Football

Javier Hernandez getting back among the goals at Manchester United after a bit-part role this season would come as a welcome relief to Mexico.

UEFA has barred Serbian title winner Red Star Belgrade from next season's Champions League for not paying their debts.

Italy's two most influential players have a combined age of over 70 and their most prolific striker has been omitted over fitness concerns.

Football's governing body said it's in control of what needs to be done to get the tournament off to a good start in a week.

Brazil with a savvy coach and a settled team enjoying a sparkling run of form are the hot favourites to lift a record sixth World Cup this July.

"I am very pleased to be able to wear the number 10 for Chelsea," Hazard told the club's website (www.chelseafc.com) on Tuesday.

Struggling up front for England, Wayne Rooney is set to be shunted to the left wing as coach Roy Hodgson experiments ahead of the World Cup in the team's penultimate warm-up game.

Neymar scored one goal and set up two others to help Brazil defeat Panama 4-0 in a World Cup warm-up match on Tuesday.

Portugal will go into the football World Cup 2014 as dark horses heavily reliant on their captain and talisman Christiano Ronaldo.

Rickie Lambert has joined Liverpool from Southampton for a reported fee of 4 million pounds ($6.7 million), strengthening the team's attacking options.

Russia coach Fabio Capello has named an entirely home-based squad for the World Cup, with all 23 players drawn from clubs in the country.

The Sunday Times said it has obtained millions of secret documents proving that Mohamed Bin Hammam was lobbying on his country's behalf ahead of the vote in December 2010.

"Modric played excellent, especially in the second half and extra time. He was all over the field," Croatian coach Niko Kovac said.

Ramos equalised for Real in stoppage time, while Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo turned it into a 4-1 rout in extra period.

Rooney might not be an automatic choice in Hodgson's England starting line-up at the World Cup, according to former club and country team-mate Scholes.

Vandals have attacked and burnt a six-metre high replica of the World Cup a few miles from where Brazil's squad will be based for next month's finals.