Sporting briefs

SAMPDORIA: Sampdoria will have a new coach by the end of the week, according to club president Riccardo Garrone. The Blucherciati have been looking for a replacement for Luigi Del Neri, who left the club last week to join Juventus. Domenico Di Carlo, who kept underdogs Chievo in the top flight this season, is considered by the Italian media as the number one candidate to replace Del Neri.

JAPAN: Japan coach Takeshi Okada said his boss had told him to stay on for next month's World Cup despite his side's 2-0 defeat to South Korea in Monday's one-sided friendly. Okada said he had asked Japan Football Association (JFA) president Motoaki Inukai about his tenure after the humiliating defeat by their bitter rivals, which has made his much-touted target of a semifinal spot in South Africa even more unrealistic.

DUFFY: Everton defender Shane Duffy could be back playing within three or four months after surviving a life-threatening injury. Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni said doctors are hopeful that the 18-year-old, who suffered a freak liver injury during a training match on Friday evening, could return to action early next season. Trapattoni said: "We are optimistic. They think in about three or four months, he can play."

BULLARD: Bolton manager Owen Coyle has ruled out a move for midfielder Jimmy Bullard this summer. Bullard's future is the subject of speculation after Hull were relegated from the Premier League. Coyle said: "Jimmy is a great player but he is not on our radar. We have got some quality players in his position already."

RODWELL: Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell has spurned reported interest from Manchester United to sign a new five-year contract with the club. The 19-year-old had been linked with a £15m move to Old Trafford but has committed himself to the Toffees having been persuaded by manager David Moyes and chairman Bill Kenwright that his prospects would be better at Goodison.

SPECIAL COURTS: South Africa opened more than 50 special courts dedicated to handling crimes committed during the World Cup. "The intention is to avoid burdening our existing court rolls with the FIFA tournament cases," said spokesman Tlali Tlali. With an expected 373,000 fans to visit, the government has spent about €4.6 million for 56 special courts to operate in all nine host cities, he said.

FRIENDLY: Australia vs New Zealand 2-1; Portugal vs Cape Verde 0-0; Argentina vs Canada 5-0.

CRICKET: Michael Clarke was retained as skipper of Australia's Twenty20 squad for July's series with Pakistan in England despite his below-par batting performances in T20 cricket. Clarke admitted his place in the team was under threat after a poor run of form continued in a seven-wicket World T20 final loss to England in Barbados earlier this month. Clarke's top score was just 27 in the Caribbean tournament and he ended the event with 92 runs at a meagre average of 15.33.

DOPING: Jamaica's 2001 World Championships 200m silver medalist Christopher Williams has been banned for two years. Williams tested positive for an amphetamine at a meeting in Spain in July 2009. Williams said he took sleeping tablets and used an inhaler on his way to the meeting, and indicated the medications on a form filled out for doping control. Williams is the seventh Jamaican to test positive since last year.

RUGBY UNION: Utility back Isaia Toeava will be out of rugby for up to six months, adding to the All Blacks' injury woes as the first Tests of the season loom next month. Toeava has been in and out of the All Blacks line-up since his debut in 2005. Coach Graham Henry is due to name a 26-man squad on Sunday for home Tests next month against Ireland and Wales.

BASKET, NBA: Amare Stoudemire matched his career play-off high with 42 points and Steve Nash had 15 assists as Phoenix clawed their way back into the semi-finals series with a 118-109 win over Los Angeles. Stoudemire scored 29 of his points in the second half and finished with 11 rebounds as the Suns cut the Lakers' series lead to two games to one.

GOLF: Simon Khan has climbed 365 places in the world rankings to 106th following his stunning BMW PGA Championship victory at Wentworth. It continues the amazing rollercoaster ride of the Essex player's career. He reached as high as 69th four years ago after finishing runner-up in the same event, but last year managed only one top 10 finish and had to go back to the European Tour qualifying school.