LIVERPOOL: Spain striker Fernando Torres pledged his immediate future to Liverpool on Tuesday, ending speculation that the World Cup winner could be heading out of Anfield."I am really happy to be back, really happy to stay with all my team-mates," the 26-year-old told the club

ROME: Roberto Baggio, one of Italy`s finest players ever, is set to return to football, joining Italy`s football federation (FIGC) after the national team`s disastrous exit from the World Cup, the local press reported on Tuesday."I have said I am fully available to fill the role of

LONDON: England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff suffered yet another injury setback on Tuesday when, days before he was due to return from a year on the sidelines, he was ruled out of action for the rest of the season.Flintoff has not played for 12 months following two knee operations and

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 75 as the hosts prospered against an untidy Indian attack on the opening day of the third and final Test on Tuesday.Former skipper Mahela Jayawardene made 56 and Thilan Samaraweera remained unbeaten on 65 as Sri Lanka, leading

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka are sweating on the fitness of Lasith Malinga as the fast bowler battles to recover from injury and illness ahead of the third and final test against India starting on Tuesday.Malinga took seven wickets in Sri Lanka`s first test victory in the three-match series at

FRANKFURT: Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti described defender Ashley Cole as "the best left-back in the world" on Sunday and said the England international would not be leaving the Premier League champions.Cole, 29, has been linked in media reports with a reunion with former Blues coach

LISBON: Manchester United midfielder Anderson was dragged out of a burning car but escaped with only minor injuries after an early-morning crash in Portugal, local media reported on Sunday.Witnesses quoted by the Jornal de Noticias daily said the Brazilian player had lost control of his

NOTTINGHAM: Andrew Strauss believes England are developing the battling qualities that will serve them well in their bid to retain the Ashes after they thrashed Pakistan by 354 runs in the first Test.Victory, achieved with a more than a day to spare at Trent Bridge on Sunday, was

WELLINGTON: Acclaimed New Zealand sportsman Eric Tindill, a double international who was the world`s oldest surviving Test cricketer and an All Black, has died aged 99, a family spokesman said Monday.As well as playing cricket and rugby at Test level, Tindill also achieved the unique

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan responded to their crushing 354 run first Test defeat by England at Trent Bridge on Sunday by recalling former captain Mohammad Yousuf and so ending the batsman`s international exile.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced leg-spinner Danish Kaneria had been

PARIS: The French football season gets underway on Saturday with players and fans well aware that some remedial action is required to patch up its tainted image after a disastrous World Cup campaign in South Africa.The national team had a terrible time on the field, losing two of their

MOENCHENGLADBACH: Australia stayed on course for a third successive Champions Trophy title with a 6-3 come-from-behind win over the Netherlands on Sunday as three games witnessed a 22-goal deluge.Australia led 1-0 at half-time against the Dutch but were then 3-2 down with 16 minutes left

BARCELONA: French sprint king Christophe Lemaitre won his third gold of the European Championships on Sunday as his country stormed to victory in the men`s 4x100m relay.France were the clear favourites thanks to Lemaitre`s triumphs in the individual 100m and 200m as well as Martial

SYDNEY: Australia`s top Commonwealth Games official said Monday he suspects the New Delhi Games have become a political football in India amid claims of corruption in the construction of facilities.With barely two months to go before the Games start in October, the sporting extravaganza

FRANKFURT: Nicolas Anelka played for the first time since being kicked-out of France`s World Cup squad on Sunday but was unable to prevent Chelsea slipping to a 2-1 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt.Anelka was one of six World Cup players featuring for the Premier League champions along

MANCHESTER: Manchester United will hand England striker Wayne Rooney and South Korea international Park Ji-Sung their first starts of the pre-season on Wednesday.Rooney, Park as well as Michael Carrick and Nemanja Vidic were rested for the team`s North American tour as they enjoyed

LONDON: Theo Walcott made a point to England coach Fabio Capello as the Arsenal winger inspired his side to a 3-2 victory over Celtic that clinched the Emirates Cup on Sunday.Walcott spent the close-season nursing a bruised ego after being left out of England`s World Cup squad and the

IRVINE: US swim star Michael Phelps, who won eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and six more at the 2004 Athens Games, takes his next strokes toward the 2012 London Olympics starting Tuesday.Phelps is among more than 30 Olympians set to compete at the US National Swim

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan captain Salman Butt insisted recalling Mohammad Yousuf was far from a miracle cure for the team`s batting ills after their crushing 354-run first Test loss to England.Just hours after Pakistan were bowled out for 80 - their lowest Test score against England - at Trent

COLOMBO: India`s world batting record holder Sachin Tendulkar will become the most-capped Test player on Tuesday, adding another milestone in one of cricket`s most accomplished careers.Tendulkar will overtake former Australian captain Steve Waugh when he takes the field for the third and