Soccer - AFP

DUBLIN (AFP) - Robbie Keane scored his 35th international goal to give Ireland an unconvincing 1-0 World Cup qualifier win over Cyprus here Wednesday that owed too much to the towering defending of centre back Richard Dunne.

MINSK (AFP) - Another Wayne Rooney double fired England to a 3-1 win over Belarus as Fabio Capello's squad made it four wins out of four on the road to South Africa 2010.

MOSCOW (AFP) - Two own goals from Finland gifted Russia a 3-0 European zone 2010 World Cup qualifying victory here on Wednesday.

MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AFP) - Germany coach Joachim Loew said it was mission accomplished as his side took a four-point lead in their World Cup qualifying group thanks to Wednesday night's 1-0 win over Wales.

BELFAST (AFP) - Northern Ireland cruised to a 4-0 victory over San Marino at Windsor Park on Wednesday, after Rangers pair Kyle Lafferty and Steven Davis ensured the team got a crucial boost in World Cup qualifying Group Three.

MINSK (AFP) - David Beckham celebrated overtaking Sir Bobby Charlton to become England's third most capped player by paying tribute to the influence the Manchester United and England legend has had on his career.

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Fernando Torres is in danger of missing Liverpool's Premeir League game with Wigan on Saturday after suffering a thigh injury in Spain's 2-1 win over Belgium here on Wednesday.

MADRID (AFP) - Atletico Madrid's Champions League tie against Liverpool may finally go ahead at their Vicente Calderon stadium next Wednesday as originally planned, Spanish media reported.

MONCHENGLADBACH, Germany (AFP) - Winger Piotr Trochowski unleashed a superb second-half strike to seal a 1-0 win over Wales on Wednesday and put Germany four points clear in their World Cup qualifying group.

MINSK (AFP) - Rio Ferdinand has described the 'WAG' culture that surrounded England in the days before Fabio Capello took charge as a "circus" and admitted that it was central to the squad's recent failures.

PARIS (AFP) - Two goals from Thierry Henry gave coach Raymond Domenech a much-needed boost at a packed Stade de France on Tuesday, as France survived an early scare to run out 3-1 winners over Tunisia.

MINSK (AFP) - England have called up Middlesbrough defender David Wheater and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart as late additions to their squad for Wednesday's World Cup qualifier with Belarus here.

LONDON (AFP) - Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear, whose recent swearing at a press conference put him in the spotlight, has been warned by the Football Association that a future outburst could bring disciplinary action.

LONDON (AFP) - Former Spain international striker Diego Tristan signed for West Ham on Tuesday evening, the English top flight club said.

MARSEILLE, France (AFP) - UEFA have slapped Spanish side Atletico Madrid with a stadium ban following a complaint of racism by French club Marseille.

BERLIN (AFP) - Germany captain Michael Ballack sat out training again on Tuesday as doubts grow whether the Chelsea star will be fit for his country in their World Cup qualifier against Wales on Wednesday.

LONDON (AFP) - Manager David Moyes ended months of speculation about his Everton future on Tuesday after he signed a new five-year contract, according to the club's website.

MADRID (AFP) - A court on the Spanish island of Majorca announced Tuesday it has cleared the sale of a majority stake in Real Mallorca to British entrepreneur Paul Davidson.

LAGOS (AFP) - Egypt international striker Amr Zaki, along with compatriot Mohamed Aboutrika, leads three other African stars nominated for the 2008 CAF African Player of the Year Award.

MINSK (AFP) - David Beckham became the third most capped player in England's history after appearing as a late substitute in the 3-1 win over Belarus here on Wednesday.

PARIS (AFP) - Any football match in France before which the country's national anthem is booed will now be "immediately stopped", French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot said Wednesday after meeting with President Nicolas Sarkozy.

MADRID (AFP) - Spanish giants Barcelona will on Wednesday launch a bid with a Bolivian entrepreneur to become co-owners of a Major League Soccer franchise in Miami in the United States.

TEHRAN (AFP) - Iran inflicted a 2-1 Asian zone 2010 World Cup qualifier defeat on North Korea at the Azadi stadium here on Wednesday.

MADRID (AFP) - The highest levels of the Spanish government Wednesday came out in support of Atletico Madrid, penalised by UEFA for crowd trouble and racist insults by their supporters in a match against Marseille.

TEHRAN, Oct 15, 2008 (AFP) - Iran inflicted a 2-1 Asian zone 2010 World Cup qualifier defeat on North Korea at the Azadi stadium here on Wednesday.

GLASGOW (AFP) - Dundee United's weekend match against Rangers has been postponed as a mark of respect after United chairman Eddie Thompson lost his long battle against prostate cancer.

LAUSANNE (AFP) - West Ham United have lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over the ongoing Carlos Tevez affair, the arbitration body confirmed on Wednesday.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP) - The late change in venue for Liverpool's Champions League tie against Atletico Madrid is not fair on the English club's fans, according to manager Rafael Benitez.