International Sport

Lance Armstrong is looking to make a splash with a return to competition. Read more about Lance Armstrong to make a splashing return

Queens Park Rangers (QPR) manager Harry Redknapp once signed Paolo Di Canio as a player but will hope his friend makes a losing start to his managerial reign at struggling Sunderland as the battle to avoid Premier League relegation hots up.

Italian Di Canio, who enjoyed a great relationship with Redknapp at West Ham United between 1999 and 2001, could deliver a huge blow to his old boss’s chances of keeping QPR up if he can inspire Sunderland to a surprise win at Chelsea and Rangers lose at home to Wigan Athletic. Read more about Di Canio could dash QPR’s survival bid

Rory McIlroy’s last-minute, last-ditch effort to right his game in time for the Masters next week has taken a trip to a usually out-of-the-way spot on the PGA Tour. Read more about McIlroy uses Texas Open to get ‘sharp’

Crusaders will face the toughest test of their campaign when the seven-time champions play South Africa’s Sharks in the tournament’s eighth round today. Read more about Crusaders size up Sharks

Real Madrid’s pursuit of a tenth European crown continues to gather momentum after they whipped Galatasaray 3-0 at home in their Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday. Read more about Real make quality count against Galatasaray

When Shaquille O’Neal visited the Forum during the summer he joined the Los Angeles Lakers, general manager Jerry West encouraged him to look up at the retired jerseys hanging above the court. “He said, ‘You can be as great as these guys,’” O’Neal recalled. West’s prediction is finally official.

Shaq joined Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Mikan, West and the rest of the Lakers’ greats when the club retired his No. 34 jersey in a halftime ceremony late Tuesday. Read more about Lakers retire Shaq’s number

Cricket Australia (CA) yesterday unveiled a list of 20 contracted players for the new season, amid reports that star bowler Mitchell Starc is celebrating a million dollar payday. Read more about Starc hits contract jackpot

Barcelona stayed on track for a sixth consecutive Champions League semi-final appearance despite conceding a last-gasp goal by Blaise Matuidi in a pulsating 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris St Germain on Tuesday.

The 2009 and 2011 champions went in front seven minutes before halftime when Dani Alves produced an exquisite pass with the outside of his right boot straight into the path of Lionel Messi who drove the ball in with his left foot from an acute angle.

World Player of the Year Messi then sustained a hamstring injury and was replaced by Cesc Fabregas at halftime. Read more about PSG scramble draw with Barca

Premier League club Liverpool will play their fi rst match in Australia on July 24 when they meet Melbourne Victory in a pre-season friendly at the 100 000 capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground, the A-league team said yesterday.

As the club where Australian Craig Johnston made his name in the 1980s and where Socceroo Harry Kewell later won the Champions League, Liverpool have a huge following Down Under and a bumper crowd will be expected for the match. Read more about Liverpool to make first trip Down Under

Ronaldinho and Pato have been recalled to Brazil’s squad for Saturday’s friendly away to Bolivia in aid of the family of a young fan killed by a fl are at a Libertadores Cup match last month. Read more about Ronaldinho, Pato recalled to experimental Brazil squad