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

HABIGANJ: Separate clashes between supporters of Argentina and Brazil football teams left at least 15 people injured in Habiganj and Nabiganj upazila Saturday. Alamgir Hossain, sub-inspector of Nabiganj police station, told banglanews24.com.bd that the first clash erupted at around 10 pm

HOVE: Bangladesh went down to a mammoth 149-run defeat in a warm-up match against Sussex here on Saturday -- just five days before the start of their one-day series with England.The Tigers` prospects for the three-match campaign against England, which starts at Trent Bridge on Thursday,

JOHANNESBURG: Paraguay coach Gerard Martino claimed he was expecting an apology from FIFA following his team`s 1-0 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Spain at Ellis Park on Saturday.Martino was angered by a pair of decisons that went against his team and potentially cost them victory.In

JOHANNESBURG: David Villa edged closer to a Spanish record with his game-breaking goal in the European champions` 1-0 win over Paraguay to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup at Ellis Park on Saturday.Villa became the tournament`s leading scorer with his fifth goal to crack the

CAPE TOWN: Lionel Messi came into the World Cup with the expectation that he would light up the tournament, but the Barcelona superstar left on Saturday empty-handed, without a goal and in floods of tears.It is not something the world footballer of the year and Argentina`s talisman is

JOHANNESBURG: David Villa scored the only goal as European champions Spain beat Paraguay 1-0 at Ellis Park on Saturday to set up a World Cup semi-final against Germany.Villa, who now has five goals in the tournament, struck the winner seven minutes from the end of what had been a

LONDON: Austria`s Juergen Melzer and Germany`s Philipp Petzschner made off with the match balls after winning the Wimbledon men`s doubles title here on Saturday.The unseeded pair beat Sweden`s Robert Lindstedt and Romania`s Horia Tecau, the 16th seeds, 6-1, 7-5, 7-5 on Centre Court."I

LONDON: Austria`s Juergen Melzer and Germany`s Philipp Petzschner made off with the match balls after winning the Wimbledon men`s doubles title here on Saturday.The unseeded pair beat Sweden`s Robert Lindstedt and Romania`s Horia Tecau, the 16th seeds, 6-1, 7-5, 7-5 on Centre Court."I

JOHANNESBURG: Shamed Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez received a one-match ban on Saturday for his handball against Ghana, meaning he could still play in the World Cup final if his countrymen can see off Holland in the semi-final.FIFA`s discipinary commission ruled the ban should be just for

LONDON: Fast bowler Shaun Tait led Australia to a 42-run win over England in the fifth and final one-day international at Lord`s here on Saturday as they reduced the hosts` series-winning margin to 3-2.England, chasing 278, were rocked by an early double strike from Tait as they collaped

CAPE TOWN: Diego Maradona on Saturday indicated that he may quit as Argentina coach, but said he needed time to think about his future.The former midfield maestro was devastated after seeing his team crushed 4-0 by Germany in the World Cup quarter-finals and said in his post-match