French fair play could help keep Liverpool's UEFA Champions League hopes alive when they take on Debrecen in Hungary on Tuesday. Five times champions Liverpool must win to have any hope of reaching the last 16 but they also need France's Olympique Lyon, who are already through, not to lose against Fiorentina in Italy.
Fernando Torres has yet to spark into life at the World Cup although Spain's Euro 2008 hero has the ideal stage to rediscover his best form in Tuesday's last-16 clash with neighbours Portugal.
Paraguay qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite being held to a goalless draw by a well-organised New Zealand in their Group F match on Thursday.
Lionel Messi saved Argentina's blushes with a brilliant stoppage time winner against unheralded Iran at the football World Cup on Saturday to send the South Americans into the last 16.
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Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona was released from hospital after being admitted earlier on Friday with internal bleeding in the stomach which was discovered during routine examinations, his daughter Dalma said.
With this win Italy have extended their unbeaten run to 29 games, the last 10 coming off wins where they have scored 31 goals and conceded none.
An injury to playmaker James Rodriguez could prompt Real Madrid to dip into the transfer market next month and they are interested in Cruzeiro midfielder Lucas Silva among others, coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Monday.
Striker Marcus Rashford scored a second-half winner as a young and much-changed England avoided an unprecedented fourth successive defeat by beating Switzerland 1-0 in a friendly on Tuesday.
Sweden may have exceeded expectations in Russia but they are not done yet.
Artem Dovbyk's goal in stoppage time at the end of extra-time earned Ukraine a 2-1 victory over 10-man Sweden in Glasgow on Tuesday and the last available berth in the European Football Championship quarter-finals.
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Fabio Capello will remain as England coach despite his team's woeful performance at the World Cup, the Football Association (FA) said on Friday.
If England beat Panama and Belgium beat or draw with Tunisia then England are through to the last 16.
Kylian Mbappe became France's youngest scorer at a World Cup when he put Les Bleus 1-0 ahead at halftime against Peru in their second Group C game on Thursday.
David Villa added to his repertoire of spectacular goals to help fire Spain into the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday but there will be concern about the continued poor form of his strike partner Fernando Torres.
An inspired David Villa scored one sublime goal and created another for Andres Iniesta as European champions Spain beat 10-man Chile 2-1 and advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup on Friday.
Keisuke Honda scored one goal and made another in a scintillating performance for Japan on Thursday but said he is not satisfied with guiding his team into the last 16 at the World Cup finals.
Japan, needing only a draw with the Danes to reach the last 16, took a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to two direct free kicks, the first a spectacular long range effort from Keisuke Honda in the 17th minute, the second a curling shot from the edge of the box by Yasuhito Endo.
Mexico's attacking flair has been clearly on display at this World Cup so all eyes will be on their tactics against Uruguay on Tuesday when a point will see them into the last 16 and a possible clash with Argentina.
Brazil dented more African hopes in the World Cup on Sunday by outclassing Ivory Coast to sweep into the second round.
Brazil showed their true World Cup colours on Sunday, turning on the turbo to beat Ivory Coast 3-1 with two goals from Luis Fabiano securing their place in the last 16.
Ahead of a possible last-16 meeting between England and Germany, football legend Franz Beckenbauer also known as Der Kaiser has increased the pressure on The Three Lions by saying that their coach Fabio Capello, had taken the team backwards.
Murray, who took a wildcard into the seaside event as a fitness test for next week's Wimbledon, looked sharp on a sun-baked centre court and tasted victory for the first time since beating Benoit Paire in the last 16 of Wimbledon 350 days ago.
IMAGES from the Group A match played between Russia and Uruguay in Samara on Monday
Making their second Under-17 World Cup appearance, Iraq have been the surprise package of the proverbial 'group of death' as they are well placed to advance to the knockout stage following a spirited 1-1 draw against two-time champions Mexico, and a 3-0 rout of Latin American giants Chile.
Cristiano Ronaldo has received an offer to leave Real Madrid and join Italian champions Juventus, a source close to the player said.
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Thierry Henry's handball sent such shockwaves that barely anyone remembers it was actually William Gallas who scored the infamous goal France that ruined Ireland's chances of a World Cup appearance more than six years ago.
'They are the best team in the world and for us it is an honour to play them,' said Ratomir Dujkovic.
Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Nigeria 3-2 in another entertaining World Cup match on Wednesday.
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The United States squeezed into the last 16 of the World Cup with a goal in time added on to beat Algeria 1-0 on Wednesday. Landon Donovan scored a dramatic late goal just as the US seemed to be about to go out of the tournament.
Bigger than ever, the European Championship kicks off in Paris next month with a four-week feast of football that promises to elevate the game above the corruption scandals and security fears that have overshadowed its build-up.
Liverpool surrendered a two-goal lead as they were held to a 2-2 draw by third-tier Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday after second-half substitute Jason Cummins struck twice to inject some much-needed late magic into the competition. Earlier, Harry Maguire's thunderbolt for Manchester United started a goal rush at Tranmere where the Reds scored five times before halftime. Diogo Dalot, Jesse Lingard, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood also scored.
France striker Olivier Giroud ended a run of 10 international games without a goal by netting a stunning winner as the world champions claimed a deserved 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in their Nations League clash on Sunday.
Tiny Cape Verde Islands catapulted themselves into surprise World Cup contention with a 2-1 victory away to South Africa.
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Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio will take charge of his side for the 50th time when they side face South Korea at the World Cup on Saturday and his past record suggests there is every chance he will field his 50th different line-up.
