TORONTO: Number three Roger Federer overcame old-school, attack-minded Michael Llodra 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 to advance at the Toronto Masters Thursday, while top seed Rafael Nadal showcased the modern style with a demolition of Kevin Anderson 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).Nadal, reigning French Open and

DUBLIN: Argentina`s 1-0 victory over Ireland has helped to get the "massive blow" of World Cup elimination out of their system, said coach Sergio Batista.The South Americans won 1-0 at the new-look Lansdowne Road thanks to a controversial first half goal from Angel Di Maria.Ireland,

LONDON: England are poised to appoint a homegrown coach when the reign of Italy`s Fabio Capello comes to an end.Sir Trevor Brooking, the Football Association`s director of development, said on Friday that the mood within the governing body is to have an English manager."I think longer

LAGOS: Nigeria`s anti-graft agency has quizzed and impounded the passports of the country`s former football administrators who are facing fraud charges, a spokesman said Saturday."We seized the passports of the former NFF (Nigerian Football Federation) officials on Thursday after they

LONDON: Salman Butt scored his second fifty of the match and remained unbeaten at the close of the third day here on Wednesday to give Pakistan hope of a record-breaking win in the first Test against Australia at Lord`s. Butt was 58 not out and Test debutant Azhar Ali 28 not out at the

JOHANNESBURG: Pitso Mosimane was named national coach of South Africa Thursday in succession to Brazilian Carlos Alberto Parreria. The announcment at a national football association news conference in Johannesburg was widely expected as Mosimane has been a Bafana Bafana (The Boys)

  MADRID: Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek has signed a new one-year contract with Real Madrid, the Spanish club announced on Thursday. The 37-year-old has been the regular understudy to Spain`s number one keeper Iker Casillas since joining the club from Liverpool in 2007, playing just

MANCHESTER: Manchester United and England star Wayne Rooney will pay just nominal damages to his former agents Proactive after an attempt to sue him for 4.3 million pounds (6.6 million dollars). Rooney will have to pay only a "restitutional remedy" amounting to around 90,000 pounds

  JOHANNESBURG: Nearly 1,000 crimes, mainly thefts and muggings, took place in and around stadiums on match days during the World Cup, South Africa`s police minister said on Thursday. A total of 290 incidents were reported to police inside the 10 venues of the month-long tournament

ERASMIA: On the eve of his 100th cap, Germany striker Miroslav Klose admits he is eyeing Ronaldo`s all-time record for the most amount of goals at the World Cup finals.Klose will make his 100th appearance for Germany in Saturday`s World Cup quarter-final against Diego Maradona`s Argentina

JOHANNESBURG: Robinho celebrated his first goal at the World Cup and a man-of-the-match performance as Brazil cruised past Chile and into the quarter-finals on Monday. The five-time champions spanked their South American rivals 3-0 with defender Juan and striker Luis Fabiano also on the

JOHANNESBURG: Coach Dunga admitted Kaka`s flurry of yellow cards was giving him concern as five-time world champions Brazil charged into the quarter-finals at the World Cup at Ellis Park on Monday. The former world player of the year picked up his third booking of the tournament as

RUSTENBURG: Fabio Capello has given an insight into how he sees the future England as he picks over the ashes of his team`s miserable World Cup exit. The England manager, who says he wants to stay in the post, has been told he must wait two weeks before his employers, the Football

JOHANNESBURG: Goals by centre-back Juan and strikers Luis Fabiano and Robinho propelled Brazil to a 3-0 win over Chile on Monday and into a World Cup quarter-final with Holland. After a tepid opening Juan headed in powerfully on 34 minutes to settle Brazilian nerves. Four minutes later

DURBAN: Arjen Robben and Wesley Sniejder fired the Dutch team to a 2-1 victory over Slovakia here on Monday to set up a World Cup quarter-final against either Brazil or Chile. Robben made a 20-minute appearance against Cameroon in the Netherlands` final group game after recovering from a

LONDON: The English flag hoisted over British Prime Minister David Cameron`s Downing Street office for the World Cup was lowered Monday, hours after the nation`s crushing 4-1 defeat by Germany."It`s been replaced by the Union flag," a Downing Street spokeswoman said, referring to the red,

HONG KONG: Hong Kong police said Monday they have smashed a record 170 million Hong Kong dollar (22 million US dollar) gambling ring that took illegal bets on World Cup football games and horse racing. Authorities arrested four men linked to Hong Kong`s notorious triad gangs and seized

JOHANNESBURG: Argentina booked a World Cup quarter-final with Germany on Sunday after seeing off Mexico 3-1 in the last 16, Carlos Tevez netting a brace and Gonzalo Higuain also on target prior to Javier Hernandez`s consolation.After Mexico had made a bright start, Manchester City`s Tevez

JOHANNESBURG: Diego Maradona shrugged off the latest World Cup referee blunder on Sunday to demand more protection for Lionel Messi, Argentina`s prize asset and key to the country`s title hopes. Argentina saw off Mexico 3-1 to book a quarter-final clash against Germany but the Mexicans

LONDON: English commentators launched scathing attacks Monday on their football team`s dire performance against Germany which ended the country`s World Cup hopes, as calls mounted for Fabio Capello to quit. Newspapers saved some of their criticism for the referee in the game who