Football

Three second half goals gave a confident-looking Japan a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica in a friendly ahead of the World Cup.

Colombia striker Radamel Falcao has failed to recover from knee surgery and was left out of their World Cup squad, coach Jose Pekerman announced.

Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic has left forward Rafik Djebbour and midfielder Foued Kadir off his final 23-man squad for the World Cup.

Joachim Loew included all of his injured stars in his final World Cup squad following a troubled training camp and an unconvincing 2-2 draw with Cameroon.

Kolo Toure made Ivory Coast's World Cup squad despite being diagnosed with malaria last week, joining his brother Yaya and veteran striker Didier Drogba.

France had the majority of possession but Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud missed several chances and failed to add to his international tally.

The committee has denied being aware of any alleged payments by the disgraced former head of the country's soccer association to an ex-vice president of FIFA.

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has responded to demands to make his team more entertaining by hiring former England forward Teddy Sheringham as the club's new attacking coach.

Marcelo does not consider himself an automatic choice to start the opening World Cup match against Croatia and said all the squad knew they must fight for places.

Brazil-based midfielder Edwin Valencia has been cut from Colombia's World Cup squad due to a torn calf muscle.

Atletico have agreed to sign teenage Correa from San Lorenzo in his native Argentina on a five-year contract pending a medical.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are facing disciplinary action over their behaviour during the Champions League final in Lisbon, UEFA said on Tuesday.

Technology will get a new meaning in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil as the Brazuca balls to be used in the mega event will come with six in-built HD cameras.

The Kochi team, co-owned by Sachin Tendulkar, for the upcoming Indian Super League football tournament has been named as "Kerala Blaster Football club".

With kickoff less than 20 days away, the governing body is having one last look at the cities' often troubled preparations across Brazil.

The 24-year-old Reus and Goetze, 21, are considered the best players of their generation in Germany but they have yet to leave their mark in a major tournament for their country.