Sports News in Brief
Behave
LE HAVRE - New France coach Didier Deschamps expects "exemplary" behaviour from his players ahead of their friendly against Uruguay, which will be his first match in charge. Deschamps, who took over last month when Laurent Blanc refused the offer of a new two-year contract soon after France's 2-0 loss to eventual winners Spain in the European Championship quarter-finals, has made it clear he will not accept any breaches of discipline.
Six-wicket star
LONDON - Glamorgan seamer James Harris checked Australia A's progress with a six-wicket haul to give the England Lions a share of the first-day honours in the second unofficial Test at Edgbaston. Harris, who took only one wicket in last week's drawn match at Old Trafford, was the pick of the seam attack taking six for 102. Harris, who missed the first two months of the season with a groin injury, recovered well after Liam Davis had taken three fours from his first two overs.
Nominees
PARIS - World player of the year Lionel Messi was named on Tuesday among the three finalists in the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award shortlist along with Barcelona teammate Andres Iniesta and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo. Argentina's Messi beat Ronaldo and Xavi Hernandez last year to win the inaugural edition of the prize, which is awarded after a vote of European sports journalists. The second edition will be presented in Monaco on August 30 on the sidelines of he draw for the Champions League group stages.
Olympic flag
BRASILIA - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has received the Olympic flag, as the competition's world governing body warned the country has to "work harder" ahead of the Rio Games in 2016. Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes flew into Rio de Janeiro from London with the flag on Monday, marking the official handover of the Games. "Brazil has one goal (for 2016), increase its number of medals," Rousseff said during a ceremony in the capital Brasilia on Tuesday.
Apology
LONDON - Kevin Pietersen has apologised to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for text messages sent to South African players during the drawn second Test at Headingley, it was reported on Tuesday. Last weekend, Pietersen was dramatically dropped from England's squad for this week's third and final Test at Lord's, despite scoring a superb 149 at Headingley, after failing to reveal the contents of those text messages. Some of those texts are said to include derogatory comments about England captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.
Third round
CINCINNATI, Ohio- Australian pair Samantha Stosur and Bernard Tomic have safely progressed to the third round of the Cincinnati Masters. In a timely US Open boost, Tomic downed American Brian Baker 6-4 6-3 before Stosur rallied for a 6-3 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 win over Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues. Tomic's victory gave the teenager back-to-back wins for the first time in four months and set up a likely showdown with world No.1 Roger Federer.