Even after its heaviest Six Nations defeat in five years, France is still in the title race.

But with points differential likely to determine the champion, France has the worst of the four teams tied for the lead — plus one. Ireland, by contrast, was plus 42.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out for about six weeks after cracking a bone in his left foot while playing for England.

Wilshere was injured following a heavy tackle by Denmark defender Daniel Agger in the first half of England's 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday.

Egypt's football association said on Thursday it suspended a player accused of gesturing in support of the military chief, in violation of rules against political statements by players.

Salah Amin, with the Tala'ea El-Gaish club, is the latest sportsman to be punished for making a political gesture, after the Al Ahly club suspended a player last November for a pro-Islamist salute.

New manager Alain Perrin warned China to expect changes and hard work ahead of next year's Asian Cup after they came perilously close to missing out on a place in the competition.

China had been expected to go through with ease in Wednesday's final qualifiers but in the event, they needed a late penalty from Zhang Xizhe to scramble home on goal difference.

Japanese playmaker Keisuke Honda has urged AC Milan fans to be patient, saying it's only a "matter of time" before he hits form at his new club.

Supporters of the Italian giants have jeered the 27-year-old since his high-profile transfer from Russian champion side CSKA Moscow in January.

Brazil showed its national team is in better shape than the country's stadiums with a 5-0 thrashing of South Africa on Wednesday, and defending champion Spain overcame Italy 1-0 in its final big test before the tournament kicks off, as teams prepared for the World Cup in a series of friendly matches.

With less than 100 days before the opening game, four World Cup stadiums are still under construction in Brazil and much work outside the venues remains to be done.

Nicolas Batum of France had 14 points and a career-high 18 rebounds Wednesday as the Portland Trail Blazers downed Atlanta 102-78, a loss that marked the end of Hawks guard Kyle Korver's NBA-record streak of 127 games with a 3-pointer.

Korver had surpassed Dana Barros' record of 89 straight, set from 1994-96, earlier this season. He was 0 for 5 from 3-point range against the Blazers.

Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam will serve a three-match suspension for a stamp on Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud during his club's 1-0 win over the Gunners last weekend.

The Scotland international had denied the charge after referee Mike Jones did not see the incident that was captured on TV but the FA upheld the sanction on Wednesday.

Regardless of the lack of goals, the sellout crowd of 18,000 was entertained by the international football debut of its Kosovo team on Wednesday.

Kosovo dominated much of the friendly with Haiti in a stadium refurbished in the northern town of Mitrovica for Kosovo's first outing.

Russia ice hockey coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov is leaving his job after the home team's disappointing quarterfinals exit at the Sochi Olympics.

The International Ice Hockey Federation said Russia is looking for a new coach before the world championship in May in Belarus.