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Inter defender Maicon sustained a serious leg injury playing for Brazil at the weekend, the Serie A club's doctor has confirmed. The right-back will be out for several weeks with Italian media speculating his season could be over. “I spoke with Brazil's chief doctor during the night. Unfortunately, he confirmed that Maicon has a serious injury… in his right leg,” Inter doctor Franco Combi told the official club website ( www.inter.it ). “We agreed Brazil's doctor will take care of the player until his return to Italy in about 10 days' time. When he returns to Milan we will do further tests to see how the injury is, and then proceed with a rehabilitation programme.” Maicon was injured in the first half of Brazil's 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw in Ecuador on Sunday. His absence will be a big blow to Inter, who lead Serie A by seven points with nine games remaining. Young left back Davide Santon may switch to the right for Sunday's league game at Udinese with Maxwe...

AFP - Germany captain Michael Ballack on Thursday urged the Euro 2008 finalists to raise their game for Saturday''s World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein to banish the memories of their recent defeats. The 32-year-old Chelsea star is demanding a raised effort in Leipzig from his side who have lost their last two home games: a 2-1 defeat to England last November and a 1-0 defeat to Norway in February. Germany have not suffered back-to-back home defeats since 1956 and Ballack says only a convincing win over Liechenstein, ranked 151st in the world, will suffice. "We simply have to play better and put in a better performance," Ballack told sports magazine Kicker. "And it will happen." Germany are top of their qualifying group and are unbeaten with three wins and a draw to give them a four-point lead over their main group rivals Russia. But the Germans travel to Moscow in October for the tie which could decide the group and Ballack says it is crucial Germany ...

The Real Madrid boss is adamant that he does not have a problem with the experienced midfielder after reports suggested the pair had a bust-up in training last week. Despite leaving Guti out on several occasions and using him as a substitute on many others, Ramos stated that he would happily choose him when the occasion was right. "Guti was not called up because I decided not to do that. For that game, I felt other players would be better. My job is to choose the best team," he told Onda Madrid. "Each player has a different character, but they must all be treated equally. Players are left out and they are included. "I have not finished with anyone." Reflecting on the race for the title, Ramos refuted allegations that Madrid are too defensively-minded. "Barca are recording some results that are difficult to match. We have to raise our game because there is a team above us and all we can do is keep playing the way we have been," he continued. "If w...

Indian Premier League chairman Lalit Modi wants South Africa to stage the tournament, BBC Sport understands. Modi has arrived in South Africa as he evaluates the options available to the IPL following the decision to move the event because of security fears. He plans to visit both South Africa and England in the next 24 hours to "assess venues and the logistics". England had been the early favourites to stage the tournament following the decision to switch it from India. Modi said he had no choice but to move the event because India's government could not guarantee safety and security resources with national elections happening at the same time. England and Wales Cricket Board [ECB] chief executive David Collier plans to fly to London from the West Indies to hold talks with Modi later this week. But it now appears South Africa are in pole position to stage the lucrative Twenty20 competition, which is due to run from 10 April to 24 May, featuring 59 matches, eight teams an...

Soccer has been played in various forms though out history. Many sites on the world wide web have information on the history of football or soccer. Of course, here at Soccer Ball World, we will concentrate on the history and evolution of the soccer ball . Early Ball History Through out history, humans have enjoyed kicking a ball or something like a ball. South American Indians were known to use a light elasticized ball. However; rubber was not to be practically manufactured until a few thousand years later. According to historical references and legend, early balls ranged from human heads, stitched up cloth, animal and human skulls to pig or cow bladders. During the Ts'in and Han Dynasties (255 BC-220 AD), the Chinese played 'tsu chu', in which animal-skin balls were dribbled through gaps in a net stret...

Inter president Massimo Moratti tried to play down speculation that striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic might leave at season's end by saying he couldn't imagine the club without the player. Ibrahimovic scored two goals in Inter's 3-0 win over Reggina on Sunday, taking his personal goals tally for the season to 19, as the Milan club stayed seven points clear at the top of Serie A. After his performance, Ibrahimovic hinted that he may be considering a future away from the San Siro. "I'm totally focused on winning the title but as for next season, we'll see," he said. "I'm very happy to be at Inter but next year we'll see." But Moratti said Monday: "I can't imagine Inter without Ibrahimovic. "But if that were to happen, it would not stop the club from carrying on." According to the Italian press, Ibrahimovic could be tempted to join a club that has a better chance of winning the Champions League after seeing Inter depart at last-1...

Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka will miss the first leg of the club's UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool. The French international picked up a toe injury during Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Tottenham that will require three weeks on the sidelines, according to the French Football Federation (FFF). France coach Raymond Domenech, who has called up Paris St Germain's Guillaume Hoarau to replace Anelka in his squad. "(Hoarau) replaces Nicolas Anelka, who is suffering from an injured left big toe and is out of action for three weeks," the FFF said on their website. Chelsea's next league game sees Guus Hiddink's side travel to Newcastle, before on 8th April they take on Liverpool at Anfield.