Brazil stay top of FIFA rankings
The South Americans - five-time World Cup winners -- had surged to the top spot for the first time in seven years last month at the expense of great rivals Argentina.
World champions Germany are third followed by Chile and Colombia in a South American-dominated top five.
READ MORE: Advocaat set to return as Dutch coach
Fifa standings:
1. Brazil
2. Argentina
3. Germany
4. Chile
Everton's Lennon held with 'stress-related illness'
The 30-year-old, who has not played for the English Premier League club since February 11, was taken to hospital on Sunday after police were called to an address in Salford, Greater Manchester.
"Officers attended and a 30-year-old man was detained under Section 136 of the Mental Health Act and was taken to hospital for assessment," Greater Manchester Police said.
Everton released a statement Tuesday. "Aaron Lennon is currently receiving care and treatment for a stress-related illness," the statement said.
READ MORE: Klopp: Top-four race not over yet
Klopp: Top-four race not over yet
Emre Can's stupendous mid-air scissors kick earned Liverpool a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road on Monday that provisionally gave them a three-point cushion over Manchester City in third place.
Victory in Liverpool's last three games -- against Southampton, West Ham United and Middlesbrough -- will guarantee them a Champions League berth, but Klopp said there was still much work to be done.
"We need to stay focused, we need to stay concentrated," said the German.
"We have pressure until the end of the season, but that's a positive pressure. It means we are fighting for something.
"So we'll do everything for the points we can get, but it won't be easy.
"If people think we already have the three points against Southampton then they've not seen them play this season. Another really strong side.
"Nobody can take these points away from us tonight and now we have time to work and prepare for the Southampton game (on Sunday)."
Can settled proceedings in first-half stoppage time, meeting Lucas Leiva's floated pass with a picture-book volley that flew past Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.
Can has battled a niggling calf problem for the past 12 months and Klopp praised the Germany midfielder for gritting his teeth and fighting through it.
"If he couldn't be positive after this goal, something would be wrong," Klopp said with a smile.
"He's a good player. He'd had a calf problem, but we couldn't leave him out. We had a lot of talks about this.
"People wondered what was wrong with him, but we needed him in these moments. He said, 'I'm going to try.'
"Sometimes he wasn't as good as he could have been, but now those problems are sorted, he's physically strong and he can build on these performances.
"And if he can score goals like this it makes even more sense."
READ MORE: Sports broadcasting giant ESPN forced to reinvent itself
Sports broadcasting giant ESPN forced to reinvent itself
The company must reinvent itself quickly in order to survive. But how?
Since its founding in 1979, in the town of Bristol, Connecticut, the world's first broadcaster dedicated solely to sports has become a colossus, comprising multiple networks, platforms and a hundred million subscribers.
But the company -- a subsidiary of Disney since 1996 -- has faced headwinds since 2011.
ESPN announced a wave of layoffs on Wednesday, cutting some 100 positions, according to US media reports, including some on-camera personalities. The layoffs follow earlier cuts of 300 jobs in 2015 and 400 in 2013.
ESPN's troubles are led by the continuing slump in subscriber numbers, down nine million since 2011 even though the company still claims 90 million subscribers.
With each subscriber worth an average $9.17 per month, according to figures from analysts SNL Kagan, that equals a combined shortfall of nearly $1 billion.
Many Americans subscribed to cable television out of habit for decades, paying for bundles of hundreds of channels even though most only watched a few. Today's TV viewers have options.
"Because of the maturation of streaming and the emergence of other sports channels, (ESPN is) in a much tougher situation," said Andrew Zimbalist, professor of economics at Smith College in Massachusetts.
He predicts ESPN will lose two or three million more subscribers each year for the next five years before the slide slows.
- ESPN for sale? -
Fees for broadcasting rights have exploded at the same time, increasing by 54 percent in North America between 2010 and 2014, according to an October 2015 study published by PricewaterhouseCoopers. It expected those fees to more than double between 2010 and 2017.
ESPN signed a 10-year contract for the rights to the National Football League's Monday night games and several other events in 2011 for a whopping $15.2 billion.
And a new contract with the NBA professional basketball league took effect this season, valued at $12.6 billion over nine years.
But "changing consumption habits" means trimming costs won't be enough to get the company through its rough patch, ESPN President John Skipper acknowledged.
He has negotiated agreements with most of the online streaming services to have launched in the United States, including Sling, Hulu, YouTube TV and Playstation Vue. Those services offer selections of fewer channels, known as "skinny bundles," for significantly lower prices than traditional cable-TV packages.
ESPN's parent company Disney in August also took a 33 percent stake in BAMTech, a subsidiary of Major League Baseball that has become a big player in online video streaming.
And ESPN is set to launch a fully online offering later this year, based on BAMTech technology, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger.
READ MORE: Advocaat set to return as Dutch coach
Advocaat set to return as Dutch coach
The 69-year-old, currently at Turkish club Fenerbahce, would take over from Danny Blind, who was sacked last month after a 2-0 defeat to Bulgaria that left the team's chances of reaching the World Cup finals hanging by the slenderest of threads.
De Telegraaf said only a few details remain to be ironed out in the deal. Advocaat is under contract at Fenerbahce until June 1 but should be released in time for a friendly against Morocco on May 31.
The Netherlands, three-time World Cup runners-up, have endured a torrid time in recent years, failing to qualify for Euro 2016 in France and now facing the prospect of missing next year's World Cup in Russia.
The defeat in Sofia left the side fourth in qualifying group A, trailing six points behind leaders France.
READ MORE: Kaka tops MLS salaries list
Kaka tops MLS salaries list
A comprehensive breakdown of basic salary and guaranteed earnings issued by the MLS Players Union showed Orlando's Kaka coming out on top with wages of $7.168 million (6.553 million euros).
The 35-year-old 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year headed to MLS in 2014 after a second stint with AC Milan.
The top 10 highest-earners in MLS are dominated by foreign players, with Toronto's Italian international Sebastian Giovinco second on the list with a salary of $7.116 million.
Giovinco's Toronto team-mate, United States skipper Michael Bradley, is third with a salary of $6.5 million.
New York City FC's duo of Andrea Pirlo and David Villa were fourth and fifth on the list, earning $5.915 million and $5.61 million respectively.
READ MORE: Roma appoint “one of the best minds in world football”
Senators oust Bruins, Capitals topple Leafs
The 26-year-old Swedish forward also scored in the third period to tie the game and force overtime in the best-of-seven National Hockey League playoff series.
"This is the playoffs. It's going to be tight, it's never going to be an easy ride," said Johansson. "But I think it's good for us where we got a start where everything didn't go smoothly.
"You kind of get right into it, and you have to work hard for it and battle for it."
The Capitals will face Sidney Crosby's Pittsburgh Penguins Thursday in second round action while the New York Rangers battle the Ottawa Senators in the other Eastern Conference series.
On the game-winner, Johansson knocked in the puck after Justin Williams got it to the front of the net.
It was the fifth game of the series to be decided in overtime and all six were decided by one goal.
American rookie Auston Matthews scored for Toronto early in the third period by deftly balancing a rolling puck on the blade of his stick and lifting it into the top corner.
READ MORE: Napoli star signs new five-year deal
I would have made 10 subs, rages Everton boss
With sixth-placed Arsenal on FA Cup duty and Manchester United, who lie fifth, not due to face Burnley until 24 hours after Everton’s visit to the London Stadium, Koeman’s side had the opportunity to maintain the progress they have shown this season.
But a drab scoreless draw meant they were able to only move above Arsenal, who have played three games fewer than the Goodison Park club.
Koeman had attempted to inject life into his side’s display by introducing Gareth Barry and Ademola Lookman for Idrissa Gueye and Tom Davies at half-time and the manager admitted he would have preferred to make a complete overhaul.
“The half-time substitutions were tactical, I made a signal to the team to change," said Koeman
“I feel sorry for Tom, I feel sorry for Gana, because if it was allowed to change 10 I’d have changed 10 players after the first half.
“I’m disappointed about the performance, we were not the team that we can be, far away from the level in every aspect of football. One positive thing: a clean sheet. And we go home.
READ MORE: Napoli star signs new five-year deal
Wenger mulls second chance for 'great player' Wilshere
Wenger sent Wilshere on loan to Bournemouth earlier this season in a bid to give the midfielder a chance to prove his fitness and form after several seasons of injury problems.
But the 25-year-old suffered a fractured leg during Bournemouth's defeat at Tottenham and will be out for the rest of the season.
Wilshere appeared as a substitute in two of Arsenal's opening three Premier League games before discussions with Wenger led to him leaving on a temporary deal.
– Let's hope that all goes well
He made 27 appearances during a solid spell at Bournemouth and, with just over a year remaining on his deal at Arsenal, Gunners boss Wenger will wait until the end of the campaign before deciding if Wilshere gets a new contract in the close season.
"It's a very simple fracture of the fibula. We need patience. Let's hope that all goes well," Wenger, whose own future at Arsenal is also up in the air, told reporters on Thursday.
"That (Wilshere's contract) is something different. This injury is nothing to do with the extension of Jack's contract.
"We haven't entered into any negotiations yet. I think with all these cases, when there's only one year to go, it's done during the break."
READ MORE: Time for video refs, says beaten Ancelotti
Redknapp appointed Birmingham manager
The 70-year-old former Tottenham boss takes charge with Birmingham three points above the relegation zone after a dismal four month spell under Zola.
Redknapp's most recent managerial post was with Jordan. He last worked in English football with Derby as an advisor.
Zola stood down on Monday, declaring "I sacked myself".
READ MORE: Five things we learned in the Bundesliga
Five things we learned in the Bundesliga
Sokratis' 'beautiful' goal
Borussia Dortmund ended a nightmare week for the club with a morale-boosting 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, capped by three dream goals.
The club is still dazed after three bomb blasts rocked the team bus on the way to a Champions League game on Tuesday, leaving the players dazed and defender Marc Bartra needing a wrist operation.
Marco Reus capped his return after six weeks sidelined with the opening goal after 122 seconds with a deft backheel flick.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang sprinted 70 metres for the third on 86 minutes to claim his 26th Bundesliga goal this season.
But arguably the best came from defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who hit the ball from 23 metres out at 108km/h into the top corner on 34 minutes to give Dortmund a 2-1 lead.
"It was the most beautiful goal of my career. All in all, it was a strange feeling to play today. The things which have happened are still in our heads," said the Greece international.
Rock'n'roll Nagelsmann
Julian Nagelsmann, 29, is the youngest coach in the Bundesliga's history and is on the verge of steering Hoffenheim to the Champions League for the first time.
Adam Szalai and Kerem Demirbay both netted twice in Saturday's 5-3 win at home to Borussia Moenchengladbach to leave Hoffenheim third with five games left.
The Bundesliga's top three qualify directly for the Champions League's group stages.
Hoffenheim are just one short of the club's record points tally of 55 in the 2008/09 season and this is the first time they have won all of their last six home games.
"I'd rather have a game like that a thousand times more than when both teams hold back," said Nagelsmann' Germany's coach of the year for 2016.
"When you go to a concert, you don't want to hear the boring music."
Hoffenheim's home game against fourth-placed Dortmund in a fortnight is set to decide which club claims a direct Champions League berth or a play-off place.
READ MORE: Ozil: My future is tied to Wenger’s
Mourinho summons strength for Chelsea ambush
United have drawn five of their last six home games and go into Sunday's Old Trafford showdown on the back of a leggy 1-1 draw at Anderlecht in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final.
They are far from ideal conditions in which to be preparing an ambush of the champions-elect, but despite his protestations that it is "just one more game", Mourinho is likely to be highly motivated.
Sacked by Chelsea midway through last season's car-crash title defence, he has had two deeply unpleasant experiences on his two trips to Stamford Bridge this season.
READ MORE: Formula One: Button to deputise for Alonso at Monaco Grand Prix
"Judas!"
In October, he saw United thrashed 4-0 and made a public show of taking Chelsea manager Antonio Conte to task over his touchline exhortations, accusing the Italian of trying to "humiliate" him.
February's 1-0 FA Cup defeat was a closer affair, but brought with it barracking from the fans who had once sung his name.
In response to their taunts of "Judas!", he raised three fingers -- one for each of the Premier League titles he won over his two spells as Chelsea manager.
"When they have somebody that wins four Premier Leagues for them, I become number two," he said after. "Until this moment, 'Judas' is number one."
Mourinho cannot have enjoyed watching the players who seemed to down tools under him thriving under Conte, as typified by the form of Eden Hazard.
Hazard, who played like a ghost under Mourinho last season, will arrive at Old Trafford seeking to reach the milestone of 15 goals in a league campaign for the first time since he signed from Lille in 2012.
For his part, Conte has sought to play down any suggestion of tension between himself and Mourinho.
"I have zero problems (with Mourinho)," he said. "It's only a sporting competition between him and me.
"There is a game of football. I want to try and win with my team. He wants to try and win with his team. It's normal to be at conflict during the game, but only a sporting conflict."
Formula One: Button to deputise for Alonso at Monaco Grand Prix
Button will replace Fernando Alonso in a McLaren at next month's Monaco Grand Prix, the British-based Formula One team announced Friday.
Alonso, like Button a former Formula One world champion, has been allowed to miss the race to compete instead for McLaren at the Indianapolis 500, with both showpiece races taking place on May 28.
READ MORE: From riches to rags – football’s widening wealth gap
Ronaldo to hit 100-goal milestone
Ronaldo, the four-time world player of the year, volleyed Real level at the Allianz Arena, then reached his milestone by slotting home the winner 13 minutes from time in the first-leg with the return on Tuesday in Madrid.
"He was happy of course, but he wasn’t too happy as he had chances to score more goals," said Real's coach Zidane.
"We’re all content, because it’s never easy to win at Bayern."
Ronaldo said it was a moment to savour.
"I wanted to reach this record. To be able to reach this mark is an honour and against a team like Bayern it is even better," the Portugal skipper told BeIN Sport Spain.
Arturo Vidal headed Bayern into the lead, but then skied a penalty attempt on the stroke of half-time before Ronaldo volleyed the defending champions' level after the break.
Bayern played the last half an hour a man down after centre-back Javi Martinez was sent off for two fouls on Ronaldo within three minutes of each other.
READ MORE: Arsenal ‘cowards’ slammed after Palace loss
Dortmund blast-victim Bartra recovering after surgery
"We have learnt that everything went well," Dortmund's president Reinhard Rauball told broadcaster NTV.
The 26-year-old centre-back was hit by flying glass after three explosions shattered windows on the Dortmund team bus en route to Signal Iduna Park for Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final, first-leg.
The match has been postponed until Wednesday at 1845 (1645 GMT), which Barta will miss, and German daily Bild claim he will be sidelined for the rest of the season.
The player's father -- Jose Bartra -- says he has spoken to his son, who expects to leave hospital in a few days.
"We spoke yesterday after the operation and he told us he was fine," Jose Bartra told Spanish media.
"The doctors had been through and said it was a clean break, that he didn't have anything in his arm and that he would be in the hospital for a few days and then he would be released to go home."
READ MORE: Injured Bayern star out of clash with Real
Arsenal 'cowards' slammed after Palace loss
"They bottle it, they're cowards, they duck out of challenges," was the scathing verdict of former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports.
"The best description of the players was two years ago from Graeme Souness, who said they are a team of son-in-laws. But what father would want his daughter to bring one of them home?"
It was Arsenal's fourth successive away defeat in the Premier League and left them seven points off the Champions League places with a game in hand.
Furious away fans taunted Arsenal's misfiring players with chants of "You're not fit to wear the shirt!" and barracked Wenger and his squad as they boarded the team bus after the match.
The back-page headline in The Times, a riff on Palace's nickname, read: "Eagles 3 Butterflies 0."
The Daily Telegraph said the result at Selhurst Park represented "humiliation", while The Sun asked of Wenger: "How can he stay after Selhurst shambles?"
Several newspapers said Arsenal had reached "a new low".
READ MORE: Ozil: My future is tied to Wenger’s
Injured Bayern star out of clash with Real
Hummels, who suffered a tear to the ligament in his right ankle on Sunday and faces a race to be fit for the return leg in Madrid on April 18, told the German daily Bild: "I definitely won't be on the pitch on Wednesday."
"Very sad about missing at least the next two games," the towering centre-back added on Twitter and posted a picture of him wearing a special recovery boot on Instagram under the caption, "Already trying to recover as fast as possible".
As well as this week's Champions League first leg, Hummels will sit out Saturday's Bundesliga away match at Bayer Leverkusen at the very least.
READ MORE: Five things we learned in the Premier League
Five things we learned in the Premier League
Here are five things we learned:
Chelsea are showing title grit
For the first time in their commanding campaign, Chelsea could feel a title challenger breathing down their necks when they kicked off at Bournemouth. Would the leaders crack under the pressure? On the evidence of a clinical 3-1 victory that restored their seven-point lead, the answer is a resounding no. Tottenham Hotspur's 4-0 rout of Watford had trimmed the Blues' lead to four points and with a trip to Manchester United looming next weekend, Antonio Conte's side could not afford a snooze in the south-coast sunshine. Taking the lead through Adam Smith's early own goal, Chelsea cruised through the gears, with Eden Hazard's deftly taken second and Marcos Alonso's sublime free-kick wrapping up the points. With seven games to go and 15 points needed to be crowned champions, it's advantage Chelsea again.
Age is just a number for Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic compared himself to Benjamin Button, the film character played by Brad Pitt who ages in reverse, after his side's 3-0 win at Sunderland -- and with good reason. His opening goal was his 28th of the season in all competitions and, even more impressively, the 250th goal he has scored since turning 30. Now 35, Ibrahimovic is playing as well as he ever has and his goals are helping United keep in touch with the top four. With Juan Mata the only other United player in double figures this season, manager Jose Mourinho will hope his talismanic Swede continues to resist the ravages of age over the season's closing weeks.
READ MORE: Ozil: My future is tied to Wenger’s
Ozil: My future is tied to Wenger's
Wenger, Arsenal's manager for over 20 years, is out of contract at the end of the season and has pledged to make an announcement about his future "very soon".
Ozil is currently stalling over a new contract, with his existing deal due to expire in a year, and suggested he will not make a decision on his future until he knows what Wenger is doing.
"It's not just important for me, but for the whole club," Ozil told the Mail on Sunday. "It's important to know if he stays or if he goes. We need to think towards next season.
"He's very important. In my career I've always made decisions not just because of clubs, but managers too.
"As a footballer, it's important to have the manager's trust and believe they can develop you.
"When I went from (Real) Madrid to Arsenal, I came for him because I told him at the time he'd be my first option. That was the case. We still have a super understanding today.
READ MORE: Kane is Spurs’ Messi, says Pochettino