KUALA LUMPUR: Fancy teaming up with legendary Liverpool striker Ian Rush in special football sessions at Resorts World Genting?

Yes, this is one of many attractions at the hilltop resort's Football Fever - Game On @ Genting 2010 events in conjunction with the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.

MILAN: Former England captain David Beckham was in tears at San Siro this morning when his dream of being the first England player to appear in four World Cups was wrecked after he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon in AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Chievo.

NEW DELHI: It was a good win for South Korea, but the victory was as bitter as ginseng. The Asian champions failed to make it to the semifinals yesterday despite a 2-1 win over Holland in the last group match.

NEW DELHI: Beijing Olympics silver-medallists Spain made light of the absence of injured strikers Santi Freixa and Eduard Tubau to silence a boisterous crowd of 19,000 with a 5-2 win over hosts India.

Pau Quemada converted two penalty corners, while Albert Sala, captain Pol Amat and David Alegre chipped in  with goals in the key match.

LONDON : Midfielder Steven Gerrard hailed England striker Wayne Rooney as “currently the best player in the world” and says it is vital he retains form and fitness.

Rooney scored his 28th goal of the season in helping Manchester United come from behind to defeat Aston Villa 2-1 in last Sunday’s League Cup final at Wembley. And he is set to lead England’s attack in the friendly against Egypt at Wembley tomorrow (4am).

This is the final match before manager Fabio Capello announces his provisional squad for the World Cup in South Africa.

MADRID: Spain manager Vicente del Bosque labelled their friendly against France in Paris tomorrow (4am) as a "good opportunity" to measure his team against one of the better sides in this summer's World Cup.

Del Bosque praised his team but also highlighted the importance of humility.

"We know the good form we have shown and we are one of the favourites,"

"But football can be very cruel to those who think they are better. We need to be humble to do  well." he added.

MUNICH: Argentina manager Diego Maradona believes he has plenty of public support at home even though  he has been the target of fierce criticism in his country’s media.

Maradona, who captained  Argentina in 1986 when they won the World Cup for the last time, has endured a torrid time as manager, suffering World Cup qualifying defeats in Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay and at home to Brazil.

LONDON: Aston Villa star midfielder James Milner is prepared to "give it my all" if manager Fabio Capello decides to play him at rightback in England's friendly against Egypt at Wembley on Thursday (4am).

PUTRAJAYA: Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek is all for community centres to be converted into "live mini stadiums" during the World Cup in South Africa which is set to kick off on June 11.

Shabery, nevertheless, stressed that the initiative should come from the residents, their village heads, State assemblymen and the Members of Parliament for the masses to enjoy all 64 matches live.

JOHANNESBURG: World Cup organisers said this morning they were very happy with ticket sales for June's soccer spectacular and angrily slammed alarmist foreign reports about South African crime that could frighten off fans.

Sales are lagging demand in Germany four years ago, but Fifa said this was understandable given the distance fans from Europe, home to many of the teams, had to travel.

LONDON: The English FA have refuted tabloid reports that appeared yesterday claiming Fabio Capello’s squad would be taking Viagra with them to the World Cup in South Africa next year.

The reports claimed the Three Lions would be using the anti-impotence medication to boost the players’ lung capacity, helping them to cope with the effects of the altitude they will encounter in South Africa.

CAPE TOWN: Ivory Coast manager Vahid Halilhodzic says his team are not going to South Africa next year “for a holiday” despite being drawn in a ‘Group of Death’ in Cape Town this morning.

CAPE TOWN: Champions Italy have been drawn in a relatively easy Group F in the World Cup in South Africa next year alongside Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. But manager Marcello Lippi is not getting carried away by the draw and insisted the Azzurri will prepare for the tournament well.

NEW YORK: United States legend Landon Donovan has welcomed the World Cup draw in Cape Town this morning which pitted the Americans against England and David Beckham.

Donovan, the US' all-time leading goalscorer, has a potential head-to-head meeting with Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Beckham when the two countries open their Group C campaigns in Rustenberg, with Algeria and Slovenia also in the group.

KUALA LUMPUR: A fitting name to a truly auspicious occasion. “Jabulani”, which means “to celebrate" in isiZulu, was unveiled by adidas and Fifa as the official match ball for the 2010 World Cup at The Pavillion this morning. adidas, the world's leading football brand, declared Jabulani as the best football ever created.

HOME advantage often plays an important role in any international tournament. The French made their way to the final in 1998 when they hosted the World Cup.

DESPITE a tortuous qualification campaign, Argentina are travelling to South Africa with serious designs on winning the title for the first time in 24 years.

To achieve that goal, the 1978 and 1986 world champions have pinned their faith on coach Diego Armando Maradona, the country's most famous footballing son and the inspiration behind the second of those memorable triumphs.

France crossed a new threshold in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, having never before graced the Finals on four consecutive occasions.