Vicente del Bosque's calm, composed and assured demeanor doesn't quite reveal the true extent of the stress he has endured in leading Spain to World Cup and European Championship titles.

Spain will be heading to Brazil looking to become the first country to repeat as champion since 1962, and the first European team to win the World Cup in South America.

Chile has assembled the best lineup it has ever taken to the World Cup, and has been placed in one of the toughest groups.

Facing defending champion Spain and 2010 finalist Netherlands in Group B, just reaching the knockout round would be considered a major success.

Roma forward Mattia Destro was banned for three matches Tuesday for punching Cagliari defender Davide Astori, handing the second-place squad a big blow for its faint Serie A title hopes.

The ban could also affect Destro's selection chances for Italy's World Cup squad, due to national team coach Cesare Prandelli's code of ethics.

Like sunshine and happiness or Lennon and McCartney, football and Brazil go together, each making the other better. So the first World Cup in Brazil in 64 years is bound to be special.

Having cracked open a new continent four years ago in South Africa, the planet's most popular sport now returns to its spiritual home, the country which more than any other has put the wow factor into football.

Lance Stephenson shook his head in disbelief. All-Star starter Paul George repeatedly urged his Indiana teammates to get going, and All-Star center Roy Hibbert sat speechless on the bench during the final 30 minutes on the game.

This wasn't just another bad loss for the Pacers. It was another chapter in their shocking collapse as the NBA regular season comes to a close.

Christian Eriksen scored one goal and set up two more as Tottenham recovered from an early defensive howler to rout Sunderland 5-1, leaving the visitors rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.

Tottenham put aside speculation about the manager Tim Sherwood's future and the early mistake to produce a comfortable victory at White Hart Lane to stay in the hunt for a European place.

Fernando Llorente scored twice in the space of three minutes and Juventus restored its eight-point lead atop Serie A with a 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Livorno on Monday.

Also, AC Milan won 2-1 at Genoa for its third straight victory with goals from wingers Adel Taarabt and Keisuke Honda, who scored for the first time in the Italian league.

Stifling sobs, Oscar Pistorius took the witness stand Monday in his murder trial and apologized to the family of the girlfriend he shot dead, describing himself as being traumatized and awakening from nightmares to the "smell of blood."

Pistorius' voice quavered so much and was so low that Judge Thokozile Masipa asked him to speak up to the packed courtroom as he described his remorse for having killed Reeva Steenkamp on February 14, 2013. He said he mistook her for an intruder when he fired four times through a locked toilet stall door in his home. Prosecutors said he shot her as she screamed in terror after they had an argument in the predawn hours of Valentine's Day.

Formula One chief Bernie Ecclestone says a U.S.-backed team led by NASCAR's Gene Haas is among two new teams likely to join the series next season.

Speaking at Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix, Ecclestone said he held talks with the sport's governing body and there was agreement about expansion next season.

Liverpool reclaimed top spot in the Premier League after two penalties from captain Steven Gerrard helped his team beat West Ham 2-1 Sunday to remain firmly in the hunt for the club's first league title since 1990.

Liverpool's ninth win in a row restored a two-point lead over Chelsea with five games to play, and also sets up a crucial game against Manchester City next weekend which could go a long way to determining who wins the title.