Sports

Brasilia/New Delhi, Jul 6: Gonzalo Higuain smashed home an early goal as Argentina dashed the World Cup dreams of much-fancied Belgium with a 1-0 win in the quarter-finals in Brasilia on Saturday. Higuain struck in the eighth minute at the Mane Garrincha National Stadium to send Argentina into the last four for the first time since 1990 and thwart Belgian hopes of avenging their defeat in the 1986

Fortaleza, Jul 5: Brazil forward Neymar has been ruled out of the World Cup after fracturing a vertebra in his back in the closing stages of the 2-1 quarter-final win over Colombia on Friday in a major blow to the host nation. Neymar, who has scored four goals in the tournament, will miss the semi-final against Germany in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday and the final should they progress. He is expected

Rio de Janeiro/New Delhi, Jul 5: Mats Hummels headed Germany into the World Cup's last four as his first-half goal sealed a 1-0 win over France in Friday's quarter-final at Brazil 2014. Hummels, re-vitalised and bounding with energy just days after he was flattened by flu and fever, rose from his sick bed then above his opponents to send Germany into the semi-finals. While most of his team mates

Bangalore, Jul 4: The edgy Franco-German FIFA World Cup quarter-final may just be hours away from a gala kick-off. But the power-packed European football rivalry has taken a friendly twist in Namma Bengaluru: Revving up the football spirit manifold, the city’s German and French Consulates have teamed up to show the match in double big screen glory. Entry is restricted. Bangalore’s German and

New Delhi, Jul 3: The top Twitter trend in India, as this article is being typed, reads 'Who is Maria Sharapova?' Just as you start wondering if Twitter users in India had suddenly suffered such a debilitating attack of amnesia that has made them clueless about the woman who won the French Open a little over a month ago, you come across this. A tweet declaring that Maria Sharapova is Russia's Alia

Wellington, Jul 3: Banned for life for match-fixing, disgraced New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent revealed how an ''Indian bookie'' posing as a sports equipment sponsor laid 'honey Trap' for him during the now defunct Indian Cricket League (ICL) back in 2008. In interviews to New Zealand radip channels 'Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport', Vincent revealed how he was taken aback to find that his "hero"

Jul 2: "I could probably look to bat anywhere, but the team wanted me to be at No. 4 all the time and that's where I've spent most of my career, right from the Under-15 days. It was probably the main number for the team and that's where the management wanted me to be for a long time. With time that became my favourite number." That was Virat Kohli in 2010, speaking to this writer about his

Salvador/Brazil, Jul 2: It felt as if Tim Howard would never go down. As if the United States would never go down, standing there, taking shots like an undersized fighter clinging to a puncher's chance. Howard saved with his hands, his feet, his legs, his chest. Trying to figure out where soccer fits into the fabric of America is a popular topic these days but, on Tuesday, sports fans across the

Sao Paulo, Jul 2: Angel Di Maria scored deep into extra time to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Switzerland early today, sealing the South Americans a place in the quarterfinals of the World Cup. After a tense 0-0 draw at 90 minutes and a scoreless first period of extra time, Lionel Messi broke quickly and released Di Maria, who swept the ball home before wheeling away in delight. Blerim Dzemaili

The Hague (The Netherlands), July 1: In an 'out of the world' incentive, a Dutch aerospace engineering company has offered the entire Netherlands team a flight into space if they win the World Cup. After finishing runners-up on three occasions, the Netherlands are keener than most to secure their elusive maiden World Cup title. If that motivation is not enough for the players, this year's squad