Trapattoni: Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni has said he is not interested in taking over as Nigeria coach for the World Cup after Shaibu Amodu's dismissal. "I still have a two-year contract with the Irish federation," he told Italian news service ANSA yesterday. "I won't hide the fact that other countries have shown interest in me but I am happy in Dublin so it's a no to Nigeria."
Benzema: Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema could face former club Lyon in the Champions League tomorrow after being given the green light to return to action. Benzema had been rated extremely doubtful for the match after tests last Tuesday on a groin injury indicated he would be sidelined for at least a week. That ruled him out of Saturday's 3-0 Primera Liga win over Xerez, but he was yesterday included in Manuel Pellegrini's 19-man travelling squad for tomorrow's Champions League last-16 first leg against Lyon.
Sydney champs: Sydney won the A-League Premiership title in fine style as two special goals saw the hosts down Melbourne Victory. Sydney opened the scoring after 34 minutes, Karol Kisel smacking a 25-yard volley. They doubled their lead four minutes into the second period when John Aloisi picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch, turned Leigh Broxham and drove towards goal. Sydney pipped their rivals to the title by a single point.
Rooney: In-form Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is now as good as Brazilian Ronaldinho, Milan's David Beckham said as he prepared to meet his former club in the Champions League tomorrow. Asked if Rooney was now comparable to twice world player of the year and Milan team-mate Ronaldinho, Beckham said: "Without a doubt, I've always said Wayne is one of the best goalscorers in football. He's proving that and he is at a great club like Manchester United so he's doing what he does best - scoring goals."
Rugby Union: An operation on Scotland back Thom Evans, who injured his neck in Saturday's Six Nations defeat against Wales 'went well', Scotland team doctor James Robson said. However, both Evans and team-mate Chris Paterson, who sustained kidney damage, will remain at the University Hospital in Cardiff.
Tennis: Russia's Vera Zvonareva made a successful defence of her Pattaya Open title after a tense and testing 6-4 6-4 win over local favourite Tamarine Tanasugarn yesterday. Zvonareva had a fierce battle with the tenacious Thai, who was inspired by the partisan home crowd and challenged the Russian throughout a physical one hour, 51-minute match. World Indoor Tournament men's final - Robin Soderling (Sweden) beat Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-4 2-0 (Youzhny retired).
Motor racing: IndyCar driver Danica Patrick's NASCAR debut ended in a multi-car crash midway through a wreck-plagued race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday. Patrick's hopes in the second-tier Nationwide Series race ended when the right front of her vehicle was badly damaged in the 12-car accident. She was running mid-pack at the time.
Basket, NBA: The Washington Wizards have acquired veteran swingman Josh Howard and three other players from the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for forward Caron Butler, centre Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson. Going to Washington with Howard are centre-forward Drew Gooden, forward James Singleton and guard-forward Quinton Ross, the Wizards said.