World Cup

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has insisted there is no guarantee that the World Cup will return to Europe in 2018.

Fabio Cannavaro has been named along with Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldinho on a three-man shortlist for FIFA's World Player of the Year.

FIFA has fined the Togolese FA 63 000 euros for threatening to go on strike during the World Cup, it was announced on Friday.

Togo have retained German Otto Pfister to lead their 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying campaign, the country's FA said.

Italy's Alessandro del Piero has declared Sunday's encounter with France as the dream finale to the tournament.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari paid an emotional tribute to his team on Thursday after they were knocked out of the World Cup by France.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo said he was not bothered by the boos that accompanied his every touch in the semi-final defeat by France.

Jens Lehmann has offered an olive branch to arch rival Oliver Kahn by proposing he steps aside for Saturday's third place playoff.

Italian Fabio Grosso's path to the World Cup final has been long and hard, but at the age of 29, he has reached the pinnacle of the game.

Franz Beckenbauer has urged Jurgen Klinsmann to stay on as Germany coach after guiding the hosts to the last four.