Football news  

Will reshuffle keep 2018 World Cup bid alive?

Matt Dickinson says suspicion remains that the problem with England’s campaign lies with its leadership and direction

• Q&A: What’s up with England’s World Cup bid

• 2018 team must win over people who matter

Cook quite happy to ruffle a few feathers

The chief executive at the City of Manchester Stadium tells James Ducker that the club are heading in right direction

• Ireland: Elano exit boosted City

• Power struggle over Robinho's future at City

City: Robinho unfit for national service

Brazil risk enormous club versus country row if they pick player to face England despite City saying he is carrying an injury

• Power struggle over Robinho's future at City

• City open talks over £27m Di Maria

Spurs unaware Cudicini owned motorbike

London club only discovered goalkeeper rode the high-performance vehicle when he was involved in a serious crash

• Matt Jansen discovers feeling for football again

• Tottenham complete Cudicini and Chimbonda deals

Rugby news  

Wales decide to look at Biggar picture

Dan Biggar has been given the chance to claim the No 10 shirt for his country, as he has for the Ospreys this season

• Row over tackle fails to hide flaws for Wales

• Biggar the better after rescuing Ospreys

Pichot key to Argentina's long-term success

The former scrum half and captain is determined to complete a project that will ensure the side's international future

• Stuart Barnes's Big Game: England v Argentina

• Crusading Pichot hoping to inspire Argentina

Referees get chance to start scrum clampdown

This weekend's international matches will herald the start of stricter policing of the game's central set piece

Monye backs Johnson to deliver success

England full back insists side are making progress under team manager and only players are to blame for recent failings

Cricket news  

Strauss time-out offers ammunition for Smith

South Africa captain seizes chance to step up psychological warfare over England counterpart's Twenty20 absence

England face fight for Kieswetter's services

South Africa are hoping to persuade the Johannesburg-born wicketkeeper to play for the country of his birth

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

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

More sport news  

Court threat over TV sport ‘crown jewels’

Sports chiefs threaten legal action against ministers over plan to reclaim Ashes for free-to-air television

• Call for free Test matches could be a googly

• ECB airs worries over TV plans for Ashes

Murray happy with progress despite Stepanek loss

British No 1 out but not down in Paris and believes preparation for World Tour Finals has been 'perfect'

England keep the faith for Australia showdown

Kevin Sinfield remains as hooker after powerful man-of-the-match performance in semi-final victory over New Zealand

• England determined to have final word

• Referee row threatens to overshadow final build-up

Cotto determined to erase painful memories

Puerto Rican returns to scene of defeat by Antonio Margarito for defence of welterweight title against Manny Pacquiao

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