World champions Italy, Brazil and Argentina all got their men’s Olympic football campaigns off to winning starts in Beijing.

Group A
Argentina were grateful that Barcelona allowed Lionel Messi to stay in Beijing despite winning their appeal to recall him as the diminutive winger scored the first and set up another to secure a 2-1 win over [...]

Fabio Cannavaro has been ruled out of Italy’s entire Euro 2008 campaign after a freak training-ground accident with a team mate. He has already had emergency surgery on the damaged ankle ligaments.
It is a huge blow to Italy to lose their captain at such a late stage - so much so the bookmakers now switched [...]

David Beckham has been given back the captain’s armband for England’s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain. The 33-year-old midfielder had doubts over his international future since the last World Cup and even after winning a place back in the squad was then made to wait for his 100th cap when Fabio [...]

Coach Fabio Capello has named Chelsea defender John Terry as England captain for Wednesday’s match against the United States. Terry, who skippered the side under previous manager Steve McClaren, has been asked to again lead out his country for the friendly game at Wembley.
But Capello remains undecided on who will wear the armband on a [...]

Internazionale striker Adriano is in line for a Brazil recall after impressing for his loan club Sao Paolo since the turn of the year. Adriano, beset by physical and reported alcohol problems in the past 18 months, has only played once for Brazil under coach Dunga, in last year’s 2-0 friendly defeat by Portugal.
“He has [...]