Ribery says this is his last World Cup

PARIS: France star Franck Ribery declared on Wednesday that the 2014 World Cup finals would be his last but the Bayern Munich forward left the door open to compete at Euro 2016.

Ribery, 31, who burst on to the international scene at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. "This will be my final World Cup," he told RTL radio.

Assessing his chances of leaving the World Cup stage on a high in Brazil he said: "We have to go there to achieve something, to try to win the World Cup, quite simply."

In 2006 he helped steer France to the final where they lost in a penalty shoot-out against Italy.

His 2010 World Cup experience proved vastly different, with France's knocked out in the first round and Ribery involved in an infamous players' strike at a training session.

Ribery will join 17 of France's World Cup squad at Les Bleus' training headquarters at Clairefontaine outside Paris later Wednesday.

He travels to Brazil having won the German league and cup double with Bayern.

France, under manager Didier Deschamps, who skippered the French to the 1998 World Cup title on home turf, are drawn in Group E.

They open against Honduras on June 15, before tackling Switzerland on June 20 and Ecuador five days later.

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Pak to produce World Cup soccer balls

NEW DELHI: Pakistan may be known as a cricketing nation but not many know that the soccer balls for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil will be imported from the 159th-ranked football nation.

When World Cup's Chinese supplier Adidas failed to keep up with the demand of soccer balls in Rio de Janeiro, a report in 'Express Tribune' said that a Sialkot ball manufacturing company then stepped in and got the contract.

Factory owner Khwaja Akhtar, who has made balls for the German Bundesliga, French league and the Champions League, is excited with the challenge of being a part of World Cup soccer history.

"It was when I felt the roar of the crowd at the 2006 World Cup that I dreamt of a goal of my own: to manufacture the ball for the biggest football tournament on the planet," Akhtar said.

"The people were chanting all around me. I just thought, this is the real thing. I was part of the crowd. I never had that kind of feeling before," added Akhtar.

Sialkot, a town in eastern Pakistan, was once the unassailable soccer ball production capital of the world -- exporting about 30 million balls a year, an estimated 40 percent of global production -- but India and China have recently caught up.

In December 2013, Brazil unveiled the latest soccer ball for the 2014 edition -- the Brazuca -- on the official FIFA World Cup website.

The Brazuca features a striking new design and new panel system. Six identical interlocking panels make up the ball's synthetic surface, thermally bonded to keep out moisture.

The month-long tournament, which kickstarts on June 12, has 32 of the worlds best sides locking horns in the most watched event in sports.

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F1 needs new winner at Monaco GP

Formula One desperately needs a different winner at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend to maintain any semblance of suspense.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton goes for his fifth straight win, with the F1 season taking on an air of inevitability, just like last season when Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull dominated with crushing ease by winning the last nine races, and 13 from 19 overall.

With Mercedes unmatchable for speed, Hamilton looks like he could beat even those incredible numbers, with four-time defending champion Vettel rapidly drifting away from contention.

"The last few races have been just incredible. I honestly never expected I'd win four consecutive grands prix in my career, and I'd love to continue that run here," Hamilton said. "The car has been strong at every race so far, and I'm sure it'll be the same in Monaco, so we should be set for an entertaining weekend."

Although Hamilton leads teammate Nico Robserg by only three points, that is because Hamilton retired from the season-opening Australian GP with engine trouble. Rosberg won in Melbourne, meaning Mercedes has won every race so far, and it looks like being a straight contest within Mercedes as to who wins the title.

"The championship battle is very close, and to regain the advantage at my home race would be fantastic," said Rosberg, who grew up in Monaco and won his maiden F1 race here last year. "So I'll be pushing harder than ever to make that happen."

Vettel is down in fourth spot overall, and already 55 points behind Hamilton, the 2008 champ. His more realistic contest is getting the better of his new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, who is just six points behind him.

Rule changes have blighted Red Bull, which is unable to generate the same speed as before, and beset by technical glitches.

Besides switching to a 1.6-litre V6 turbo engine instead of last year's 2.4-litre V8 engine, the rule changes focus on boosting cars' energy recovery systems, which generate energy from braking and through waste heat from the engine. F1 has also lowered fuel to 100 kilograms per race, down from 160 kilograms, increased the car's weight, and forced alterations to gearboxes, exhaust, wings and nose height.

Mercedes has made a far smoother transition, and is a mammoth 113 points clear of Red Bull and 131 ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship.

"More than any other 2014 race, I think this event will show us the most pronounced difference between 'old F1' and the new formula we have," said McLaren driver Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 champ. "There's far less of an aerodynamic influence here; it's just about bolting as much to the car as possible in a bid to find grip - so I think the engine's influence will be greater."

Over the past 12 months, only three drivers have won a race: Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel. Some contrast to two years ago, when there was a different winner in the first seven races.

The last time F1 was so predictable was when Alain Prost, Gerhard Berger and Ayrton Senna won all the races during an 18-race period in 1987-88.

A season with just two winners, however, would be a first.

"If you look at the performance now, you wonder if it (winning all the races) could happen, but then you know there are 14 races to go," Mercedes boss Toto Wolff told AUTOSPORT. "We haven't had conditions in the race like safety cars at the wrong time or thunderstorms. Also they (the drivers) didn't touch yet. So it's much too early."

Whoever gets pole position in Monaco usually wins, given how hard it is to overtake on the narrow, sinewy circuit, so Mercedes, which has also grabbed every pole, is odds-on to make it six consecutive wins.

"You cannot afford to make one single mistake, because you would easily crash into the railings. Overtaking is only possible with taking an extreme risk," said Vettel, who won from pole position here in 2011. "The best place to overtake is before the harbor chicane when we exit the narrow tunnel at 300kph and race towards the first gear chicane. Other than that, it's all about patience in Monaco."

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Churchill Brothers axed from I-League

NEW DELHI: In a stunning development in Indian football, two-time champions Churchill Brothers were today thrown out of the I-League along with three other teams for failing to fulfill the AIFF's club licensing criteria.

The All India Football Federation's Club Licensing Committee - First Instance Body - took the decision after its meeting here.

Two Kolkata clubs -- United SC and Mohammedan Sporting -- and Rangdajied United of Shillong were the other three teams which failed to clear the licensing criteria. All the four clubs will be out of the I-League for at least a year.

Interestingly, all the four clubs finished at the bottom four in the 13-team I-League (2013-14) which ended last month, with Mohammedan Sporting finishing last and Churchill 11th.

Under the AIFF's Club Licensing Regulations, the clubs are expected to meet several legal, administrative, sporting, infrastructure and financial criteria.

Licensing is an annual process where all clubs eligible to compete based on sporting merit need to have a License under the AIFF's Indian Club Licensing system. Last year, only Pune FC met the requirements with all other clubs being given a once in a lifetime one-year exemption.

Churchill had been one of the top club sides in the country in the last few years. They won the I-League title in 2008-09 and 2012-13 seasons and they are also the reigning Federation Cup champions. Churchill are also one of the few clubs to have played in the AFC Cup.

I-League Chief Executive Officer Sunando Dhar told PTI that the four clubs can come back in the I-League 2015-16 but through the second division league.

"These licensing criteria are on annual basis. They can come back in the 2015-16 season if they fulfil the criteria by then. But they will have to play in the I-League second division and qualify from there," Dhar said.

Bengaluru FC, Dempo SC, Pune FC, Salgaocar SC, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Sporting Clube de Goa, Mumbai FC, and Shillong Lajong FC were the nine clubs which passed the licensing criteria.

"Based on the documents provided by all the parties concerned and the Inspection conducted by the AIFF Inspection Team in the month of April/May, the Committee found that nine out of the 14 applicants have made the grade while four have failed," the AIFF said in a statement.

"Bengaluru FC, Dempo SC, Pune FC, Salgaocar SC, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Sporting Clube de Goa, Mumbai FC, and Shillong Lajong FC have successfully fulfilled the Licensing Criteria while United SC, Churchill Brothers, Mohammedan Sporting and Rangdajied United have not been up to the mark, thus bringing down the curtains on their participation in the forthcoming Football Season 2014/15 starting with the I-League in December."

Newly promoted Royal Wahingdoh of Shillong, who won the I-League second division, have been given an one-time exemption applicable for a year only to tick all the boxes.

"Wahingdoh have done exceptionally well in several departments of Club Licensing in such a short time since qualifying for the I-League," Committee Chairman Dr Girija Mungali said.

"They deserve a leeway being given to them under the Licensing regulations," he added.

Mumbai FC and Shillong Lajong though have been granted only the National License compared to their counterparts who have both National as well as the AFC Certificate.

The two clubs cannot take part in AFC competition and even if they win the I-League or the Federation Cup, they cannot participate in the AFC Cup or the AFC Champions League play-offs.

"Both these clubs do not have AFC A class Stadium, but were fully compliant of the infrastructure requirement for the National License," AIFF's Club Licensing Manager Roma Khanna stated.

Hailing the remarkable progress of the clubs since last year when the committee was formed for the first time, Dr Mungali said, "The nine clubs who have granted the License have come a long way since last year when only Pune FC passed.

"They have all passed with flying colours and it is a heartening sign for Indian Football. Clubs becoming professional is the best thing that can happen.

"They have taken Licensing very seriously and credit goes to AIFF. The Governing Body has played its role to perfection sensitising the issue s very diligently," the chairman added.

FIFA Regional Developmental Officer for South and Central Asia Shaji Prabhakaran, Advocate Ushanath Banerjee, Chartered Accountant Punkaj Jain and Dhar are the other members of the First Instance Body.

"The message has gone across that AIFF is very serious on licensing and I am glad at the progress of the clubs. We have conducted two to three seminars since the First Instance Body met for the first time and gave the clubs a year's exemption," Dhar said.

"We have been there to help the clubs at all time and we are committed to further aiding them in each and every department of Club Licensing. It's nice to see most of them responding so well," he added.

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Prandelli plays down Mario racist taunt

FLORENCE (Italy): Italy coach Cesare Prandelli played down a racist incident aimed at striker Mario Balotelli at a pre-World Cup training camp but striker Ciro Immobile said players have to help stamp out the scourge.

AC Milan striker Balotelli was believed to be the target of a racist insult from a youth as players were put through their paces during the second day of a 10-day training camp at Coverciano in Florence.

When asked about the incident, Prandelli said: "I didn't hear what was said. All I heard were pleasantries."

Police stationed at the national team centre intervened and although the incident did not appear to faze Balotelli the striker hit out afterwards.

"Only in Rome or in Florence do you here these kinds of things," said Balotelli, who has been subjected to racist taunts sporadically during his Serie A career.

Italian football federation (FIGC) president Giancarlo Abete called the incident "unacceptable".

"It was an isolated incident from someone who should not even have been there, but it's unacceptable," said Abete, speaking from Milan.

Immobile, one of seven strikers at the 30-strong training camp and hoping to make Prandelli's final 23-man squad, said the incident was symptomatic of widespread racism and discrimination in the country.

The Torino forward, who with 22 goals finished the season as Serie A's top striker, is from Napoli, a city which sits in the shadow of the Mount Vesuvius volcano and whose fans are regularly taunted by rival fans.

Asked if he bearing witness to such an incident made him feel ashamed to be Italian, Immobile said: "No I'm not ashamed to be Italian when I hear things like this being said.

"But it saddens me. We're in 2014 and to be hearing racist insults from people, whether you're yellow, black or white is just unacceptable.

"I'm from Napoli and to hear fans shouting, 'wash them with the lava from Mount Vesuvius' isn't very pleasant.

"Fortunately, Mario let it pass over him and he got on with his training. But we as players should do more to help stamp this out."

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'Spain don't have quality to retain crown'

LONDON: Football legend Luis Figo says defending champions Spain "don't have the quality" to retain the crown in the upcoming FIFA World Cup, instead he puts his money on hosts Brazil for a record sixth title.

"I don't think Spain are going to win this World Cup. I do not think they have the quality to do it. It's difficult, but it's not impossible," Figo, one of the best players of his generation, said.

The former Ballon d'Or winner and FIFA player of the year believed Brazil will be difficult to stop if they get off to a good start.

"I think it helps at home. I know the national coach (Luiz Felipe Scolari) well. I think he is a fantastic coach for that kind of tournament and the country (will) help the team by supporting them. I think if they start well, it is going to be very, very difficult for the other teams," the 41-year-old Portuguese said.

On his country Portugal's chances and the talismanic Cristiano Ronaldo, he said, "It's very difficult, because it's a long way to the final and our country has 11 million people and has difficulty choosing the 18-20 players for the World Cup. Portugal depends a lot on Cristiano Ronaldo. I think he wants the Golden Ball."

The former Real Madrid star, who has won several trophies during an illustrious career, is a Laureus Sport for Good Foundation Ambassador.

On his association with Laureus, Figo said, "I think through sport we can help people in society to have better opportunities in life. Laureus creates better conditions of life and better opportunities in the future for so many kids. It's just a small kind of action that we can do to minimise what they are suffering or what they are doing in their life and to try to motivate them," he told Laureus in an interview.

Asked about this weekend's Champions League final between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, he placed his bets on his former team.

"I think Real Madrid are going to win. The last time they won it, I was (a player) there, 2002. So this is quite special. I hope that they will win, but you know that in football, in the final anything can happen."

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Van Gaal has no fear of Ferguson shadow

THE HAGUE: Manchester United's new coach Louis van Gaal insisted on Tuesday that he has "no fear" of living in the shadow of emblematic former manager Alex Ferguson.

Van Gaal, 62, will take over as the new manager of the English Premier League giants after the Dutch campaign at the World Cup with former player Ryan Giggs as his assistant.

"Pressure I put on myself. That Alex Ferguson is looking over my shoulder I really don't think it's the biggest problem," van Gaal was quoted as saying in Tuesday's edition of Dutch football magazine Voetbal International.

Ferguson managed United for 27 years until 2013, winning 13 Premier League and two Champions League titles, and is now a member of the board of directors.

"I also get on very well with him and we'll probably soon have a drink together," said Van Gaal.

"My objective is that Manchester United quickly regain their number one spot. They (club bosses) think that I'm capable of achieving this in the first season, not only with the star players but also with the young ones.

"It's a daunting task but a fantastic challenge." Van Gaal has signed a three-year contract to succeed David Moyes who was sacked after a disastrous run of results saw United fail to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Van Gaal's contact with Man United only goes back a few weeks, since Moyes sacking, the Dutchman confirmed.

"When Manchester came knocking on my door, I didn't think about it for long: Manchester United is the biggest club in the world in terms of marketing and budget."

But he insisted the appointment would not take his focus off the World Cup in Brazil.

"My work at the head of the Oranje does not suffer from the current situation," he insisted. "I worked for Manchester during my days off.

"I've already talked a lot with the English bosses. They already know the names of the players I would like to have, but also those who are allowed to leave," he explained.

"I've never dealt with transfers and I'm not going to start now, just to say which players I want to have and what players can go. I don't discuss money."

He added: "It takes time to negotiate with a club, it is a real process. There are things that need to be addressed, such as the team preparation programmes, the players, the youth programme."

Van Gaal added that he was "proud to have been chosen" to spearhead United and had been overwhelmed by the many messages of congratulations, including from Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

"Jose Mourinho was one of the first to text me. He said he was jealous of my list of clubs," said the former Ajax, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach.

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Kohli only Indian in most marketable list

NEW DELHI: Indian batting star Virat Kohli has been rated second behind British Formula One racer Lewis Hamilton in the list of most marketable athletes by the UK magazine, 'SportsPro'.

The list, driven by marketing potential over the next three years based on value for money, age, home market, charisma, willingness to be marketed and crossover appeal, has Virat as the only Indian sportsperson in the June edition of the London-based magazine.

Former England batsman and Delhi Daredevils skipper Kevin Pietersen (35) is the only cricketer other than Kohli, 25, to feature in the top-50 list.

Brazilian soccer star Neymar, who topped the chart in the previous two editions of the magazine, has now slipped to the seventh spot.

In a list comprising Christiano Ronaldo (4) Usain Bolt (6), Lionel Messi (11), Novak Djokovic (15), Andy Murray (21), Rory McIlroy (24), Sebastian Vettel (27) and Victoria Azarenka (31), Kohli's No. 2 spot is surely a matter of pride for every Indian sports fan.

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Toure could leave Man City, says agent

LONDON: Midfielder Yaya Toure is upset with Manchester City after an apparent birthday snub and could leave the club, his agent said on Tuesday.

According to Dimitri Seluk, who represents the Ivory Coast international, Toure was dismayed that, despite the club giving him a 31st birthday cake, the owners did not personally congratulate him at a post-season party in Abu Dhabi.

Former Barcelona powerhouse Toure, whose goals were instrumental in City's second title in three seasons, could even leave the club, Seluk said.

"He got a cake but when it was Roberto Carlos's birthday, the president of (Russian side) Anzhi (Makhachkala) gave him a Bugatti," Seluk told BBC Sport.

"I don't expect City to present Yaya with a Bugatti, we only asked that they shook his hand and said 'we congratulate you'. It is the minimum they must do when it is his birthday and the squad is all together.

"Of course Yaya is upset about this. It is his birthday and nobody said anything or shook his hand, so he does not feel comfortable," added Seluk, who said City sent a Twitter message wishing Toure a happy birthday.

Toure, who joined City in 2010 as part of the owner Sheikh Mansour's vast outlay on world-class players, signed a new four-year contract last year and Seluk denied that he was looking for a better deal with the club.

"No. Money is not important. He has enough money," he said.

"The most important thing is a human relationship and maybe this is his opportunity for Yaya to find that. If City don't respect him, then easy - Yaya will leave. No problem.

"It is more important he plays for a club that respects him more than having a few thousand pounds added to his salary.

"I have spoken to him about leaving and we will see what happens but, at the moment, Yaya is really upset."

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Messi promises return to form at WC

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina superstar Lionel Messi said on Tuesday that his army of fans will see a different player at the World Cup than the one that underperformed this season with Barcelona.

"As I join up with the national team, the atmosphere is completly different. Lots of times in the past when I have gone back to Barcelona I have played well. Now I am hoping that the opposite happens," he told journalists on arrival at Buenos Aires airport.

Messi took his time to transcend his talent with Barcelona onto the international stage and it was only at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that he started to perform well.

The 26-year-old returned to his native city of Rosario on arrival before linking up with coach Alejandro Sabella and the rest of the squad next Monday at Ezeiza, the team's training camp.

He vowed to train "with maximum energy in order to give his best like always".

"When I return to the training ground with my teammates, with my friends, it's going to change my mentality and it's going to be another story.

He also revealed that along with the rest of the Barcelona team this season, they were suffering from a "lack of energy".

Argentina will play friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago on June 4 before taking on Slovenia three days later.

Their opening Group F match will be against Bosnia on June 16 which proceeds Iran on June 21 and finally Nigeria on June 25.

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