Italian master-coach Marcello Lippi is facing one of his toughest assignments as he attempts what some fans think is impossible: putting under-achievers China on the path to greatness. Starting with Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Qatar, the silver-haired Lippi will set out to justify his heft

The Argentina coach, Edgardo Bauza, was unbowed after a 3-0 World Cup qualifying loss to Brazil and a fourth game without a win on Thursday, but promised his misfiring team still have qualification for the 2018 finals in Russia in their own hands.

FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura has red-carded Qatar’s critics who still can’t digest the fact that the country will be hosting the World Cup in 2022.

Qatar worked up a fair bit of form ahead of their World Cup qualifier against China next week with a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Russia in a friendly match at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in Al Sadd yesterday.

Germany and Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira said yesterday that football’s busy playing schedule was challenging its top professionals both physically and mentally.

Receding Waves raced to his first victory in Qatar when Tadgh O’Shea rode the colt to victory for Mubarak al-Khayarin in the Ain Khaled Cup at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club yesterday.

US delegation during the opening ceremony of the International Association of Ultrarunners (IAU) 50km World Championship at Aspire Zone yesterday.

Qatar will take on top Philippines team Globalport Batang Pier today in what would be a farewell match for retired Qatar star Yaseen Ismail Musa. The match will be played at the Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd at 7pm.

Around 700 shooters from 50 teams will be seen in action in the 49th CISM World Military Shooting Championship which will take place from November 12 to 20 at the Losail Shooting Range.

England captain Wayne Rooney will return to the starting line-up for his country’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Scotland tonight, interim manager Gareth Southgate announced yesterday.

The show must go on for Sweden as its national football team is set to face France in Paris today without its superstar striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Centurion Moeen Ali said patience was the key to run-scoring as England posted the highest score by a visiting team in nearly five years in the first Test in Rajkot against India yesterday.