Brazilian midfielder Kaka gestures during a training session in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, on Thursday.

Michael Clarke’s unbeaten 99 helped Australia win the fourth one-day international at The Oval here on Wednesday and reduce England’s lead to 3-1 in the five-match series.

Serena Williams denies that this year's Wimbledon title is hers to lose as she goes into Thursday's semi-final with Petra Kvitova.
Defending champion Williams, who is chasing a fourth Wimbledon singles crown, is the only top 20 player in the last four and all eyes are on whether the in-form outsiders, can stop her.

Wimbledon legend Roger Federer crashed out of the tournament in a shock quarterfinal defeat to Tomas Berdych on Wednesday, blowing open the draw for Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

Asia’s World Cup may be over with Japan’s agonising elimination in a penalty shoot-out, but the Asian Football Confederation teams did enough to reaffirm the region’s growing stature.

Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday banned the country’s football team from international competition for two years following their dismal showing at the World Cup, his office said.

The Maldives was without an effective government on Wednesday, after the Cabinet resigned en masse amid a power struggle between President Mohammed Nasheed and the Opposition-controlled Parliament.

Gunmen set off a car bomb and fired rocket propelled grenades at one of the biggest Nato bases in Afghanistan on Wednesday in a brazen daylight attack claimed by the hardline Islamist Taliban.

The win over Portugal was enough to put Spain into a last eight showdown against Paraguay on Saturday. Whoever gets through that match has either Argentina or Germany awaiting them in the semifinals.

Red-hot David Villa scored his fourth goal of the World Cup to fire European champions Spain past Iberian arch-rivals Portugal 1-0 on Tuesday and into quarterfinal clash against Paraguay.