Sevilla's love affair with the Europa League was immediately rekindled as last season's champions and three-time winners began this year's group stage with a 2-0 home victory over Feyenoord on Thursday.

After not much action barring the 2-2 draw against Bangladesh in an international friendly in March this year, India slipped eights places to be ranked 158th in the latest FIFA rankings headed by World Champions Germany.

Edinson Cavani scored early for Paris St Germain but a series of wasted chances came back to haunt them as Ajax Amsterdam equalised late to deny the French a winning start on the road in a 1-1 draw in Champions League Group F on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Manchester United skipper was preferred over the likes of Chelsea's Gary Cahill and Manchester City's Joe Hart to become the successor to Steven Gerrard, who retired from international football after the World Cup.

For the seven months since February 2014, the benchmark index surged nearly 27%.

Brazil have appealed to FIFA World Cup authorities to withdraw the yellow card suspension imposed on their captain Thiago Silva so that he can turn out for Tuesday's semi-final clash against Germany.

Seven Germany players are suffering mild flu symptoms ahead of the quarter-final match against France on Friday, coach Joachim Loew said in a German radio interview without identifying the players.

Germany must improve in both defence and attack if they are to overcome France in Friday's World Cup quarter-final.

World Cup sidelights: All the fun news from Brazil right here...

The United States' declaration of their attacking intentions may awaken the more thrill-seeking instincts of unbeaten but so far underwhelming Belgium as they prepare for "war" in Tuesday's last-16 World Cup clash.

United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann has criticised FIFA for appointing an Algerian referee to officiate his side's World Cup second-round match against Belgium on Tuesday.

Germany have only their superior fitness and world-class goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to thank for scraping past Algeria 2-1 in extra time to move into the World Cup quarter-finals after doing almost everything wrong over 90 minutes.

Rediff.com brings you the best quotes of the day from Brazil!

Germany and France snuffed out African hopes and reached the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday with hard-won victories over Algeria and Nigeria.

Germany coach Joachim Loew brushed aside criticism that his team are a far-cry from winning a fourth World Cup after they struggled to a 2-1 extra-time last 16 win over outsiders Algeria on Monday.

Photos of the World Cup match between Germany and Algeria

Germany were pushed all the way by an inspired Algeria on Monday before Andre Schuerrle and Mesut Ozil eventually secured them a 2-1 extra-time victory to send them into a mouthwatering World Cup quarter-final meeting with France.

France ended Nigeria's hopes of a first World Cup quarter-final appearance when they scored two late goals to beat the Super Eagles 2-0 in a rough second-round match on Monday.

The Algerians have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, reaching to the knockout stage for the first time.

France striker Karim Benzema came into the World Cup following a fine season with Real when he netted 24 goals in 52 games in all competitions and helped the world's richest club by income to win a 10th Champions League crown and the King's Cup.

Legendary tennis couple Steffi Graf and husband Andre Agassi watched as Germany and U.S.A. played their Group G tie which the Germans won 1-0.

The World Cup group stages games are over and while European heavyweights Spain, Italy, England and Portugal are knocked out of the biggest sporting carnival, there is still plenty to look forward to.

Thomas Mueller's second-half goal gave Germany a 1-0 victory over the United States in World Cup Group G on Thursday.

Photos of the World Cup match between Algeria and Russia being played in Curitiba

Belgium strolled into the World Cup last 16 on Thursday after Jan Vertonghen's late goal gave them a 1-0 win over a South Korean side unable to take advantage of a 45-minute numerical advantage and who exit the tournament.

Algeria reached the World Cup last 16 for the first time after fighting back for a 1-1 draw against Russia to clinch second place in Group H.

How the 32 teams are placed in the league stage of the 2014 Football World Cup.

Images from the World Cup matches between Portugal and USA in Group G at Manaus and between Algeria and South Korea in Group H at Porto Alegre.

Algeria opened the goal scoring floodgates swamping South Korea 4-2 in a thrilling World Cup Group H clash on Sunday that kept hopes of securing a spot in the last 16 alive and triggered celebrations across the Arab nation.

Divock Origi's late strike earned Belgium a 1-0 Group H win over Russia at the Maracana Stadium on Sunday to seal a spot in the knockout round of the World Cup.

A new West Asia is emerging and India must engage at the highest level and help shape this change, says Saeed Naqvi

India has lost the race for the post of Interpol secretary general with its executive committee appointing Germany's Juergen Stock as the successor to incumbent Ronald K Noble of the United States.

Photos of the World Cup match being played between Russia and Korea Republic

Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made two outstanding saves to deny Neymar as battling Mexico held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group A match on Tuesday, ending the hosts' 10-game winning streak in the process.

Images from the World cup match between Belgium and Algeria.

Much-fancied Belgium fought back from a goal down to score twice in the final 20 minutes and earn a hard-fought 2-1 victory over gutsy Algeria in their World Cup Group H opener on Tuesday.

With a star-studded squad that makes a mockery of the old joke 'who can name a famous Belgian?', young and talented Belgium should breeze past Algeria in the Group H opener.

Experts tell Carnegie Endowment for International Peace that a Modi government may be Asia oriented, but the US will remain a deep influence. Aziz Haniffa reports

Special 301 Report expresses concern over weak IPR laws, to conduct reviews.

The main problem is that the consumer's purchasing power has been eroded, say RC Bhargava, Maruti's chairman.