable to reach the same heights against a Canada side coached by Englishman John Herdman. Jonelle Filigno g...Full Story »

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) -- World champion Japan was held to a 0-0 draw by South Africa on Tuesday in Olympic women's soccer, failing to score for the second match in a row. Japan will face Britain or Brazil in the quarterfinals. Having secured a quarterfinal spot, Japan's coach, Norio Sasaki, began the match with just four regular starters. Japan's best chance in the first half came 18 minutes in,...Full Story »

Sweden held world champion Japan to a 0-0 draw Saturday in the teams' second game of the women's Olympic football tournament. The result leaves Sweden on top of Group F on goal difference, with Japan in second place. Canada plays South Africa later Saturday in the second Group F game of the day. Japan created a multitude of chances - especially in the second half - but were unable to take adva...Full Story »