PARIS: Nicolas Anelka, the Chelsea striker at the eye of the storm that rocked the French team at the World Cup, described Thursday the tensions between the squad and coach as a timebomb waiting to go off.Anelka was sent home from the World Cup in disgrace for verbally abusing France

LONDON: Pakistan fast bowling great Wasim Akram believes new pace sensation Mohammad Aamer is "much cleverer than I was at 18" after watching the teenage quick`s latest impressive Test display..Aamer, like Wasim a left-arm seamer, took four wickets for 72 runs as he led Pakistan`s attack

MUMBAI: Suspended Indian Premier League chief Lalit Modi was dealt a fresh blow Thursday after a court dismissed his plea to stay disciplinary proceedings initiated against him by India`s cricket board.The Bombay High Court also rejected Modi`s demand that a three-member panel set up by

CHICAGO: Manchester United, missing many of their big names, began training for their North American tour Wednesday with an hour-long workout at the Chicago Fire`s Toyota Park ground. Some 1,500 fans turned out to watch the training session, which took place in 90-degree heat. The

ST. ANDREWS: Scotsman Paul Lawrie smacked the opening shot off the first tee on a gloomy but wind-less Thursday morning at St. Andrews to launch the 150th anniversary edition of the British Open.Lawrie, who won the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie, was the first of 156 golfers to begin a

LONDON: England star David Beckham insists he has no intention of becoming a manager when he retires from playing. After an Achilles injury ended his dream of playing in a fourth World Cup, Beckham spent the tournament in South Africa as part of England`s backroom staff and sat on the

LONDON: Shane Watson was Australia`s unlikely bowling star as Pakistan collapsed to 141 for nine at tea on the second day of the first Test at Lord`s here on Wednesday.   Medium-pacer Watson`s return of four wickets for 40 runs in seven eventful overs helped leave Pakistan 112 runs

MADRID: Liverpool striker Fernando Torres may miss the start of the season after the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) announced on Wednesday that he has a groin injury.   The RFEF said in a statement that Torres had suffered a "grade one" tear to his left adductor muscle, which is

JOHANNESBURG: The successful staging of the World Cup has made South Africans more positive about their nation`s future, according to a poll released Wednesday.   About 85 percent of the 400 people surveyed by telephone on Monday and Tuesday said after the World Cup they have more hope

NEW YORK: French football star Thierry Henry has signed for New York Red Bulls on a long-term deal, the US club announced on Wednesday.   The 32-year-old striker is expected to make his debut for the Red Bulls in a home friendly on July 22 against English Premier League club Tottenham

LONDON: Chelsea defender Ashley Cole could be set to join Real Madrid, according to the Spanish club`s goalkeeper Iker Casillas.   Cole has been linked with a 30 million pounds (36 million euros) move to Real since his former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho took over at the Bernabeu

PARIS: World Cup winners Spain replaced Brazil at the top of the most recent FIFA World Ranking released on Wednesday.Vicente Del Bosque`s side climbed one place to the top of the ranking after beating the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in Sunday`s final in Johannesburg.The beaten

PARIS: World Cup winners Spain replaced Brazil at the top of the most recent FIFA World Ranking released on Wednesday. Vicente Del Bosque`s side climbed one place to the top of the ranking after beating the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time in Sunday`s final in Johannesburg. The beaten

MADRID: Two people died and over 100 people were injured in Spain in the celebrations that followed the country`s first ever World Cup win, local officials said Monday.   In Algesiras in southwestern Spain a man died on Sunday night after falling from a veranda, said a spokeswoman for

MADRID: Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola, who has led the club to seven trophies in two seasons, will sign a one-year contract extension on Wednesday, the Spanish champions revealed."The expected announcement of Guardiola’s continued presence on the bench is a reality," said the club in

MADRID: Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta, who scored the extra-time winner for Spain in the World Cup final against the Netherlands, said Tuesday he always believed his side could win the trophy."I always had faith and confidence. I had a lot of confidence in this team from the very

PARIS: Adidas is world champion, but Nike scored the tournament`s winning goal: for the World Cup`s official suppliers and sponsors, the planet`s most-watched sporting event is an unmitigated success.Adidas, which supplies the Spanish team`s kit, congratulated itself on the "rojas" 1-0

LONDON: World Cup final referee Howard Webb arrived home in England on Tuesday insisting he had done a tough job in difficult circumstances to the best of his ability.The English official has come in for criticism from some quarters, notably from some Dutch players, over his handling of

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa is to make an official bid for the 2020 Olympic Games after the country hosted a successful World Cup, governing Olympic body chief Tubby Reddy announced Tuesday.A bid for the Olympics is regarded as a way of maintaining South Africa`s new international profile

LONDON: Australia were 43 for one when play resumed following a 12-minute stoppage for bad light shortly after lunch on the first day of the first Test against Pakistan at Lord`s here on Tuesday.Only two overs had been bowled after the interval when, with Pakistan seamer Umar Gul