Gerrard: Captain Steven Gerrard will take his time to decide his international future after England’s exit from the World Cup, he said at a news conference. “I won’t be rushing into any decision. I spoke to the manager this morning and it’s not the right time,” the 34-year-old Liverpool midfielder said, sitting alongside England manager Roy Hodgson. “I’m hurting very badly and broken from what’s gone on in the last couple of weeks. I need to get away on holiday,” added Gerrard.

Dope tests: A decision to make seven Costa Rica players undergo doping tests instead of the usual two following their World Cup match against Italy was standard procedure, FIFA said yesterday. Costa Rica were angry about the incident after the 1-0 Group D win in Recife on Friday, saying it could cause suspicion. However, a FIFA spokeswoman said that two of the players were called for the post-match anti-doping tests as usual while the remaining five needed to be tested for their so-called biological passports.

Cordoba: Cordoba will return to La Liga next season for the first time in more than four decades after a stoppage-time Ulises Davila goal secured a 1-1 draw at Las Palmas and victory on away goals in their second-division play-off final yesterday. The first leg, in Cordoba, had ended 0-0.