India’s Sania Mirza made a winning return to action after her wedding to Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik as she defeated Chan Yung-Jan 6-1, 6-4 in the first round here on Monday.

All of France must cheer on its World Cup football team, the government spokesman said Monday, in remarks aimed at the sports minister for criticising the team’s choice of a posh hotel.

Top referee — and former movie star — Howard Webb admits he will be happy to let the world’s top players steal the limelight when he officiates the Spain versus Switzerland at World Cup.

The World Cup’s opening celebrations roll over two days this week, in a musical double feature that boasts top stars like Shakira on Thursday, with a still-secret performance ahead of the match on Fri

Greece are gracing the World Cup stage for only the second time in their history after a baptism of fire on their debut back in 1994.

Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba is due to rejoin his team-mates at their training camp in the Swiss Alps on Monday following surgery on his broken forearm, the Ivorian football federation said.

With France plagued by scandal, an unpopular coach and a key players lacking form and fitness, Patrice Evra is one of the few members of their squad who will go to the World Cup at the top of his game

Diego Maradona’s stewardship of the Argentinian national side is a negative factor which could harm his country’s chances, according to 1978 champion and former international teammate Osvaldo Ardiles.

Regarded as the conductor of the orchestra for club and country, midfielder Xavi Hernandez is often an unsung hero for Barcelona and Spain.
His importance can not be underestimated with his simple, yet highly effective, passing crucial to make Spain tick and he will have to be at his best if the European champions are to go all the way at the 2010 World Cup finals.

The free-spending role of corporations in California’s electoral system has come under fire as the state prepares to vote on two referenda which opponents have condemned as a “hijacking” of democracy.