CAPE TOWN: After pulverising Argentina 4-0 in their World Cup quarter-final, Germany will be forced into at least one change for Wednesday`s semi-final due to Thomas Mueller`s suspension.A yellow card for handball means the 20-year-old Bayern Munich star, who has scored four goals at the

ABUJA: Nigeria`s football rulers on Sunday sacked three of its top executives following the team`s poor showing at the World Cup and appealed to the country`s leader to reverse his international ban on the squad.The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said it had resolved at an emergency

LONDON: Spanish Wimbledon winner Rafael Nadal said Sunday he would love to go to the football World Cup and watch Spain lift the trophy.Nadal said he was due to have treatment on his troublesome knees ahead of the US hard court season, but might be able to jet out to South Africa to cheer

BERLIN: Franz Beckenbauer on Sunday described Germany as the "perfect team" and said they will be favourites to defeat Spain in Wednesday`s World Cup semi-final."This team, it`s the masterpiece of Joachim Loew. He has placed his mark on its make-up and created a perfect team,"

BUENOS AIRES: Diego Maradona and his Argentina team received a warm welcome from thousands of fans who turned out to greet them Sunday despite the side`s World Cup quarter-finals elimination.Fans, dressed in the blue and white shirts of the national team, held up banners proclaiming

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil coach Dunga was sacked on Sunday following the team`s World Cup quarter-final exit with charismatic Luiz Felipe Scolari, who won the title in 2002, immediately being tipped to take over."The cycle of work started in 2006 and which culminated with the elimination of

PARIS: Lionel Messi, Kaka and Wayne Rooney left their World Cup shooting boots at home, but David Villa and Miroslav Klose are on a hot streak of goalscoring form as the tournament reaches its climax.Both men have been averaging almost a goal a game as they battle with Thomas Mueller and

CAPE TOWN: The Netherlands go into their World Cup semi-final against Uruguay on Tuesday as hot favourites, but with the biggest prize in world football at stake anything can happen.Both sides will be missing key players for the Cape Town spectacle as a final looms against either Germany

LONDON: Rafael Nadal reclaimed the Wimbledon men`s singles title on Sunday, putting in a classy performance to beat Tomas Berdych 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the final.The Spanish world number one was too good for the Czech 12th seed on Centre Court and was rarely troubled as he won his second

MADRID: Tens of thousands of fans sang "Viva Espana" and danced in the streets in Madrid Saturday as Spain overcame Paraguay to move into the semi-final of the World Cup.A crowd which watched the match on giant screens outside Real Madrid`s Santiago Bernabeu stadium exploded with joy and

BERLIN: Germany`s papers could scarcely hide their glee Sunday after their team`s 4-0 rout of Argentina sent them into the World Cup semi-finals and got the whole nation dreaming of a fourth World Cup triumph."1954, 1974, 1990 ... " ran the headline on Sunday`s Tagesspiegel daily, the

MONTEVIDEO: Widely-regarded as South America`s most secular country, Uruguay reserves its religious devotion for football which has reached fever pitch with the national team`s progress to World Cup semi-finals.Despite a population of just 3.4 million people, Uruguay has produced two

JOHANNESBURG: David Villa and Miroslav Klose confirmed they rank among the finest football predators as the chances of a first European World Cup triumph outside the continent rocketed this weekend.Netherlands are favoured to defeat Uruguay in the first semi-final Tuesday while Spain and

MADRID, July 4, 2010 (AFP) - The Spanish press rejoiced Sunday at the national team`s "historic" but "agonising" victory over Paraguay that takes them into the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time."Blood, sweat and victory!" headlined the sports paper AS."Paraguay was a very

JOHANNESBURG: Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was in jubilant mood after his team made history by reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.New Barcelona signing David Villa scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from the end of their quarter-final clash against

DURBAN: A month in South Africa has brought Spain full circle.The European champions have illuminated Africa`s first World Cup with only occasional flashes of their bewitching best.Yet memories of their capacity to entrance burn sufficiently brightly for Xavi and co. to have been

PARIS: It has long been seen as the magic number in football, but the number 10 shirt has failed to live up to its star billing at the South African World Cup.Wearing the number ten on your back has earned exalted, almost sacred, status over the years thanks not least to the exploits

JOHANNESBURG: Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque was in jubilant mood after his team made history by reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the first time.New Barcelona signing David Villa scored the only goal of the game eight minutes from the end of their quarter-final clash against

LONDON: Kevin Pietersen was left out of the England 13-man squad announced Sunday for their upcoming one-day series against Bangladesh because of a thigh injury.England`s selectors also chose to rest off-spinner Graeme Swann, a regular in all three international formats, following their

CAPE TOWN: Argentina head home Sunday with their World Cup dream in tatters and coach Diego Maradona lamenting the toughest day of his life as he considers whether to quit.The South American giants didn`t just lose to long-time rival Germany in the quarter-finals, they were humiliated 4-0