http://www.mail.com/int/people/20796-gareth-bale.html Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based Email en en http://sec-s.uicdn.com/mail.com/2.29/img/mailcom_logo_rss.png http://www.mail.com/int/people/20796-gareth-bale.html http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2116068-barcelona-messi-top-season-ending-ap-global-poll.html LONDON (AP) — Despite failing to win European football's top prize, Barcelona came out as the top team this season in The Associated Press global football poll. And with 60 goals in all competitions, Barcelona forward Lionel Messi earned 66 votes more than Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo to top the season-end player rankings. "Messi's supreme form unt... Wed, 29 May 2013 14:12:27 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2116068-barcelona-messi-top-season-ending-ap-global-poll.html 2013-05-29T14:12:27Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099804-chelsea-tops-ap-poll-winning-euro-title.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Chelsea surged to the top of the weekly Associated Press global football poll after winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League for the 11th straight season. There was also a Chelsea player at the summit of the player rankings, with Fernando Torres sharing first place with Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery... Tue, 21 May 2013 16:12:06 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2099804-chelsea-tops-ap-poll-winning-euro-title.html 2013-05-21T16:12:06Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2084852-ap-global-football-10-quotebox.html LONDON (AP) — Quotes from voters in this week's AP Global football poll: Mike McGrath (The Sun/Wardles Agency) "Gareth Bale showed again what a player he is, rising to the occasion when Tottenham needed him by scoring the late winner against Sunderland with a spectacular goal. Unfortunately for the Wales winger, and his team, it was not good enough for Ch... Tue, 21 May 2013 13:48:46 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2084852-ap-global-football-10-quotebox.html 2013-05-21T13:48:46Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2096358-arsenal-champions-league-ferguson-bows.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Arsenal qualified for the Champions League for the 16th straight season after edging Tottenham to fourth place in the Premier League, as Alex Ferguson bowed out as Manchester United manager with a 5-5 draw against West Bromwich Albion. Laurent Koscielny's 52nd-minute volley sealed an unconvincing 1-0 for Arsenal at Newcastle, re... Sun, 19 May 2013 19:49:01 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2096358-arsenal-champions-league-ferguson-bows.html 2013-05-19T19:49:01Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2092898-tottenham-arsenal-top-4-fight.html LONDON (AP) — On the final day of last season, Arsenal narrowly held off fierce rival Tottenham to claim third place in the Premier League — which proved more important than either team knew at the time. A year later, with the title fight decided and the three relegation spots already settled, the two North London neighbors are fighting it out again for a... Fri, 17 May 2013 12:58:31 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2092898-tottenham-arsenal-top-4-fight.html 2013-05-17T12:58:31Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2080142-adebayor-winner-lifts-spurs-arsenal-to-4th.html STOKE, England (AP) — Emmanuel Adebayor scored a late winner as Tottenham came from behind to beat 10-man Stoke 2-1 in the Premier League on Sunday, provisionally lifting the team above Arsenal into fourth place in the race for Champions League qualification. Spurs are two points ahead of their north London rivals, who play their game in hand against Wiga... Sun, 12 May 2013 14:47:15 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2080142-adebayor-winner-lifts-spurs-arsenal-to-4th.html 2013-05-12T14:47:15Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2072386-chelsea-held-2-2-spurs-premier-league.html LONDON (AP) — Tottenham surrendered the initiative in the race for Champions League qualification despite coming from behind twice to draw 2-2 at top-four rival Chelsea in a pulsating English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. Gylfi Sigurdsson's well-taken equalizer in the 80th minute earned Spurs a point at a ground where they have a d... Wed, 08 May 2013 21:31:22 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2072386-chelsea-held-2-2-spurs-premier-league.html 2013-05-08T21:31:22Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2065628-benitez-to-wrap-up-1-chelsea-mission.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Rafa Benitez can virtually wrap up part one of his mission at Chelsea by guiding the team to the cusp of the Champions League with a win over top-four rival Tottenham in the Premier League on Wednesday. The Spaniard is still unloved at Stamford Bridge but even the most ardent critic of Benitez must be impressed with the job he's... Mon, 06 May 2013 11:30:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2065628-benitez-to-wrap-up-1-chelsea-mission.html 2013-05-06T11:30:52Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2063002-flying-wingers-spark-wins-arsenal-spurs.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Tottenham and Arsenal relied on decisive interventions by their flying wingers on Saturday to stay on course for qualification for next season's Champions League. Gareth Bale produced yet another moment of magic to rescue a 1-0 victory for Spurs over Southampton in the Premier League, smashing home an 86th-minute winner from the... Sat, 04 May 2013 19:14:44 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2063002-flying-wingers-spark-wins-arsenal-spurs.html 2013-05-04T19:14:44Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2063034-bale-spurs-course-champions-league.html LONDON (AP) — Tottenham stayed in contention for Champions League action next season after beating Southampton 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday with Gareth Bale scoring against his former club in the 86th minute. After being marked out of much of the game, the 23-year-old Welshman found space 25 yards out, picked the ball off substitute Lewis Holtby ... Sat, 04 May 2013 18:53:29 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2063034-bale-spurs-course-champions-league.html 2013-05-04T18:53:29Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060714-rivalry-renewed-liverpool-takes-everton.html LONDON (AP) — Out of contention for a place in the European positions, Liverpool has a new target for the remainder of the English Premier League season — finishing above local rival Everton. The neighbors meet at Anfield on Sunday, with sixth-place Everton five points ahead of seventh-place Liverpool and knowing a win will guarantee its status as the top... Fri, 03 May 2013 13:03:59 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2060714-rivalry-renewed-liverpool-takes-everton.html 2013-05-03T13:03:59Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2058730-benitez-faces-ferguson-time-with-chelsea.html LONDON (AP) — For the final time as Chelsea manager, Rafa Benitez will face old adversary Alex Ferguson at Manchester United on Sunday with the team's Champions League prospects on the line against the new Premier League champions. The feud between Ferguson and Benitez stretches back to the Spaniard's time as Liverpool manager, and the pair engaged in a d... Thu, 02 May 2013 16:52:32 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2058730-benitez-faces-ferguson-time-with-chelsea.html 2013-05-02T16:52:32Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2053750-bayern-lewandowski-top-weekly-ap-football-poll.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After dominating the first legs of their Champions League semifinals, it's no surprise to see Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund leading the way in the latest Associated Press global football poll. Bayern pipped Dortmund to be voted the world's top team for the fifth straight week, with its 4-0 hammering of Barcelona impressing... Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:23:13 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2053750-bayern-lewandowski-top-weekly-ap-football-poll.html 2013-04-30T16:23:13Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2050098-double-win-tottenhams-bale-english-awards.html LONDON (AP) — Still to win any trophies with Tottenham, Gareth Bale collected the top two awards in English football on Sunday to cement his status as one of the sport's most talented players. The Wales forward was voted player of the year and the young player of the year by his fellow professionals in English football. "It's a massive honor," said Bale, ... Sun, 28 Apr 2013 22:57:13 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2050098-double-win-tottenhams-bale-english-awards.html 2013-04-28T22:57:13Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2043606-robin-van-persie-1st-return-to-arsenal.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Fresh from wrapping up a 20th English league title for Manchester United, Robin van Persie will make his first return to Arsenal looking to dent his former club's hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League. Van Persie quit Arsenal last August in frustration at the team's lack of silverware in his eight years in Londo... Thu, 25 Apr 2013 10:19:47 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2043606-robin-van-persie-1st-return-to-arsenal.html 2013-04-25T10:19:47Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2035078-united-brink-city-implodes-spurs.html LONDON (AP) — After spending weeks on the brink of a 20th English title, Manchester United can finally get the job done on Monday. Second-place Manchester City's late implosion in a 3-1 loss at Tottenham on Sunday means United can take the title from its neighbor by beating Aston Villa at Old Trafford, with nearly a month still remaining in the campaign. ... Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:28:14 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2035078-united-brink-city-implodes-spurs.html 2013-04-21T21:28:14Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2034628-spurs-stun-man-city-with-late-comeback.html LONDON (AP) — Gareth Bale fronted a late fightback by Tottenham in a 3-1 victory over Manchester City on Sunday, giving runaway leader Manchester United a chance to wrap up the Premier League title on Monday. The defending champions imploded at White Hart Lane as Spurs scored three goals in a seven-minute span, with Bale setting up Clint Dempsey for a 75t... Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:01:21 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2034628-spurs-stun-man-city-with-late-comeback.html 2013-04-21T16:01:21Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2030958-player-year-shortlist-announced.html LONDON (AP) — Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Robin van Persie have been nominated by their peers for England's Player of the Year award. The Professional Footballers' Association has shortlisted six players for the prize, with Michael Carrick, Eden Hazard and Juan Mata completing the list. Bale, who was Player of the Year in 2011, has scored 22 goals in 38 ... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 20:54:17 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2030958-player-year-shortlist-announced.html 2013-04-19T20:54:17Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2030878-manchester-city-hopes-to-delay-title-surrender.html LONDON (AP) — Manchester City can delay the inevitable by beating fifth-place Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League. Manchester United, which leads City by 13 points, can clinch its 20th English title with a victory at home to Aston Villa on Monday if City loses at White Hart Lane. City has saved some of its best form for the latter stages of the seas... Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:18:39 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2030878-manchester-city-hopes-to-delay-title-surrender.html 2013-04-19T12:18:39Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2027714-faltering-tottenham-to-united-favor.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After slipping out of the Champions League qualification places, Tottenham will look to halt its traditional end-of-season slump by beating Manchester City on Sunday to potentially set up an early end to the Premier League title race. Manchester United has been on the brink of a record-extending 20th English title for weeks and ... Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:24:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2027714-faltering-tottenham-to-united-favor.html 2013-04-18T10:24:52Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2025412-heady-days-welsh-cardiff-reaches-epl.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — As Vincent Tan threw his arms into the air and soaked up the applause of a delirious crowd, the Malaysian billionaire owner of Cardiff could be forgiven for having a smug grin on his face. It was only last year that Tan was a target of abuse by Cardiff fans after making the controversial — to some, desultory — decision to change... Wed, 17 Apr 2013 15:18:52 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2025412-heady-days-welsh-cardiff-reaches-epl.html 2013-04-17T15:18:52Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2015494-arsenal-fan-banned-throwing-banana-bale.html LONDON (AP) — An Arsenal supporter has been banned from attending football matches for three years after admitting to throwing a banana at Tottenham forward Gareth Bale during a north London derby. Thomas Flint was accused by a judge of "disgraceful behavior" for hurling the fruit at Bale, who is white, as he took a corner, and swearing at Tottenham fans ... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:57:03 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2015494-arsenal-fan-banned-throwing-banana-bale.html 2013-04-12T11:57:03Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2015330-united-to-avoid-jittery-finish-to-title-race.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The English Premier League title is tantalizingly in reach for Manchester United, yet the jitters could begin to set in if the team fails to beat relegation-haunted Stoke on Sunday. The anguish of its end-of-season meltdown last year, when Manchester City came from eight points down with six matches left to snatch the title from... Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:30:38 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2015330-united-to-avoid-jittery-finish-to-title-race.html 2013-04-12T11:30:38Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2009542-basel-to-finish-spurs-europa-league.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — After eliminating Manchester United from the Champions League last season, Swiss champion Basel will look to end another English team's adventure in Europe on Thursday and reach its first ever semifinal in European football. Basel holds the upper hand in its Europa League quarterfinal against Tottenham after drawing the first le... Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:23:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2009542-basel-to-finish-spurs-europa-league.html 2013-04-10T01:23:55Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2003782-chelsea-seizes-tottenham-draw-to-3rd-epl.html LONDON (AP) — Chelsea seized on Tottenham's slip-up in the Premier League to reclaim third place with a 2-1 victory over Sunderland that handed Paolo Di Canio a losing start as manager. Chelsea was playing its fourth game in nine days but still had enough energy to come from behind, with Branislav Ivanovic netting the winner after both sides scored an own... Sun, 07 Apr 2013 18:27:00 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2003782-chelsea-seizes-tottenham-draw-to-3rd-epl.html 2013-04-07T18:27:00Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2003628-tottenham-grabs-draw-with-late-goal-vs-everton.html LONDON (AP) — Gylfi Sigurdsson scored a late equalizer for Tottenham to secure a 2-2 draw with Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. Sigurdsson was first to the ball in the 87th minute after Emmanuel Adebayor's curling shot hit the post. Earlier, Adebayor put Tottenham ahead in the first minute of the match, stretching out his foot to connect with a fa... Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:21:25 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2003628-tottenham-grabs-draw-with-late-goal-vs-everton.html 2013-04-07T16:21:25Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2000768-bale-set-to-return-within-2-weeks-injury.html LONDON (AP) — Tottenham winger Gareth Bale should be back in training "within two weeks" after spraining ligaments in his right ankle while playing against FC Basel in the Europa League quarterfinals. The prognosis following a scan on Friday will be a huge relief to Spurs, whose bid to qualify for next season's Champions League has been spearheaded by the... Fri, 05 Apr 2013 17:09:40 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2000768-bale-set-to-return-within-2-weeks-injury.html 2013-04-05T17:09:40Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2000074-respite-di-canio-sunderland.html MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Paolo Di Canio has endured a trying first week as Sunderland manager off the pitch and it won't get any easier on it Sunday when his relegation-haunted team takes on European champion Chelsea in his opening game in charge. Since being appointed as Martin O'Neill's replacement on Sunday, the combustible Italian has spent more tim... Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:55:04 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/2000074-respite-di-canio-sunderland.html 2013-04-05T12:55:04Z http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1999128-chelsea-benfica-fenerbahce-win-europa-league.html LONDON (AP) — Chelsea, Benfica and Fenerbahce closed in on the Europa League semifinals with victories on Thursday while Basel claimed crucial away goals with a draw at Tottenham. Fernando Torres scored twice in a game for the first time in four months as European champion Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win over Rubin Kazan at home in the first leg of their quarte... Thu, 04 Apr 2013 23:12:55 GMT http://www.mail.com/int/sports/soccer/1999128-chelsea-benfica-fenerbahce-win-europa-league.html 2013-04-04T23:12:55Z