WEMBLEY WOE: Martin O'Neill is among the favorites to take over from Steve McClaren as England manager after McClaren's tenure came to an ignominious end on Wednesday
AFP, LONDON

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Britain's newspapers savaged Steve McClaren yesterday after the England manager failed to guide his team to the 2008 European Championships.

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A defiant innings by Misbah-ul-Haq resurrected Pakistan's first innings yesterday after a dire start to the opening day of the first Test against arch rivals India.

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Asian champions Australia fought a tough battle against African silver medalists Tunisia before triumphing 3-1 at the men's World Cup volleyball yesterday.

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Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum combined for an 11-under 61 to take a surprise lead after yesterday's first round of the World Cup of Golf in southern China.

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Two-time winner Robert Allenby fired a five-under round of 67 to lead the Australian Masters by one shot after the first round at Huntingdale yesterday.

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LACKLUSTER: Dunga's side were booed and jeered by their own fans in Sao Paulo before claiming all three points in an uninspiring performance at the Morumbi Stadium
Newcomer Luis Fabiano scored twice and goalkeeper Julio Cesar thwarted several chances to rally Brazil past Uruguay 2-1 on Wednesday to move into a tie with Colombia for third place in South American World Cup qualifying.

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Walter Ayovi and Edison Mendez each scored twice to end Ecuador's goal drought, leading them to a 5-1 victory over Peru to earn their first victory in South American World Cup qualifying and for manager Sixto Vizuete.

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Defender Paulo Da Silva netted two goals as Paraguay upset Chile 3-0 on Wednesday to lead the South American qualifying series for the 2010 World Cup.

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New Zealand will take comfort from their ranking in one-day cricket as they seek to recover from a Test mauling by South Africa.

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England's bowlers got a taste of the perils that await them in the upcoming Test series as Sri Lanka's second-string lineup battered them in a practice match on Wednesday.

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A panel of 11 jurors was preparing to start deliberation on the cause of death of former Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer as coroner Patrick Murphy gave a final summation and instructions.

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EYES ON THE PRIZE: Apart from the five seeded teams, only four of the other 15 Asian qualifiers have played in the World Cup finals
Asia's top soccer nations go into the preliminary World Cup draw in Durban on Sunday knowing there will be at least one high-profile casualty when it comes to the crunch in 2010.

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HOT SHOT: Ilya Kovalchuk raised his season total to 19 goals for Atlanta in Washington, while in New York, the Islanders were beaten at home for the first time in five games
Ilya Kovalchuk scored twice to raise his NHL-leading total to 19 goals and also added two assists on Wednesday, leading Atlanta to a 5-1 victory over Washington.

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Ray Allen scored 21 points and Boston beat Golden State 105-82 on Wednesday to record a sixth straight home victory.

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The Seattle Mariners have made their pitch to Hiroki Kuroda. Now they are waiting to see whether the Japanese ace will do the same for them next season.

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Former European pole vault medalist Yvonne Buschbaum has announced her retirement from athletics to undergo hormone therapy and has hinted she will have a sex-change operation.

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■ BOXING

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