Germany coach Joachim Loew on Friday cooled down an escalating war of words with Argentina, saying his team respected their World Cup quarterfinal opponents.
Germany’s Bastian Schweinsteiger launched a tirade against the South Americans as he recalled the 2006 quarterfinal between the two teams, which ended in an u

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff remains unimpressed by the current Brazilian generation, compared to the one he went up against three decades ago.
“I would never pay for a ticket to watch the matches of this Brazilian team. Where has the Brazil team we all know disappeared to in this World Cup? Where is the Brazilian magic?” he asked Britain’s Daily Mirror earlier this week.

Brazil’s dreams of a sixth World Cup title were shattered as the Netherlands came from behind to claim a famous 2-1 win in an enthralling quarterfinal here on Friday.
An own goal by Felipe Melo — who was to be sent off later — and a Wesley Sneijder header enabled the Dutch to overturn Robinho’s early opener for Brazil and completely turn around a match that, at half-time, the five-times world champions appeared destined to win comfortably.

Brazil, without suspended Ramires and injured Elano, face the Netherlands here on Friday for the fourth time at a World Cup in what promises to be an explosive quarterfinal.

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.

With Roger Federer put to the sword in stunning fashion, the fight for the Wimbledon title is more open than ever and that means Rafael Nadal will go on the offensive when he faces Andy Murray in the semifinals on Friday.

Defending champion Serena Williams reached her third successive Wimbledon final after seeing off a challenge from the gritty Petra Kvitova 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Thursday.
The world number one was given a tough fight by the unseeded Czech world number 62, but Kvitova began to run out of steam in the second set and could not stop Williams from edging towards a fourth Wimbledon title.

Manufacturing activity in China slowed in June, official and independent surveys showed on Thursday, suggesting that government efforts to cool the fast-growing economy are working.

A Zimbabwean woman killed her infant son and sold one of his ears for $20 to a traditional healer wanted for ritual murders in neighbouring Mozambique, the police said on Thursday.