IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Soccer

Japan bids for World Cup

TOKYO: Japan will submit bids to host the World Cup in either 2018 or 2022.

"We have decided to stand for bidding to host the World Cup in 2018 and or 2022," Japan Football Association president Motoaki Inukai said in a statement released on Thursday.

Monday is the deadline to submit papers expressing an intent to bid and the JFA has already sent the required forms to FIFA.

Bids are also expected from England, Spain/Portugal, Netherlands/Belgium/Luxembourg and Russia. Indonesia announced its candidacy on Wednesday, joining Australia and Qatar.

Palmeiras rout Potosi

BUENOS AIRES: Vanderlei Luxemburgo's latest attempt to win the Libertadores Cup got off to an excellent start on Thursday when his Palmeiras side routed Real Potosi 5-1 in a preliminary round first leg tie.

Palmeiras coach Luxemburgo has won the Brazilian championship a record five times with four different clubs but the Libertadores has always eluded the former Real Madrid and Brazil boss.

In Lima, Peruvians Sporting Cristal came from behind to beat Argentina's Estudiantes 2-1 in a game of goalkeeping mis-haps.

N'Zogbia wants to leave

LONDON: Newcastle United's Charles N'Zogbia said on Thursday he would never play for the club again while manager Joe Kinnear is in charge.

In a statement sent to Sky Sports News, the French midfielder said Kinnear had insulted him, although he did not elaborate on how.

Kinnear responded by accusing N'Zogbia of trying to engineer a move away from the struggling Premier League club.

Kinnear mispronounced N'Zogbia's name during a post-match television interview after the 2-1 defeat by Manchester City on Wednesday.

NFL

Harrison gets award

NEW YORK: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison has been named the league's defensive player of the year, the NFL said on Thursday.

The 30-year-old recorded a career-high 101 tackles and 16 sacks during the 2008 season, including three sacks in the opening week when Pittsburgh beat the Houston Texans 38-17.

Harrison, whose will play for the Steelers in Sunday's Super Bowl against the underdog Arizona Cardinals, was one of five finalists for the honor, which is based on fan votes during each week of the league season.

Cricket

England suffer in tour

MIAMI: Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath scored centuries as a youthful West Indies A team dominated the touring England side on Thursday, posting 343 for two on the first day of their three-day tour game.

Trinidad and Tobago batsman Simmons struck an unbeaten 171 with 19 fours and five sixes as England's bowlers failed to impress ahead of next week's first test in Jamaica.

England were without all-rounder Andrew Flintoff, who is fighting to be fit for the Kingston test after suffering a side strain last week.

(China Daily 01/31/2009 page12)