Greece rallied with a big fourth quarter to beat defending champion Spain 79-75 in the second round of the European basketball championship on Thursday.

And Italy's undefeated run came to an end against host Slovenia.

With a World Cup waiting at season's end, Europe's top referees know they are under intense scrutiny when the Champions League starts next week.

UEFA wants its match official teams to get more offside decisions correct after high-profile errors in its marquee club competition last season. Also, a new interpretation of the offside law has brought more potential for controversy.

Lance Armstrong has returned his Olympic bronze cycling medal, the latest fallout from his confession to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Armstrong won the medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The International Olympic Committee in January vacated the medal Armstrong won in the road time trial. Armstrong tweeted on Thursday that he gave it back and a U.S. Olympic Committee spokesman released a statement confirming its return.

Fighting, biting, alleged cheating and an extraordinary on-pitch protest have cast a shadow over China's National Games and prompted renewed accusations that the quest for medals in the domestic showcase is motivated mainly by greed.

The quadrennial tournament dubbed "China's Olympics" -- which draws to a close in Shenyang on Thursday -- features teams from each province and region, as well as the military, emergency services and state-run entities in what is intended as patriotic and friendly competition.

Czech police said Thursday they had questioned and charged 12 current or former footballers suspected of match-fixing in several competitions.

"Twelve people have been arrested... in relation to suspected corruption in football, possible match-fixing in different competitions and related punting activities," anti-corruption squad spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej said in a statement.

To Mexicans, it's just unthinkable: Their football-crazed country stands a chance of not qualifying for the World Cup.

Worse yet, it was a 2-0 loss Tuesday night to their bitter northern rival — the U.S. — that has left Mexico out of position for a spot in next year's 32-nation tournament. The team known as the Tri has only two games left to make up ground.

Afghans have welcomed home their national football team with exuberance and joy, a day after the squad won the war-weary country its first international trophy in the sport.

President Hamid Karzai greeted the players at the airport. The team then headed to the stadium, where they were cheered by thousands of fans.

Kimi Raikkonen will return to Ferrari as a replacement for Felipe Massa, giving the Formula One team a new partner for Fernando Alonso and two top drivers for next season.

"Scuderia Ferrari announces that it has reached an agreement with Kimi Raikkonen," the team said Wednesday in a statement. "The Finn will join Fernando Alonso in the driver line-up for the next two racing seasons."

Italy and the Netherlands became the first European teams to qualify for next year's World Cup, and the United States, Costa Rica and Argentina also grabbed spots in the field on Tuesday.

Giorgio Chiellini scored in the 51st minute and Mario Balotelli converted a penalty in the 54th, giving Italy a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Czech Republic in Turin. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon made his 136th international appearance, matching Fabio Cannavaro's Italian record.

Diana Nyad on Tuesday defended her 110-mile (177-kilometer) swim from Cuba to Florida to skeptics who questioned whether she got into or held onto a boat during part of the journey.

Nyad said she swam without holding onto any of the boats or people accompanying her.