TORRES IS NOT FIT FOR SPAIN

Liverpool striker Fernando Torres is not fit to play in Spain's friendly against Argentina next weekend even though he could feature for his club on Monday, manager Rafa Benitez has said.

Torres, who has been troubled by a groin injury for the past month, travelled to Spain following Liverpool's 1-1 Champions League draw with Olympique Lyon in midweek to see a specialist to ascertain if he needs surgery. Although Benitez is refusing to rule Torres out of Liverpool's match with Birmingham City, he has informed the Spanish national side he does not believe the 25-year-old is fit enough to face Argentina in Madrid on Nov 14. "No, I don't think so," Benitez told reporters on Saturday when asked whether Torres would play for Spain. "Yesterday I was talking with the Spanish clinical director and fitness coach and they know that Fernando needs to work hard with the physios and improve his fitness condition." Yet with Liverpool's season in turmoil, Benitez said he may once again have to turn to Torres, who has been playing through the pain barrier, when Birmingham visit Anfield. "Torres has gone to Spain to see a specialist," added Benitez. "We know that he was a little bit better than before. There are still some problems and he will be working with the physios. "We'll have to make a decision whether he can play against Birmingham." The five-time European champions are in danger of being eliminated from the group stages of the Champions League while they start the weekend nine points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea after losing five of their first 11 games.

(bd news sourcing)

FIFA World Cup 2010

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will take place in South Africa. A total of sixty-four World Cup matches will be played over a period of twenty-five days there. It is the 16th country and the first-ever African country to host the FIFA World Cup. Ten stadiums will be used and nine South African host cities including Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, and Rustenburg. There will be thirty-two national football teams from the six FIFA Confederations represented in the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa.

Andre Agassi admits in memoir to using crystal meth

NEW YORK, Oct 28 - Former tennis champion Andre Agassi has admitted in an autobiograpy that he used crystal meth in 1997 when his career was floundering.

People magazine said in a story on its website on Tuesday that Agassi admits to drug use in his memoir, "Open: An Autobiography," as well as talking about his hair loss and doomed 1997-1999 marriage to actress Brooke Shields.

"I can't speak to addiction, but a lot of people would say that if you're using anything as an escape, you have a problem," he told People magazine.

People magazine and Sports Illustrated will run excerpts this week from Agassi's book ahead of its November 9 publication.

The American tennis player became a fan favourite after winning Wimbledon in 1992 when he was a cocky rebel with shoulder-length hair and went on to win the US Open in 1994.

But his on-court career hit a low point in 1997 when Agassi struggled with a wrist injury and he ended the year at No. 122 in the world rankings. Publisher Knopf said Agassi reveals in his memoir that he suffered a shattering loss of confidence.

Agassi, 39, said he was not worried about the impact of his admissions on his fans.

"I was worried for a moment, but not for long ... I wore my heart on my sleeve and my emotions were always written on my face. I was actually excited about telling the world the whole story," he said.

His memoir also talks about the love he eventually found with his current wife, retired tennis professional Steffi Graf.

(written By bdnews24)