Dortmund, Germany  - Borussia Dortmund have extended the contract of South Korean left-back Lee Young-Pyo for another season with an option to keep him for a further year, the German Bundesliga clu

London, Dec 10 : After Brazilian football coach Phil Scolari slammed WAGs saying that the beauties can put footie players in trouble, the babes’ union representative has claimed that the ‘hard-working’ stars are the best part of the game.

WAGs Union representative Lizzie Cundy, 37, said WAGs were a vital part of football.

“Football would be really boring without us,” The Daily Star quoted the WAGs, as saying.

Contrary to Phil’s comments, Lizzie stated that the WAGs don’t just live on their beau’s money, instead they are well-established women.

“Being a Wag is not a negative thing. They are very career-driven, like their husbands and boyfriends,” Lizzie said.

Sydney  - Australia's bid to host the 2018 World Cup looked better Wednesday with the government putting up 45 million Australian dollars (28 million US dollars) to pay for campaigning.

"This announcement today shows to the entire football world we are very serious in our commitment," Sports Minister Kate Ellis said.

Football Federation of Australia chairman Frank Lowy is spearheading a bid that many say is doomed to fail.

Melbourne, Dec. 10: Australia’s hopes of hosting the 2018 World Cup have been boosted with the Federal Government announcing 45 million dollars in funding to help with the bid.

The unprecedented financial backing means Football Federation Australia has the resources to mount a serious bid, with governing body FIFA likely to make a decision in two years'' time on who will host the 2018 and possibly 2022 World Cups.

Though Australia faces a huge challenge in seeing off other contenders such as England and the United States, the statement of intent behind the government backing is crucial to a winning strategy, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Hamburg  - Panathinaikos are one of the surprise top seeds in the knockout stages of this season's Champions League after a 1-0 victory over Anorthosis Famagusta ensured the Greeks of finishing atop Group B.

Inter Milan could have finished top, but Jose's Mourinho's team went down 2-1 to Werder Bremen as a result of second-half goals from Claudio Pizarro and Markus Rosenberg, which earned the German side a UEFA Cup berth. Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted for the Serie A side.

Sydney  - The finalists in last week's Homeless World Cup football tournament in Australia are expected to seek asylum after going missing in Melbourne or failing to show up for flights home.

The Afghans, who beat the Russians in the men's final, are missing, as are the Liberians, who lost 7-1 to Zambia in the women's final.

Most of the Liberians absconded before Sunday's final was played, prompting organizers to field Australians as substitutes.