Football

Mario Balotelli scored twice as Italy overcame a shaky start to beat Malta 2-0.

The result left Montenegro on 14 points and England on 12 in Group H, with four qualifying rounds remaining.

Lebanon are at the bottom on four points, three behind Qatar, Iran and second placed South Korea.

El Shaaraw believes that Balotelli and he can lead the attack for Italy and AC Milan for many years to come.

Clint Dempsey's 16th-minute score gave the US a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in a key qualifier.

England recorded their biggest win in 26 years with goals from Defoe, Rooney, Chamberlain, Lampard, Young and Sturridge.

New Zealand will now face the fourth-placed team from the CONCACAF in a two-legged playoff for a berth in Brazil.

Australia are second in Group B of Asia qualifying, eight points behind runaway leaders Japan and equal on five points with Iraq and Oman.

Barcelona fullback Eric Abidal has taken part in his first training match since undergoing a liver transplant last April.

The 48-year-old replaces Dorival Junior, who was sacked on Saturday after reportedly refusing to accept a pay cut.

East Bengal came back from behind to defeat arch-rivals Mohun Bagan in the penalty shoot-out to storm into the 117th IFA Shield final.

The Bulgarian striker, who scored 46 goals for Tottenham from 2006-08, declined to celebrate after finding the net in the 52nd minute with a mis-hit shot that flew past goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Malaga slipped to a 2-0 loss to visiting Espanyol on Sunday, wasting a chance to regain fourth place in the Spanish league.

After two encouraging wins Queens Park Rangers' recovery stalled on Saturday with a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa as they stare now at relegation.

Rodgers made no excuses after Liverpool's 3-1 defeat at Southampton on Saturday all but extinguished their hopes of a late surge into the EPL's top four.

Stoke ended a run of three straight Premier League losses by drawing 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.