Football: Van Gaal snubs Nigeria job

Nigeria’s short-list of targets for the vacant national manager’s job has been cut by one after Bayern Munich coach Louis Van Gaal distanced himself from the role.

There was a dramatic end to the opening day of the Presidents Cup in San Francisco, which saw the United States finish with a 3.5 – 2.5 lead over the Internationals side.

The rain in Napier denied New Zealand the chance to claim a series victory on the final day of the third Test against Pakistan.

The New York Yankees christened the first season of their new ballpark the same way they opened their old stadium in 1923: with a World Series championship. Hideki Matsui of Japan was named the World Series MVP after batting .615 with three home runs.

Costa Rica suffered World Cup heartbreak as the United States salvaged a last-gasp 2-2 draw in Washington to deny the visitors an automatic place at next year’s finals.

Troy Matteson held off PGA Tour rookies Rickie Fowler and Jamie Lovemark in a playoff to win the Frys.com Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

The NBA is hoping to stage a regular-season game in London in the next two years before the British capital hosts the 2012 Olympics, it announced ahead of the Chicago Bulls’ 102-101 victory against Utah Jazz in an exhibiton game there on Tuesday night.

He’s the fastest runner ever, but Usain Bolt accepts that it will take people time to believe that he has no illegal assistance.

Spain have retained the Davis Cup after taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the final against the Czech Republic by winning the doubles on Saturday.

AC Milan confirm Monday that England midfielder David Beckham will be returning to them on loan in January after reaching an agreement with his MLS club Los Angeles Galaxy.

Israel’s Shahar Peer continued her superb run at the Dubai Open by beating Li Na of China to reach the semifinals of the WTA Tier One tournament on Thursday.