Sports

The United States seemed to get stronger as the first half went along, and another flourish in the final minutes before halftime helped put it away.

Jeje Lalpekhlua continued his free-scoring form, netting a brace to inspire the Indian football team to a 6-1 second leg victory against Laos.

Despite the absence of Real Madrid star Benzema, sidelined due to his implication in the Mathieu Valbuena sextape blackmail scandal, this is a team bristling with attacking potential.

The Portuguese will lend his voice to the character of Pope Francis in an animated film due for release in 2017 for the centenary of the apparition of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal.

"I didn't know anything," Messi said while testifying in his tax fraud trial. "I only worried about playing football."

The company's Sports Business Group said in its 25th annual review of football finance that England's top 92 professional football clubs had generated more than four billion pounds in revenues for the first time.

Citing examples of the top teams which bank on their defences, Roelant Oltmans said India's attackers need to work on their defensive game to achieve the desired results.

Argentinian-born striker Messi and his father Jorge Horacio Messi, who have both denied the allegations, were due to appear in the Barcelona court on Thursday, according to a judicial document.

"I'm sure that United's fans and players will be delighted with that because, as I've said many times before, he's the best manager I've worked under," said Terry.

Cristiano Ronaldo added the finishing touches as Real Madrid were crowned kings of Europe for an 11th time with a 5-3 penalties victory over Atletico Madrid, after a 1-1 draw in the Champions League final.

FIFA says its disciplinary committee also fined the Croatian soccer federation 150,000 Swiss francs ($151,000). The stadium bans will take effect when Croatia host Turkey on September 5 and Finland on October 9.

"With this inclusion, PSPB can now take part in all the annual national championships, being conducted by HI," according to a press release. The PSPB is a 12-member organisation comprising the likes of ONGC, IOCL and HPCL.

The Argentina Football Association said Messi, 28, and his Barcelona teammate midfielder Javier Mascherano had joined the squad, in a Twitter message on Wednesday morning.

"Four years ago I wasn't happy here but now I am and I can't think of a better club to be at than Real Madrid, there's no team like it. The other clubs can forget it," said Ronaldo.

The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager has agreed personal terms on a three-year deal with a likely annual salary of over £10 million but issues remain over image rights.

Finishing the season with the Dutch national team, added Depay, would be a chance "to train at a high level and hopefully play some internationals, a fine way to end the season".