Some 50 minutes before Game 5 of the NBA Finals Thursday night, which LeBron James labeled the "biggest game of my life," the Miami Heat star could not have been more relaxed. James stood at his locker stall, all smiles, bopping his head to the hip-hop beats playing in the room. Dwyane Wade, another member of the Miami's "Big Three," or "Heatles" or whatever fashionable nickname you choose to call the Heat's best players, was leaned over ...

David Beckham has confirmed that he is almost certain to return to Italian club AC Milan on loan when the transfer window re-opens in January. The Los Angeles Galaxy star, who earned his 115th international cap for England in Wednesday night's World Cup qualifier against Belarus, had a successful spell at the Serie A club in the second half of last season. "The Milan deal is almost done, and hopefully that will be sorted out in the next month and ...

Ukraine secured a place in the European qualifying playoffs for the World Cup with a 6-0 rout of minnows Andorra on Wednesday. The victory left them a point clear of Croatia in the battle for second spot in Group Six behind already-qualified England. Croatia beat Kazakhstan 2-1 in their final qualifier with Tottenham's Nico Kranjcar scoring a 90th minute winner, but it proved to no avail. Ukraine defeated England 1-0 in Dnipro on Saturday to leave themselves in prime position ...

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has been ruled out of Portugal's crucial final World Cup qualifier against Malta on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Ronaldo played with the injury in Portugal's 3-0 home victory over Hungary on Saturday but lasted just 27 minutes before limping off. Portugal, who have made a late charge in World Cup qualifying after looking set to make an ignominious exit, need to beat Malta in the home game to be sure of a place in ...

Didier Drogba came off the bench to rescue a point for Ivory Coast as they drew 1-1 with Malawi on Saturday to book their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ivory Coast needed only a point from their match with the bottom-placed team in African qualifying Group E but found themselves a goal down in the 64th minute when Jacob Ngwira put the hosts ahead at the Kamuzu Stadium in Blantyre. Elephants coach Vahid Halilhodzic responded by ...

Roger Federer has earned another Grand Slam finals appearance after beating Novak Djokovic in the U.S. Open men's semi finals. The Swiss champion beat his Serb opponent 7-6 7-5 7-5, and will now meet Juan Martin del Potro in the final, according to the Press Association. Del Potro reached his first grand slam final after he crushed third seed Rafael Nadal in their U.S. Open semifinal on Sunday. The sixth seed from Argentina blew Nadal away at the ...

Kim Clijsters has advanced to the women's singles final of the U.S. Open after defending champion Serena Williams received a point penalty for a second code violation on match point. Former winner Clijsters beat Williams 6-4 7-5, the Press Association reported. Clijsters had been a set and 6-5 up when the line judge foot-faulted Williams on a second serve to give the Belgian match point. Williams moved towards the linesperson launching a verbal tirade and then waving her ...

Diego Maradona's Argentina suffered a potentially fatal blow to their World Cup qualification hopes after a 1-0 defeat against Paraguay in Asuncion. A 28th-minute strike by Nelson Haedo Valdez saw the Guaranies advance to their fourth World Cup in a row. However there was further misery for Argentina in the second half when Juan Sebastian Veron was sent off. Maradona, who is under intense pressure after a poor campaign, remained defiant in defeat. "It is down to poor form and ...

Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard both scored twice as England booked their place at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Croatia in their Group Six clash at Wembley Stadium. Chelsea midfielder Lampard converted a penalty in the eighth minute after Aaron Lennon was brought down inside the box following a clumsy challenge from Josip Simunic. Gerrard added a second for Fabio Capello's side in the 18th minute when he headed home an excellent ...

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien scored one of the goals as Ghana defeated Sudan 2-0 in Accra on Sunday to become the first African qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa. Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari gave the 'Black Stars' an early lead and Essien added a second soon after half-time, unleashing a drive that flew into the net at the near post. The result, coupled with closest challengers Benin and Mali drawing 1-1 in Cotonou a few ...