■ FRANCE
Thuram transfer called off
Veteran French international Lilian Thuram’s move to Paris St Germain collapsed on Friday after the defender was diagnosed with a heart condition. The 36-year-old World Cup winner had been due to sign an initial one-year contract with the French first division side. But he told a press conference on Friday that a “heart defect” had been detected during a medical visit at the Parisian club. “If I’m holding this press conference, it’s unfortunately not to announce my signing with PSG but to tell you that doctors have detected a heart defect,” the player said. “It seems that it’s the same illness that my brother had a few years ago and from which he died on a basketball court.” Thuram said that doctors would continue their tests and they should have the final results in a month.
■ SWEDEN
Ljungberg quits Sweden
Sweden captain Fredrik Ljungberg has announced his retirement from international soccer, the country’s TT agency reported on Friday. The 31-year-old former Arsenal midfielder said it was becoming physically too difficult to play for both West Ham United and the national team. Ljungberg played his first match for his country back in 1998. “I have decided to concentrate on my football with West Ham. This is where my priority now lies,” Ljungberg said. He competed in three European championships and two World Cups with the Swedes, before being named captain after the 2006 World Cup. “The moment has come to let some other player take the No. 9 jersey. Sweden has a lot of talented players and I am sure my place will be taken by someone who has the same passion for sport as me,” he said.
■ COSTA RICA
Medford gets the sack
Costa Rica fired coach Hernan Medford on Friday as a result of their long winless streak in the run-up to their 2010 World Cup qualifiers, local media reported. “At last I’m free,” Medford said after a meeting with the country’s soccer federation chiefs, newspaper La Nacion reported. Under Medford, Costa Rica went 12 successive games without a victory until they beat Grenada 3-0 on June 21 in the second leg of a World Cup qualifier. The two sides drew 2-2 in the first leg. He was capped 89 times as a player and had been in charge since October 2006. The win sent Costa Rica to the next round of qualifying. They have qualified for the World Cup three times and reached the second round of the 1990 finals in Italy.
■ ENGLAND
City agree Jo deal with CSKA
Manchester City have agreed to pay a club record £19 million (US$37.6 million) for CSKA Moscow’s Brazil striker Jo, British media reported on Friday. The 21-year-old Jo would be the first acquisition by new City manager Mark Hughes, who joined from Blackburn Rovers two weeks ago. Jo, whose full name is Joao Alves de Assis Silva, scored 44 goals in 77 games for CSKA Moscow, including two goals in four Champions League appearances — both against Inter.
■ ENGLAND
Bolton sign Elmander
Sweden international Johan Elmander has signed a three-year contract with English Premier League club Bolton Wanderers for an undisclosed fee, it was revealed on Friday. Bolton boss Gary Megson had been after the Toulouse front man since the start of the year and is rumored to have paid a club record £10 million (US$19.9 million), beating the previous mark when the club purchased French striker Nicolas Anelka from Fenerbahce.
Taiwan’s top women’s badminton doubles duo, Hsieh Pei-shan (謝沛珊) and Hung En-tzu (洪恩慈), achieved a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Kaho Osawa and Mayui Tanabe at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super 300 Macau Open on Sunday. The Taiwanese pair won the final 21-18, 21-12, marking the duo’s second title this year after their win at the BWF Super 300 Taipei Open in May. The match on Sunday was their first encounter with the Japanese duo, ranked No. 63 in the world. Hsieh and Hung, ranked No. 12, began the opening game well. Hung, who plays left-handed, performed strongly at both the net and the
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Jobe Bellingham on Tuesday admitted to having “anxieties” on following in brother Jude’s footsteps after joining Borussia Dortmund in the summer. Jobe Bellingham, 19, is two years younger than Jude Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid in 2023 after three years at Dortmund. A centerpiece of the England national team, Jude Bellingham has emerged as one of the best players in the world in recent seasons. The younger Jobe Bellingham joined Dortmund in June from Sunderland after their promotion to the English Premier League. He admitted he understood what the perception would be ahead of the move to Germany. “It’s something you do think about.
Before Tuesday’s 7-2 win at the Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy suggested “most people couldn’t tell you five players on our team.” A look at the standings would indicate more Brewers players soon will be recognized by more fans. After all, it is difficult to overlook a team that not only continues to extend their lead in the National League Central, but also boasts the best record in the majors. “What we’re doing in here right now is special,” right-handed pitcher Freddy Peralta said after allowing only four hits and one run in five innings, while setting a career high with
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