Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:people/marcel_desaillytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/16/launches_150th_anniversary_celebrations_63f3

The Football Association kicked off its 150th anniversary celebrations with a glamorous reception in London on Wednesday, as it looks to repair damaged relationships with FIFA and UEFA.

2013-01-16T17:02:08ZAFP Global Editionby Chris Hatheralltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/06/12/Hodgson_calls_finishing_touch_63a2

A satisfied Roy Hodgson has challenged England to hone their attacking threat against Sweden but believes his side will possess an "ace in the hole" when Wayne Rooney returns from suspension.

2012-06-12T23:47:11ZAFP Global Editionby Rob Woollardtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/03/09/Villas-Boas_sacking_hasty_says_ex-captain_0991

Chelsea were too hasty in sacking manager Andre Villas-Boas, the English Premier League club's former captain Marcel Desailly said in remarks published on Friday.

2012-03-09T06:50:25ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/11/15/Terry_looks_Wise_Desailly_racism_a708

John Terry will seek to draw on lessons learned under former Chelsea captains Marcel Desailly and Dennis Wise when he leads England against Sweden in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.

2011-11-15T05:20:28ZAFP Global Editionby Chris Hatheralltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/06/France_hand_ex-footballer_Desailly_African_b635

Marcel Desailly is to take on a role as an ambassador to Africa on behalf of the French Football Federation (FFF), the body's chairman Noel Le Graet announced on Thursday.

2011-10-06T12:55:49ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/10/France_coach_Blanc_cleared_race_7680

France coach Laurent Blanc was on Tuesday cleared of racial discrimination by French Sports Minister Chantal Jouanno in the row over talks concerning the introduction of quotas for dual nationality players.

2011-05-10T18:02:18ZAFP Global Editionby Françoise Chaptaltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/09/French_coach_Blanc_regrets_certain_c4ea

Under-fire France coach Laurent Blanc told a hearing on Monday he "regretted that certain opinions" were made at a meeting last November which allegedly discussed introducing quotas on the number of dual-nationality players at youth training centres, according to a source close to the inquiry.

2011-05-09T18:16:44ZAFP Global Editionby Philippe Grelardtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/05/09/Under-fire_Blanc_race_grilling_2df2

Under-fire France coach Laurent Blanc is set to be grilled before a joint hearing of the French Football Federation (FFF) and the Sports Ministry later Monday in the race row which has rocked French football.

2011-05-09T13:21:29ZAFP Global Editionby Philippe Grelardtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/01/10/Serbian_coach_Black_Stars_37f6

Ghana have for the third consecutive time appointed a Serbian coach to lead the national team, the country's football association announced on Monday.

2011-01-10T19:34:28ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/12/06/Disappointed_Desailly_loses_interest_Ghana_bb59

France's Ghanaian-born World Cup winning defender Marcel Desailly told AFP on Monday he was no longer interested in taking over as coach of World Cup quarter-finalists Ghana.

2010-12-06T19:36:31ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/09/14/Rajevac_quits_Ghana_coach_ea90

Serb Milovan Rajevac has quit his job as coach of Ghana, the Ghanaian football federation announced Tuesday.

2010-09-14T15:25:04ZAFP Global EditionAFPtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/21/Africans_fail_shine_continents_first_8304

Africans fail to shine at continent's first World Cup, with Ghana best placed to advance. Hopes of the first World Cup in Africa producing the continent's first world champion seem increasingly far-fetched.

2010-06-21T18:50:36ZAP NewsROB HARRIStag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/20/France_mutiny_over_Anelka_expulsion_3922

France's disastrous World Cup campaign was plunged into fresh chaos on Sunday when the players refused to train in protest at the decision to send home star striker Nicolas Anelka.

2010-06-20T23:51:18ZAFP Global EditionAFPtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/20/France_mutiny_over_Anelka_expulsion_3921

France's disastrous World Cup campaign was plunged into fresh chaos on Sunday when the players refused to train in protest at the decision to send home star striker Nicolas Anelka.

2010-06-20T17:14:32ZAFP Global EditionAFPtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/12/reason_pessimism_says_French_legend_3467

French legend Marcel Desailly says there is no reason for pessimism despite his country's lacklustre form.

2010-06-12T12:15:48ZAFP Global EditionAFPtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/09/Gignac_ready_take_chance_France_1655

Gignac ready to seize his chance after rocky path to professional soccer leads to World Cup. France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac appreciates just how much it means to be at the World Cup after clawing his way back from the obscurity of French soccer's lower leagues.

2010-06-09T08:31:49ZAP NewsJEROME PUGMIREtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/09/Dunga_Maradona_make_point_World_4131

Coaches of leading contenders plot different courses to World Cup glory. From dour Dunga to the downright eccentric Diego Maradona, the leading coaches at the World Cup are plotting different ways to win the title.

2010-06-09T07:11:53ZAP NewsROBERT MILLWARDtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/08/Italy_France_have_blues_2017

Italy's Azzurri and France's Les Bleus: Guess that's why they call them the blues. Four years after reaching the World Cup final, Italy's Azzurri and France's Les Bleus appear to have a bad case of, well, the blues just days ahead of their opening matches.

2010-06-08T16:12:01ZAP NewsRAF CASERTtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2010/06/07/Country_love_close_hearts_dull_4151

KNYSNA, South Africa (Reuters) - France, proud of their reputation as the country of love, are certainly not living up to it these days when it comes to their national soccer team.

2010-06-07T14:07:06ZReuters US Online Report Sports NewsPatrick Vignaltag:www.blnz.com,2009:2009/10/06/Leaders_footballers_back_African_school_0338

World leaders and footballers on Tuesday rallied behind a FIFA-backed campaign to educate poor African children, as part of the legacy of the continent's first football World Cup in 2010.

2009-10-06T00:00:00ZAFP Global EditionAFP