ALRIGHT FOR SOME: While the holders got off relatively lightly, Australia, China, Iraq and Qatar were drawn together in what has been dubbed the `Group of Death'
Holders Italy were pitched against Bulgaria and North and South Korea were drawn together in Sunday's draw for qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

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The 2010 World Cup draw is China's worst ever, the team's manager said yesterday after they were pitted against Australia, Iraq and Qatar.

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AS ONE DOOR CLOSES: Former England manager Steve McClaren has been installed as a 5/2 favorite to replace Billy Davies at the rock bottom Rams
Billy Davies lost his job as manager of English Premier League basement club Derby County, the Midlands side's chairman Adam Pearson announced yesterday.

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England's Test tour of Sri Lanka hit a low yesterday after injury scares to two key bowlers increased the agony of a miserable batting display in a practice match.

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Sachin Tendulkar completed an attractive half-century as India beat Pakistan by six wickets on the fifth and final day of the opening Test in New Delhi yesterday.

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VICTORS: LeBron James, Drew Gooden and Sasha Pavlovic were all in the points as Cleveland proved to be too good for the Indiana Pacers in the NBA
LeBron James had his fourth triple-double of the season, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Indiana Pacers 111-106 on Sunday for their third straight win.

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Athens Olympic bronze medalists Russia whipped African champions Egypt in Fukuoka yesterday to remain undefeated with seven straight wins in the men's World Cup volleyball tournament.

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IN FINE FORM: New England's superb start to the season shows little sign of ending any time soon, while elsewhere Seattle rallied to earn a win
Asante Samuel returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and had a second pick to shut off a late Philadelphia drive as the Patriots beat the Eagles 31-28 on Sunday to run their record to 11-0.

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Badminton's new-look Super Series comes to an early halt this week after an eventful first season hit by political intrigue, cheating claims and the cancelation of next month's grand final.

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Brenden Morrow's power-play goal early in the third period lifted Dallas to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Sunday and stretched the Stars' winning streak to five games in the NHL.

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THE GREAT ESCAPE: Proteas bowler Andre Nel contributed 10 of the 11 runs his team needed to defeat the Black Caps in the first one-day international in Durban
Andre Nel hit nine runs off the last three balls of the match on Sunday to take South Africa to a two-wicket victory in the first of three one-day internationals against New Zealand.

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David Trezeguet scored his league-leading 11th goal of the season on Sunday to help Juventus beat Palermo 5-0 in the Serie A, while AC Milan edged Cagliari 2-1.

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Eight people died on Sunday after a section of stands at a soccer stadium in northeastern Brazil collapsed as cheering fans jumped up and down at the end of a game, police said.

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Villarreal missed the chance to knock Real Madrid off the top of the Spanish championship following a 1-1 draw with Almeria on Sunday.

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CARROT: Arsenal and Manchester United are already safely through to the last 16 of Europe's elite club competition, but for other teams there is still plenty to play for
Inter Milan, Barcelona, AS Roma and Rangers are on the brink of qualifying in today's Champions League group matches, with Arsenal and Manchester United already through to the knockout stages.

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Tottenham had an injury-time penalty kick saved in a 1-1 draw on Sunday at West Ham in the Premier League.

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■ SOCCER

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