A controversial late winner by William Gallas earned Arsenal a 2-1 victory over Hull City in their FA Cup quarter-final on Tuesday and set up a last four showdown with Chelsea at Wembley. The other semi-final will be between Manchester United and Everton.
For Polman, 52, the first 'outsider' to the firm to take charge at Unilever in almost a century, it was his first interaction with the Indian media after becoming the CEO. The Dutchman is putting that courage to good use in Unilever. "Recession can't be an excuse for business to go down. Rather, the crisis gives me an opportunity to set the bar higher." Polman added that he expected the tough economic environment to continue for at least 18-24 months.
Another wildcard has entered the pack of candidates challenging Sepp Blatter for the presidency of FIFA in May's election -- Mino Raiola, a soccer agent whose clients include Mario Balotelli and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial may be rested for Tuesday's Premier League trip to West Ham United to avoid aggravating a hamstring injury, manager Louis van Gaal has said.
Arsenal missed their chance to go back to the top of the Premier League after being forced to play with 10 men for much of the game against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
Injury-hit AC Milan kept their slender Serie A title hopes alive when a second-half Clarence Seedorf goal secured a 1-0 home win over in-form Cagliari on Sunday.
Russia and Chelsea coach Guus Hiddink has said he plans to retire from football after the 2010 World Cup.
A fine all-round show by Ryan ten Doeschate powered the Kiwi side to a convincing six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka's Kandurata Maroons.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink will take over as Chelsea manager until the end of the season from next week, he said on Wednesday. Hiddink said he plans to attend Chelsea's FA Cup fifth round tie at Watford on Saturday.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink refused to discuss his future on Monday after being linked with the job of Chelsea manager in place of the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari.
Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar set an English record for time without conceding a goal during their 1-0 Premier League win against Everton at Old Trafford on Saturday. The Dutchman, who beat Chelsea keeper Petr Cech's 2004-05 Premier League record last week, moved past the all-league best of 18 hours, 23 minutes set by former Reading keeper Steve Death over two seasons during 1978 and 1979.
Rafael Nadal continued his quest for a maiden Paris Masters title when he survived a second set blip to beat Uruguay's Pablo Cuevas
Two-time 100 metres freestyle Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband retired from international swimming on Thursday after failing in his quest to win a third straight 100 freestyle gold medal in Beijing. The 30-year-old Dutchman said it is time to hang up his goggles after he finished a credible fifth in the final behind Frenchman Alain Bernard, conceding defeat to a younger generation of sprinters vying.
I don't think we can do a Leicester. I am realistic, says Everton manager
Daley Blind may lack the height and power but the Manchester United midfielder insists he possesses the footballing intelligence to flourish as a centre-back.
Saturday's draw pitted Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, the second seed, against Dutchman Robin Haase while defending champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium will play Giles Muller of Luxembourg.
Saturday's Chennai Open draw pitted Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, the second seed, against Dutchman Robin Haase while defending champion Xavier Malisse of Belgium will play Giles Muller of Luxembourg.
Yamamoto's appointment ended Indian hopes of a Formula One comeback this year for Narain Karthikeyan, the Williams test driver who raced for Jordan in 2005 and had been one of those under consideration.
A psychologist by training and an entrepreneur by trade, Claessens retired from corporate life more than a decade ago, after he sold Raadgevend Bureau Claessens, the human resources consulting group he started, to a private equity group.
Schalke 04 named Dutchman Fred Rutten on Wednesday as the Bundesliga club's coach for next season.
Liverpool and Chelsea drew 1-1 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Anfield on Tuesday after a stoppage-time own goal from the home side's John Arne Riise. Dutchman Dirk Kuyt gave Liverpool the lead after 43 minutes.
Ralf Schumacher and Giancarlo Fisichella will be among seven drivers testing for Force India.
The renamed team, formerly Spyker, said on Wednesday that the two would each have a full day of testing in Jerez from December 4-7, joining fellow-hopefuls Christian Klien of Austria, Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi and France's Franck Montagny.
Here is a round-up of results from the European League matches played on Wednesday
Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg lost 1-0 at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Thursday but eased into the UEFA Cup semi-finals for the first time thanks to their 4-1 lead from the first leg. Zenit, coached by Dutchman Dick Advocaat, had an anxious time defending their advantage as Leverkusen attacked their goalmouth with vigour from the opening whistle.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has hinted the club may be pursuing Real Madrid's Spain defender Sergio Ramos and could also sign a "surprise" striker.
Skipper Florian Fuchs and striker Affan Yusuf struck a brace each as Dabang Mumbai thrashed defending champions Jaypee Punjab Warriors 10-4 to register their second win in the fifth season of the Hockey India League (HIL), in Mumbai, on Friday.
Romanians Astra handed West Ham United their first competitive defeat at the London Stadium as Slaven Bilic's team were beaten in the Europa League playoffs on Thursday.
Arsenal and Liverpool played out a pulsating 1-1 draw while Fenerbahce came from behind for a 2-1 home win over Chelsea in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final, first leg matches.
Former European Footballer of the Year Ruud Gullit has been appointed Frank Yallop's successor as coach of Los Angeles Galaxy. The 45-year-old Dutchman previously coached Chelsea, Newcastle United and Feyenoord.
Lionel Messi scored a penalty for the third Champions League game in a row with the Spaniards maintaining their winning start to the group stage.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will miss Wales' friendly at home to the Netherlands on November 13, manager Chris Coleman said on Wednesday.
Chelsea captain John Terry has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Paris St Germain after failing to recover from injury, the Premier League club said.
Barcelona named former Athletic Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde on Monday as the successor to Luis Enrique and he will take charge of the La Liga runners-up on a two-year contract.
Viswanathan Anand split the point with Loek van Wely in the penultimate round in group A of the Corus international chess tournament.
Second seed Marcos Baghdatis went down 3-6, 4-6 to Dutchman Robin Haase in the first round of the Chennai Open.
Bradley Wiggins has backed Chris Froome to emulate his 2012 Tour de France and Olympic time trial double success but felt his former Sky team mate's task is more difficult as next month's Games are in Rio de Janeiro.
Dutchman Martin Jol will take over as Hamburg SV coach next season and has signed a contract through June 2010, the Bundesliga club announced on Wednesday.
The Indo-Pak pair entered their sixth straight semi-final when they beat Sander Groen and Florian Mayer at the Malaysia ATP Challenger.
Dick Advocaat has quit as Sunderland's head coach after guiding them to Premier League safety, the north-east club said on Wednesday.
