Football

The 21-year-old Sturaro will be loaned back to Genoa for next season before joining Juventus in 2015.

Schwarzer moved to Chelsea last year on a free transfer from Fulham and proved a reliable backup to Petr Cech.

United States coach Klinsmann has criticised FIFA for appointing an Algerian referee to officiate his side's clash against Belgium.

Messi's fantastic form in the World Cup proves that he is as important as legend Maradona for Argentina, national coach Sabella said.

Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil scored in extra time to help Germany beat Algeria and book the quarterfinal match with France.

Catch all the updates from match six of round of 16 played between Germany and Algeria at Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre.

For Michael Umana it was a case of dreams come true as he stepped up to take the decisive spot kick for his country in a shootout with Greece.

Ten-man Costa Rica beat Greece in a penalty shootout 5-3 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals and will now take on Netherlands.

Footballers are stars themselves but their WAGs (wives and girlfriends) are not too far behind when it comes to the celebrity quotient.

"Germany can play much better than they did in the group phase of the World Cup with the team needing to improve its finishing," coach Joachim Loew said.

Eriksson, whose experience in refereeing is a vast 20 years, says he was driven to be a referee despite having enough money to sustain himself, comes from his love for the game.

Real Madrid say Zidane will coach their B team next season after the French great spent the last campaign as Carlo Ancelotti's assistant with the first squad.

Yaya Toure hit out at Manchester City, claiming his club denied him compassionate leave at the end of the Premier League season to be with his brother, who was dying of cancer.

Mexico coach Miguel Herrera hailed after the Manchester United striker came off the bench to play a key role in the team's victory over Croatia.

So far in this World Cup only the Netherlands and France have been able to combine beauty with ruthless efficiency.

Leroy Fer scored a minute after coming on as a substitute to give Netherlands a 2-0 victory, their third in a row in Group B.