LONDON (Reuters) – World Cups and continental championships are natural stages for the world’s greatest soccer players to parade their skills, unless, that is, you happen to be Welsh.

Former Liverpool goal machine Ian Rush and Mark Hughes, one of Manchester United’s greatest strikers, enjoyed glittering club careers and regularly joined forces in Welsh red, but never qualified for a tournament finals.

LONDON, Feb 7 (Reuters) – World Cups and continental championships are natural stages for the world’s greatest soccer players to parade their skills, unless, that is, you happen to be Welsh.

Former Liverpool goal machine Ian Rush and Mark Hughes, one of Manchester United’s greatest strikers, enjoyed glittering club careers and regularly joined forces in Welsh red, but never qualified for a tournament finals.

LONDON (Reuters) – Luiz Felipe Scolari’s second coming as Brazil manager ended in a defeat as goals from Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard earned a vibrant England side a 2-1 win at Wembley on Wednesday, their first over the south Americans for 23 years.

The moustachioed mastermind of Brazil’s fifth world crown in 2002 has been re-installed to guide next year’s World Cup hosts after a slide down the FIFA rankings but was left with much to ponder.

LONDON (Reuters) – Frank Lampard underlined his importance to England with a superb winner in his side’s 2-1 victory over Brazil on Wednesday but his chances of reaching the 100-cap milestone could be scuppered by a move out of Europe, coach Roy Hodgson said.

The 34-year-old Chelsea midfielder’s 60th-minute curler after coming on as a halftime substitute for his 94th appearance was his 27th England goal since his first cap in 1999.

LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Frank Lampard underlined his importance to England with a superb winner in his side’s 2-1 victory over Brazil on Wednesday but his chances of reaching the 100-cap milestone could be scuppered by a move out of Europe, coach Roy Hodgson said.

The 34-year-old Chelsea midfielder’s 60th-minute curler after coming on as a halftime substitute for his 94th appearance was his 27th England goal since his first cap in 1999.

LONDON, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Luiz Felipe Scolari’s second coming as Brazil manager ended in a defeat as goals from Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard earned a vibrant England side a 2-1 win at Wembley on Wednesday, their first over the south Americans for 23 years.

The moustachioed mastermind of Brazil’s fifth world crown in 2002 has been re-installed to guide next year’s World Cup hosts after a slide down the FIFA rankings but was left with much to ponder.

LONDON (Reuters) – Ashley Cole is regarded as one of the best left backs in the world and will start his 100th match for England against Brazil on Wednesday but reputation will count for nothing in the meritocratic world of coach Roy Hodgson.

The Chelsea player, one of the first names on the teamsheet for a succession of England coaches, has a fierce rival for the left back spot in the shape of Everton’s Leighton Baines and Hodgson admits it gives him a welcome headache.

LONDON, Feb 5 (Reuters) – Ashley Cole is regarded as one of the best left backs in the world and will start his 100th match for England against Brazil on Wednesday but reputation will count for nothing in the meritocratic world of coach Roy Hodgson.

The Chelsea player, one of the first names on the teamsheet for a succession of England coaches, has a fierce rival for the left back spot in the shape of Everton’s Leighton Baines and Hodgson admits it gives him a welcome headache.

LONDON (Reuters) – Olympic champion Andy Murray is demanding more blood testing in tennis to avoid the kind of damaging doping scandals that continue to plague cycling.

World number three Murray, runner-up at last month’s Australian Open to Novak Djokovic, feels the sport’s authorities need to invest more heavily in anti-doping programs, even if it means siphoning funds from players’ prize money.

LONDON, Feb 4 (Reuters) – Olympic champion Andy Murray is demanding more blood testing in tennis to avoid the kind of damaging doping scandals that continue to plague cycling.

World number three Murray, runner-up at last month’s Australian Open to Novak Djokovic, feels the sport’s authorities need to invest more heavily in anti-doping programmes, even if it means siphoning funds from players’ prize money.