Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has wanted to stage a grand prix in central London for years and McLaren's British drivers and former world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button have helped design a track.

But it's nothing more than hypothetical for now.

A Mario Balotelli header and a thumping drive gave Italy a richly deserved 2-1 win over Germany in Thursday's Euro 2012 semi-final in Warsaw.

The 21-year-old struck a first half brace to stun the Germans before a Mesut Ozil penalty reduced the deficit at the death.

Rafael Nadal wrote off his sensational Wimbledon loss to Lukas Rosol as an accident of sport and challenged the Czech, ranked 100 in the world, to make any further headway in the tournament.

World number two Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, and 11-time Grand Slam title winner, suffered one of the greatest shocks in tennis history against a man whose only five other Wimbledon visits had ended in first round defeats in qualifying.

Maria Sharapova's latest win at Wimbledon took two days and considerable resilience.

The top-ranked Sharapova was on the verge of victory Thursday when her old serving problems briefly resurfaced. The lapse cost her the second set, but she recovered to beat dangerous Tsvetana Pironkova, 7-6 (3), 6-7 (3), 6-0.

Larry Bird has resigned from the Indiana Pacers, effective from the end of August.

Bird, perhaps the most respected and beloved basketball figure in a state obsessed with the sport, is the Pacers' president of basketball operations. He spent four years building the team into an Eastern Conference contender and was this season's NBA executive of the year, but is instead moving on after saying just a month ago that he was willing to stay.

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli will be looking for his side to extend their proud record of never losing to Germany in a major finals when they meet in Thursday's Euro 2012 semifinal in Warsaw.

Germany - who are seeking their first trophy since lifting the Euro '96 title - will be by contrast hoping to end that run in what is their eighth meeting at either a World Cup or a European championship finals.

Bert van Marwijk has stepped down as Netherlands coach after his team's first round elimination from the European football championships, the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB) announced on Wednesday.

A statement on the KNVB's website said: "On the initiative of Bert van Marwijk, the KNVB and Bert van Marwijk decided on Wednesday to end the coach's contract with immediate effect."

Portugal coach Paulo Bento said he had no regrets after seeing his side lose 4-2 on penalties to defending champions Spain in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.

After the game finished goalless following extra time, Bruno Alves sent Portugal's fourth spot-kick against the bar and Spain substitute Cesc Fabregas stepped up to sweep Spain into the final at their Iberian rivals' expense.

Roger Federer gave Prince Charles a bow, then gave Fabio Fognini a royal thumping.

With the Prince of Wales visiting Wimbledon for the first time since 1970, Federer was at his best Wednesday and beat Fognini 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

Gareth Bale has signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham, tying him to the London club until 2016.

The Wales winger, who joined Spurs in 2007, has been linked with some of Europe's biggest clubs after emerging as one of the Premier League's standout players over the last two years.