Football news  

Injury rules Lampard out of Brazil friendly

Chelsea midfielder has suffered an injury to his left thigh in training today and will fly back from Doha tonight

• Defoe to offer Capello timely reminder of his talent

• We must improve to win World Cup, says Rooney

Brown’s demand for cash threatens 2018 bid

Government wants share of profits from what could be richest World Cup on record if England wins bid to stage 2018 finals

• Coe warns over faltering World Cup bid

• 2018 team must win over people who matter

Capello is like a bulldozer, says Seedorf

Dutch AC Milan player says Italian has ruthlessness to make his team one of favourites for World Cup next year

• Shearer backs Bent for England

• Milner hopes versatility will complete dream

Young leaves England running for cover

Aston Villa defender refused to join Fabio Capello’s squad for match against Brazil after Glen Johnson withdrew

• Rangers braced for double trouble

• Benítez gains from selective replay policy

Robert Enke 1977-2009  

Enke's suicide leaves Germany numbed with grief

Germany goalkeeper's wife tells through tears how husband had a depressive illness and feared losing adopted daughter

• Robert Enke: The Times obituary

• A career of peaks and troughs

A career of peaks and troughs

Gabriele Marcotti says that the Germany and Hanover goalkeeper had to contend with a difficult path to prominence

A frightening, familiar tale

A number of factors suggest that young men of Robert Enke's age are especially vulnerable, says Dr Mark Porter

Football still knows how to care

Tony Cascarino says depression can strike anybody and a career in sport is not enough to suppress deep, black sadness

Rugby news  

Johnson makes changes down England’s spine

Team manager's selection of James Haskell, Paul Hodgson and Dylan Hartley is a response to errors made against Australia

• Injury-hit Argentina place trust in a veteran front row

• Stuart Barnes's Big Game: England v Argentina

Experts tackles fear factor as big hits take toll

Medical experts from around the world are gathering for a two-day conference to debate the rising rate of injuries

• Hopley: ‘rugby morphing into American football'

• The Rolling Maul: Bring back boots on bodies?

Hopley: ‘rugby morphing into American football'

Players’ Association chief worried his members are suffering more injuries with growing emphasis on power and collisions

Haskell and Hartley aiming at new targets

Forward pair picked to start for England against Argentina at Twickenham on Saturday after impressing against Australia

Cricket news  

Pietersen hopes for new deal from fans

England batsman ready to return to international fray after "worst year of career" and wants a turnaround in his fortunes

• Richards: England must look to county game

• England XI well beaten by South Africa A

Year ends on low point for England women

Charlotte Edwards’s side are in unusual position of only having pride to play for when they face West Indies in St Kitts

• England: can bat, can bowl, can field

• England’s women have the world at their feet

England XI well beaten by South Africa A

Alastair Cook top scores with just 22 as touring side lose Twenty20 match by four wickets after posting meagre total of 89

Richards: England must look to county game

West Indies great says England should look for homegrown talent rather than rely on players who grew up in South Africa

More sport news  

'Mosley was out for revenge', says Briatore

Disgraced former Renault team principal wants £900,000 in compensation as he appeals his life ban from motor sport

Fans may be denied Pacquiao v Mayweather

Boxing: after taking on Miguel Cotto, the biggest fight in the world would match the Filipino against Floyd Mayweather Jr

Murray wins but Federer crashes out

The Briton beats James Blake in three sets in the second round in Paris, while the world No 1 loses to Julien Benneteau

Hayne finds new life after escaping bullet

Tennis: Australia wing with propensity to attract lurid headlines has settled to new contentment after turbulent times

Racing and Betting News  

French Opera can hit right note

The three-day Paddy Power meeting gets under way on Friday and Nicky Henderson-trained gelding is fancied to take centre stage

Leading lady left searching for answers

Venetia Williams tells Alan Lee that she has yet to benefit from winning the Grand National with Mon Mome at Aintree in April

Simple approach can keep me off the ropes

Tom Scudamore says that he learnt plenty from watching David Haye get the better of Nikolay Valuev in their world title bout