PRETORIA: Diego Maradona, the greatest footballer of his era, said on Friday he hoped his World Cup ace Lionel Messi would come to be regarded as the best player ever. "I wish with all my heart for Lio to have a superb tournament and be the best of all time definitively," Argentina`s

JOHANNESBURG: A joyous day for South Africa. A not quite perfect result. South Africa gave up the lead on a goal by Mexico`s Rafael Marquez in the 79th minute and settled for a 1-1 draw Friday before 84,000 horn-blaring fans, whose euphoria over the start of the first World Cup on the

LOS ANGELES: Of all the storylines dominating the build-up to next week`s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, perhaps the most intriguing is Phil Mickelson`s emotional bid for a second consecutive major. The American left-hander has never won his national open where he has been one of the most

JOHANNESBURG: Former World Cup winners Patrick Vieira and Geoff Hurst have picked Spain as their team to win the tournament being hosted for the first time on African soil. Hurst, who scored a hat-trick when England won the 1966 World Cup final at home, and former French captain Vieira,

PRETORIA: Never write off the Italians is a World Cup cliche many pundits have ignored this time around such is the lack of buzz around the defending champions. Marcello Lippi`s team are being dismissed as past their sell-by date and 36-year-old captain Fabio Cannavaro`s move last week

JOHANNESBURG: Former South African President Nelson MandelaÔÇÖs 13-year-old great granddaughter was killed in a car crash on Friday after leaving a concert ahead of the World Cup kick off, the Nelson Mandela Foundation said. Mandela, 91, is widely credited with helping South Africa

JOHANNESBURG: The once-improbable dream of a World Cup in Africa kicks off on Friday when Mexico face the home team in the deafening cauldron of Johannesburg`s 90,000-seat Soccer City stadium. The Mexicans will have to contend not only an army of jiving supporters in a frenzy of

MAGALIESBURG, South Africa: Portugal winger Cristiano Ronaldo and coach Carlos Queiroz visited former South African president Nelson Mandela and offered him a team shirt with his name on the back, the Portuguese Football Federation said on Thursday. "As result of a personal invitation

MEMPHIS: Lee Westwood gave himself a timely boost for next week`s U.S. Open by rocketing into a one-shot lead in the opening round of the St. Jude Classic on Thursday. The English world number three, the highest-ranked player in the field, took advantage of calm morning weather and

IRENE, South Africa: England manager Fabio Capello has drilled home the message to his team that set-pieces can be the difference between winning and losing at the World Cup and the United States have clearly taken note. With free-kick specialists Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, the

SOWETO, South Africa: Thousands of people rocked Orlando Stadium in South Africa`s biggest township on Thursday, singing in harmony at the first World Cup concert on the eve of the world`s most watched sporting event. Concert-goers clapped and cheered amidst almost freezing temperatures

RUSTENBURG, South Africa: Fabio Capello, just a child when England last met the United States at the World Cup 60 years ago, is acutely aware a repeat of that famous result on Saturday (1830 GMT) would create another sensation. As a three-year-old growing up in Friuli, close to the

PRETORIA: Seldom has such a big question mark hung over Argentina at the start of a World Cup as that dogging the side Diego Maradona will put out against Nigeria in their Group B opener at Ellis Park on Saturday. Argentina have stayed injury-free, unlike Nigeria who lost key midfielder

JOHANNESBURG: Switzerland captain Alex Frei is doubtful for their opening World Cup game against Spain next week after hurting his right ankle in training on Wednesday, Swiss officials said. However, Frei was allowed to travel with the squad who are expected to arrive in Johannesburg on

DURBAN, South Africa (AP)—Three Greece players at the World Cup have had money stolen from their hotel rooms, police say. Lt. Colonel Leon Engelbrecht said Thursday the unidentified players reported $1,921 had been stolen from their rooms on Tuesday night at the Beverly Hills Hotel in

JOHANNESBURG: The theory in Germany goes that the loss of Michael Ballack could actually work in their favour, giving an outstanding crop of fresh-faced, fleet-footed players a chance to flourish at this World Cup. The task for Serbia, Australia and Ghana heading into Group D is to show

MILAN: Rafa Benitez was named Inter Milan coach on Thursday, charged with the tough task of matching last season`s stunning treble success under Jose Mourinho. Spaniard Benitez, who last week ended his six-year spell at Liverpool, has penned a two-year deal with the European, Serie A and

SYDNEY: Australia prop Ben Daley will face a baptism of fire Saturday after he was named by coach Robbie Deans to make his test debut against England in Perth. The 21-year-old was named in the starting side after first choice Benn Robinson broke his arm during the Super 14, while Ben

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa and Mexico are likely to go on the attack in the opening game of the World Cup on Friday, hopefully ending a run of cagey and often dour starts to the finals. Against a backdrop of fevered enthusiasm and the deafening noise of vuvuzelas at Johannesburg`s

JOHANNESBURG: "Vuvuzela" trumpets blasted and football chants rang out across South Africa on the eve of the continent`s first World Cup which Africans hope will transform negative global perceptions of them.In hotels and training grounds across the vast and beautiful nation, players and