Spain and the Netherlands played out one of the most disappointing World Cup finals in history four years ago. They get a chance to make amends right away in Brazil.

In one of the quirks of the draw for Brazil, Spain opens the defense of its title against the country it beat in the championship decider in Johannesburg four years ago.

Andy Murray starts his bold venture with new coach Amelie Mauresmo on Wednesday as the Wimbledon champion opens his Queen's Club title defense against Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Murray sent shockwaves through the tennis world when he announced on Sunday that Frenchwoman Mauresmo was his choice to replace Ivan Lendl, who quit in March, as his coach for at least the grass-court season.

Roberto Mancini has left as manager of Galatasaray after just nine months in charge.

The Turkish club says Wednesday the two sides reached a "mutual agreement" to terminate the Italian's contract.

Philipp Lahm and Thomas Muller have signed two-year extensions to their Bayern Munich contracts, the Bavarian giants announced on the eve of the World Cup on Wednesday.

Both are currently preparing for Germany's opening World Cup match against Portugal on June 16 in Group G which also includes Ghana and the United States.

The World Cup uniforms will provide a carnival of color and fashion, from Brazil's bright yellow jerseys to the Netherlands' classic orange to Croatia's red checkered home kit and the superhero-inspired looks of Mexico.

The 2014 tournament, which opens Thursday when Brazil hosts Croatia, features the classics, the creative and the downright outlandish.

San Antonio made an NBA Finals-record 75.8 percent of their shots in the first half to set up a 111-92 victory over Miami on Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead.

The Spurs made 19 of their first 21 shots and finished 25 of 33 in the first half, bettering the 75 percent shooting by Orlando against the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009.

Cristiano Ronaldo had a hand in a goal and hit a post on his return as Portugal concluded their World Cup preparations with a 5-1 romp over the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday. 

The Real Madrid striker, who missed his country's previous two warm-up games because of thigh and knee injuries, was not at his brilliant best for long periods of a one-sided friendly in the United States.

Temperamental Italian striker Mario Balotelli ensured headlines of the positive sort on Tuesday announcing on his Twitter account he is to marry his girlfriend the Belgian model Fanny Neguesha.

The 23-year-old AC Milan star -- who is in Brazil with his country's World Cup squad -- also posted a photograph on his Instagram account showing the beach in Rio de Janeiro where he proposed to his sweetheart.

South Africa's vuvuzelas will be quiet when the football World Cup kicks off in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Four years after the tournament first came to Africa, many see the global event as a poisoned chalice for its host.

Police in Sao Paulo fired tear gas Monday to disperse protesters supporting a subway strike that has unleashed transport chaos three days before the Brazilian mega-city hosts the World Cup kick-off.

A group of about 150 strikers and protesters set fire to piles of garbage to block a central avenue in the Brazilian business hub, prompting some two dozen riot police to fire stun grenades and then tear gas to disperse them.