Nedved: Former Juventus winger Pavel Nedved won the Golden Ball trophy for the best Czech footballer in 2008-2009 awarded by Czech journalists. The 36-year-old beat Chelsea keeper Petr Cech and Galatasaray striker Milan Baros. Cech took the trophy four times in a row before last season. Nedved, the France Football Golden Ball winner from 2003, has won the Czech trophy six times.
Australia friendly: Australia will host the Netherlands in October as part of a busy schedule of internationals to prepare for next year's World Cup in South Africa. The Dutch, who have forged a strong link with the Australians after Guus Hiddink and (current coach) Pim Verbeek had spells in charge of the Socceroos, have agreed to a friendly at the Sydney Football Stadium on October 10. The Australians will also play friendlies away to Ireland (Aug. 12) and South Korea (Sept. 15) before a block of four Asian Cup qualifers.
Sacchi: Former Italy and Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi has been given the job of improving the performance of Italy's Olympic team before the 2012 London Games. Sacchi will be part of a team of "Olympic preparation" consultants, the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) said. Media said CONI wants Sacchi to find ways in boosting Italy's results in underperforming team sports such as basketball and waterpolo.
Life ban: A footballer who led an attack on the referee after a qualifier for China's 11th National Games last weekend was banned for life by the Chinese FA yesterday. Tianjin's Zhao Shitong chased referee He Zhibiao for over 100 metres and pushed him down to the ground before being restrained by police at the end of a match against Beijing on Sunday.
Friendly: Monaco vs Inter 0-1.
Golf: World number two Phil Mickelson plans to return from a six-week break by playing in three of the next four events on the PGA Tour, including the PGA Championship, the final major of the year. The American has not competed since tying for second at the US Open in June, opting instead to stay at home while his wife Amy and mother Mary were treated for breast cancer. Amy Mickelson had surgery in Houston on July 1 while Mickelson's mother was operated on 10 days later.
Rugby: New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter has been cleared to make his comeback to top-level rugby this weekend. Carter has been sidelined for the past six months after rupturing an Achilles' tendon. The 27-year-old made a low-key return in a suburban club competition last weekend and was passed fit to play his first serious match for Canterbury against North Harbour tomorrow.
Tennis: Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva breezed into the quarter-finals of the Stanford Classic, crushing their second-round opponents with equal efficiency. A red-hot Sharapova destroyed fifth seed and compatriot Nadia Petrova 6-1 6-2, before world number four Dementieva despatched another Russian in Maria Kirilenko with the same scoreline.
Rallying: Citroen announced they were continuing their involvement with the world rally championship for 2010 and 2011. With Sebastien Loeb behind the wheel the French car manufacturer have enjoyed their time in the sport, picking up four constructor titles and five drivers' championships.