Qualifier

Lampard salvages draw for England vs Ukraine

Wembley: Frank Lampard's late equalizer spared Roy Hodgson from losing his first competitive home match as England coach on Tuesday, salvaging a 1-1 draw against Ukraine in 2014 World Cup qualifying. Lampard scored his 26th England goal in the 87th minute from the penalty spot after Yevhen Khacheridi handled the ball. But England's pursuit of a winner was stymied by being reduced to 10 men when captain Steven Gerrard received...  

France crush Belarus 3-1 in World Cup qualifiers

Saint-Denis: Franck Ribery scored a well-taken goal and helped create the other two as France beat Belarus 3-1 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday. Midfielder Etienne Capoue and right back Christophe Jallet earned their first international goals as France followed up Friday's 1-0 win in Finland with an encouraging performance ahead of next month's crucial match away to European and World Cup champion Spain. After Anton Putilo pulled a...  

Spain edge Georgia in World Cup qualifiers

Tbilisi: Spain needed 86 minutes to break down Georgia's defense in a 1-0 win on Tuesday as the World Cup champions took the first step to defending their title in 2014 with a 23rd consecutive victory in qualifying. Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Loria kept Spain from converting their overwhelming possession into a goal until he was forced off with a leg injury. Substitute Cesc Fabregas then found Roberto Soldado to slot...  

Japan beat Iraq 1-0 after Kagawa scare

Saitama: Japan survived severe early pressure from Zico's Iraq to beat them 1-0 at home on Tuesday, taking a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil. Ryoichi Maeda steered in a point-blank header in the 25th minute for the Asian champions, who lost playmaker Shinji Kagawa to a back strain an hour before kick-off. "It's three points, we'll take it," Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni told...  

Strange that WC winners need to qualify: Casillas

Tbilisi: Spain captain Iker Casillas says that as defending World Cup champions, it felt strange to battle in out in the qualifiers for the 2014 edition. Spain play away to Georgia on Tuesday in a match coach Vicente del Bosque describes as the first game of the defence of the title they won in South Africa in 2010, but as defending champions, Casillas thinks that Spain should qualify for 2014...  

Lack of depth worries England football coach

London: England football team head coach Roy Hodgson feels that the shrinking pool of talent he can pick from will continue to get smaller - and expects no sympathy from club managers in terms of their selection policy. Following the withdrawals of Chelsea duo Ashley Cole and John Terry over the weekend, then Theo Walcott with a virus, Hodgson needed to reinforce his squad ahead of their World Cup qualifier...  

Ill Walcott latest to pull out of England squad

London: Winger Theo Walcott has become the latest player to drop out of the England squad for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley after being sent home with a virus. Chelsea defenders Ashley Cole and John Terry had to withdraw from the squad over the weekend with ankle injuries to join Wayne Rooney, Andy Carroll, Gareth Barry, Ashley Young and Scott Parker on the sidelines. Coach Roy Hodgson...  

Villa boost for Spain as favourites begin defence

Madrid: Favourites Spain start the defence of their world title away to Georgia on Tuesday when coach Vicente del Bosque will have another chance to test the form of record marksman David Villa, recently returned from eight months out with a broken leg. The 30-year-old Barcelona striker, who sat out Spain's triumphant Euro 2012 campaign, came off the bench to score in his first game back for both club and...  

Injured Terry ruled out of England qualifier

London: John Terry will miss England's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine on Tuesday because of an ankle injury. The Chelsea center back was hurt on Friday in the 5-0 win over Moldova in England's opening Group H match in qualifying and joins fellow defender and teammate Ashley Cole on the sidelines. The English Football Association said in a statement Sunday that "following further treatment from the England medical staff today,...  

WC qualifiers: Ivory Coast win, Zambia lose

Cape Town: Didier Drogba was again among the goals as the Ivory Coast led a list of former finalists in a winning start to World Cup qualification but new African champions Zambia lost their opening game on the road to Brazil. There was also a setback for Morocco, whose coach Eric Gerets' job is now under severe threat after a 1-1 draw away at lowly-ranked Gambia. Drogba and his Chelsea...  

Denmark, Czech Republic draw 0-0 in WC qualifier

Copenhagen: Denmark and the Czech Republic drew 0-0 in their opening qualifying match for the 2014 World Cup on Saturday. Denmark dominated the first half but the Czechs came back in the second with an early attempt by Matej Vydra. The home team kept pressing and regained control, and had several chances. Their best came from Nicolai Jorgensen and Leon Andreasen but Petr Cech was able to keep his goal...  

Scotland draw 0-0 with Serbia in WC qualifier

Glasgow: Scotland and Serbia opened their bids to qualify for the 2014 World Cup with a 0-0 draw at Hampden Park on Saturday. The Scots created enough scoring chances but stubborn defending by Serbia and a lack of finishing kept the Group A game deadlocked. Robert Snodgrass was denied from close range by a save from Vladimir Stojkovic at the near post, while Steven Naismith sent a header wide at...  

Qualifying first is not important: Messi

Rio de Janeiro: Argentina striker Lionel Messi says finishing first in the World Cup qualifying phase is not the team's priority. Argentina went to the top of the South American confederation's Conmebol standings on Friday with a 3-1 victory over Paraguay in Cordoba, reports Xinhua. Messi twice hit the woodwork before curling in a trademark free-kick in the 63rd minute at the Mario Kempes stadium. Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and...  

Messi leads Argentina to top of World Cup table

Cordoba, Argentina: Lionel Messi's Argentina brushed aside Paraguay 3-1 to go top of the South American 2014 World Cup qualifiers at the Mario Kempes stadium on Friday. Goals from Angel Di Maria, Gonzalo Higuain and Messi, with a brilliant free kick, gave Argentina their first home win over Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier in 39 years. Argentina lead the South American group with 13 points from six matches, one...  

Italy held, Germany win in WC qualifiers

London: Italy were held to a disappointing 2-2 draw by Bulgaria as the rest of Europe's leading sides made winning starts in their first matches in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup on Friday. Showing little of the form that took the team to the European Championship final, the Italians were denied victory in their Group B opener when Georgi Milanov equalized for Bulgaria " ranked 89th in the world...  

England thrash Moldova in World Cup qualifiers

Chisinau: Frank Lampard scored twice as England relied on a dominant first-half showing against Moldova to open their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 5-0 win on Friday, their biggest away victory in 19 years. Jermain Defoe " making his 50th international appearance " grabbed England's other goal before the break in Chisinau, with James Milner and Leighton Baines netting in the last 16 minutes in a comprehensive Group...  

Cole out of WC qualifier against Moldova

London: The English Football Association says defender Ashley Cole will miss the World Cup qualifier away to Moldova on Friday due to an ankle injury. The Chelsea left back was sent back to his club on Monday for treatment after reporting to the England team hotel. Describing the ankle problem as "minor," the FA says Cole will be assessed again by England medics on Sunday to see if he can...  

Mexico win ends Brazil 10-match unbeaten run

Arlington, Texas: First-half goals by Giovani dos Santos and Javier Hernandez gave Mexico a 2-0 win over Brazil in a friendly in Dallas on Sunday. It was the second straight game in which Mexico's top two forwards each scored, indicating the Mexican attack is in top form at the right time. "This game served us well in our plans for qualifying," Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre said through...  

Not playing Morkel cost Delhi final berth

Chennai Super Kings thumped Delhi Daredevils by 86 runs in Qualifier II to set up an IPL-5 final with Kolkata Knight Riders. ...

IPL 5, Qualifier 2: As it happened

Riding on Murali Vijay's 113, Chennai crush Delhi by 86 runs to set up the final clash with Kolkata. ...