Soccer-Wenger not embarrassed by cup defeat to lowly Bradford

LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Arsenal's quarter-final League Cup exit at the hands of minnows Bradford City left manager Arsene Wenger questioning the power of his strike force but the Frenchman refused to label the defeat as an embarrassment.Despite playing almost an hour with five attackers, Arsenal failed to break down the League Two club who went on to claim Tuesday's match 3-2 on penalties after...

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EU court adviser backs free-to-air TV cover of soccer finals

BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Britain and Belgium should be allowed to ensure free-to-air TV coverage of the World Cup and Euro soccer finals as they consider them of major pu blic importance, a n adviser to Europe's highest court said on Wednesday.World soccer's governing body FIFA and its European counterpart UEFA argued that the two countries had interfered with their property rights by restricting...

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Soccer-Chelsea are tighter under Benitez, says Cahill

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Chelsea have become more compact defensively under interim manager Rafael Benitez as they prepare for the soccer Club World Cup in Japan, defender Gary Cahill said on Wednesday.The English Premier League side, who face Mexico's Monterrey in their semi-final in Yokohama on Thursday, took four games to register their first win under the Spaniard.However, nine goals...

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Soccer-Corinthians beat Al-Ahly to reach Club World Cup final

TOYOTA, Japan, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Brazil's Corinthians beat African champions Al-Ahly 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Club World Cup and set up a potential showdown with Chelsea.Peru striker Paolo Guerrero twisted superbly to head the winner for the Libertadores Cup holders on the half-hour mark to the delight of some 20,000 Corinthians fans in Toyota.Corinthians, the first team since 1978...

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Corinthians beat Al-Ahly to reach Club World Cup final

TOYOTA, Japan (Reuters) - Brazil's Corinthians beat African champions Al-Ahly 1-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the Club World Cup and set up a potential showdown with Chelsea.Peru striker Paolo Guerrero twisted superbly to head the winner for the Libertadores Cup holders on the half-hour mark to the delight of some 20,000 Corinthians fans in Toyota.Corinthians, the first team since 1978 to win...

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Australian Radio DJs Behind Prank Call Under Fire

An outpouring of anger is being directed today at the two Australian radio hosts after the death of a nurse who was caught in the DJs' prank call to hospital where Kate Middleton was treated earlier this week. Lord Glenarthur, the chairman of King Edward VII's Hospital - the U.K. hospital where the Duchess of Cambridge was receiving treatment, condemned the prank in a letter to the Max Moore-Wilton,...

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Australian Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff

PARIS (Reuters) - Three-times world time-trial champion Michael Rogers has signed a two-year contract with Saxo-Tinkoff, the Dutch team said on Friday. The 32-year-old Australian left Team Sky after two years with the British outfit, with whom he played a key part in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory in July. Rogers is set to play the same support role for Spain's Alberto Contador, who will...

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Cycling-Australian Rogers joins Saxo-Tinkoff

PARIS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Three-times world time-trial champion Michael Rogers has signed a two-year contract with Saxo-Tinkoff, the Dutch team said on Friday. The 32-year-old Australian left Team Sky after two years with the British outfit, with whom he played a key part in Bradley Wiggins's Tour de France victory in July. Rogers is set to play the same support role for Spain's Alberto Contador,...

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Rugby-Launchbury gets England fans' award

LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Second row forward Joe Launchbury was voted England's "man of the series" on Friday following his impressive displays in their four autumn internationals where he made his debut. The powerful 21-year-old made such an impact off the bench in the win over Fiji and defeat to Australia that he was given his first start in the one point defeat by South Africa and retained his...

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New Zealand's Taylor to skip South Africa tour

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand head to South Africa to take on the world's top-ranked test nation in tumult, with Ross Taylor sitting out of the two-match series after giving up the captaincy and Daniel Vettori ruled out with injury. Taylor rejected an offer to keep the reins of the test team but step down as skipper of the Twenty20 and one-day sides, leaving opener Brendon McCullum to take on...

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