Unless David Beckham can mend it as well as he can bend it, football's now-limping glamour boy will miss this summer's World Cup -- a blow to tournament organizers, sponsors, TV viewers and average fans. Beckham underwent surgery Monday for a "totally torn" left Achilles' tendon and is expected to be out of action for about six months, said Dr.

By MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=

Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool beat Portsmouth 4-1 in the Premier League on Monday to keep the team's hopes alive of qualifying for the Champions League. The Spain striker scored in the 26th and 77th minutes at Anfield either side of goals from Ryan Babel in the 28th and Alberto Aquilani in the 32nd.

The United States will play Australia in a friendly in South Africa on June 5, the Americans' final game before their World Cup opener against England a week later. The U.S. Soccer Federation said Monday that the match will be played at Ruimsig Stadium in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort. It will be only the third matchup between the nations following a 1-0 Australia victory at Orlando,...

Brazilian team Flamengo, fearful of another earthquake in Chile, will fly into Santiago just hours before Wednesday's Libertadores Cup match with Universidad de Chile (2350 GMT) and leave right afterwards.

* Torres scores twice

Jurado scored with a superb curling shot to grab a 1-0 win for 10-man Atletico Madrid at home to Osasuna in La Liga on Monday.

Jose Manuel Jurado's late goal gave 10-man Atletico Madrid a 1-0 win against Osasuna on Monday in the Spanish league. Jurado received the ball on the edge of the area and curled his shot past goalkeeper Ricardo Lopez in the 79th minute at Atletico's Calderon Stadium. Atletico midfielder Simao Sabrosa was sent off for a second yellow card in the 57th after a clumsy challenge on Cesar...

The United States will play Australia in an exhibition in South Africa on June 5, the Americans' final game before their World Cup opener against England a week later. The match will be played at Ruimsig Stadium in the Johannesburg suburb of Roodepoort, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Monday. It will be only the third matchup between the nations following a 1-0 Australia victory at Orlando,...

Hull lost patience with Phil Brown on Monday with the club in danger of relegation from the Premier League, firing the manager who memorably berated his players on the pitch at halftime in a match. Brown was fired less than two years after guiding Hull into the top division for the first time in its 104-year history.

After a strong performance against Monaco in which he netted the game-winning goal, Bocanegra and Rennes made it two on the trot as they visited Valenciennes on Sunday.

Money and fame can't buy the World Cup goal David Beckham was striving for before his recent Achilles tendon break.

Going to the World Cup without David Beckham -- soccer's most marketable face and most famous right foot -- seems likely to affect England's tabloid coverage more than its chances on the field. Eight years ago, England fans and coaching staff sweated on their then-captain's recovery from a broken bone in his left foot, and his perceived lack of fitness was then highlighted as one of...

David Beckham checked into a hospital Monday for surgery on his torn left Achilles' tendon, hoping for a "swift and full recovery" from an injury that will keep him out of the World Cup. Beckham left a private jet on crutches at Turku airport and departed in an SUV. Minutes later, he arrived at the Mehilainen hospital surrounded by security guards amid cheers from hundreds of fans who...

Guus Hiddink has vowed to focus fully on his new role as Turkey coach, ruling out a similar job share to the one he experienced with Russia and Chelsea last year.

Wenger should stick with veteran even when former skipper returns to fitness

Carletto says Blues must show confidence, courage, personality.

'El Nino' hungry for silverware, says Rafa.

German clubs who cannot contain unruly fans should be punished by playing matches behind closed doors, Germany's police union said on Monday.

David Beckham's torn Achilles' tendon may end his chances of playing in the World Cup, but the injury is hardly surprising -- especially for an elite athlete. The Achilles' tendon, which connects the calf muscle to the bone in the heel of the foot, is the most commonly torn tendon in the body.