Netherlands took a significant step towards qualifying for the 2014 World Cup with a comprehensive 4-1 defeat of their main Group D rivals Romania here on Tuesday.

Goals from Jeremein Lens, Bruno Martens and Rafael van der Vaart put the 2010 World Cup finalists firmly in command by half-time with Robin van Persie adding a fourth five minutes from time.

MotoGP riders will gather at Malaysia's Sepang circuit this week for the installation of a plaque in memory of Italian rider Marco Simoncelli, who died in a crash last October, a top official said Tuesday.

Razlan Razali, Sepang International Circuit (SIC) CEO, told AFP that riders and team officials would gather at turn 11 on Thursday where the young racer lost control of his bike.

Australian Olympic chief John Coates Tuesday renewed his calls for the nation's anti-doping body to have to right to compel witnesses to give evidence as it probes doping in cycling.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) said Monday it will launch an investigation after former Olympic cyclist Matt White admitted involvement in the Lance Armstrong doping conspiracy.

U.S. ski star Lindsey Vonn, who has been seeking a start in the men's downhill race in Lake Louise in November, says she will only compete there if she can also take part in the women's race a week later.

"If it's not possible to do the women's World Cup race in Lake Louise, then I definitely won't race with the men either," the 27-year-old told Austrian private channel Servus TV in an interview in German broadcast on Monday.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said Monday he was happy to take flak if it means he has managed to motivate his players rather than sit back and enjoy cordial relations with them.

"As a coach I prefer to draw criticism for my aggressive style in a press conference because I try to play on the hurt pride of my players rather than to be politically correct and continue to lose," said Mourinho, who is determined to knock leaders Barcelona off their perch in La Liga but also deliver European glory.

Liverpool on Monday announced they were staying at Anfield instead of moving to a new ground, after city authorities announced plans to regenerate the area around their historic home.

The club's managing director Ian Ayre described the move as a "major step forward" for both Liverpool and local residents, after years of wrangling about whether they should move from the stadium that has been their home since 1892.

Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel heads into the last four races of the season knowing the momentum is with him, and his fate in his own hands, after a commanding win in South Korea.

The Red Bull driver secured a third win on the trot on Sunday and in doing so leapfrogged Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the top of the drivers' standings, in what looks like a two-horse race now for the title.

Having sunk France with both goals in Spain's 2-0 quarterfinal victory at Euro 2012, Xabi Alonso will have Les Bleus in his sights once again when the teams renew acquaintances in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.

The 30-year-old midfielder scored with a header from a Jordi Alba cross and a penalty to send France packing in Donetsk, and although he has not found the net since, his reputation does not rest on his talents as a goalscorer.

Fresh from hammering Ireland in Dublin, Germany host Sweden at Berlin's Olympic Stadium on Tuesday looking for another convincing win to keep them top of their World Cup qualifying group.

The Germans ran Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland ragged on Friday in a 6-1 victory with Borussia Dortmund's Marco Reus and Bayern Munich's Toni Kroos both scoring twice.

Real Madrid's Brazil defender Marcelo will be out of action for up to three months after fracturing his right foot in training, the South American giants announced on their website on Sunday.

Marcelo suffered the injury in the Polish city of Wroclaw while training ahead of Tuesday's friendly international against Asian champions Japan.