Romania keeper Tatarusanu fit to face Greece in playoff
(Reuters) – Romania goalkeeper Ciprian Tatarusanu will be fit for Friday’s World Cup playoff against Greece after the back injury he suffered on Monday turned out to be less serious than thought, coach Victor Piturca said on Thursday.
Djokovic facing tough weekend after Tipsarevic injury
BELGRADE (Reuters) – Serbia’s world number two Novak Djokovic will face his toughest Davis Cup weekend after team mate Janko Tipsarevic was forced to pull out of the 2013 final against holders Czech Republic with a heel injury.
Magnussen replaces Perez at McLaren for 2014
LONDON (Reuters) – Danish youngster Kevin Magnussen will replace Mexican Sergio Perez and race for McLaren alongside Jenson Button next season, the Formula One team said in a statement on Thursday.
Gulf trio on verge of sealing Asian Cup places
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Bahrain can put the disappointment of 2014 World Cup failure behind them by becoming the first three sides to navigate their way through Asian Cup qualifying on Friday.
Villarreal reward coach Marcelino with new contract
MADRID (Reuters) – Promoted Villarreal have rewarded coach Marcelino Garcia Toral with a two-year contract extension which ties him in until 2016, the La Liga club said in a statement on Thursday.
Race to be Spain’s number nine not over yet, Llorente says
MADRID (Reuters) – The battle to be one of Spain’s center forwards at the World Cup finals in Brazil next year still has a long way to run, Juventus striker Fernando Llorente said on Thursday.
Beschastnykh confident Kerzhakov will break his record
(Reuters) – Former Russia striker Vladimir Beschastnykh says he expects Zenit St Petersburg forward Alexander Kerzhakov to surpass his record of 26 goals for his country when Fabio Capello’s team take on Serbia and South Korea in friendlies over the ne…
French soccer clubs postpone planned strike
PARIS (Reuters) – French soccer clubs have postponed a strike planned for the end of this month to protest against a controversial French super tax on million-euro salaries, the Union of Professional Football Clubs (UCPF) said on Thursday.
Marking Ronaldo a test of nerve for Sweden defense – Granqvist
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden’s backline must hold their nerve when they come up against prolific Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo in their World Cup qualifying playoff, said defender Andreas Granqvist.
Armstrong’s urge to tell all is ‘a little late’ – USADA
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – Lance Armstrong’s promise to come clean about doping is “a little late”, the head of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) said on Thursday, accusing the disgraced cyclist of trying to use events to “gain advantage”.
