South American champion Santos advanced to the Club World Cup final by beating Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 Thursday, setting up a possible showdown between Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Brazil teenager Neymar.

The 19-year-old Neymar, who is touted to be the next big star in football, scored one of the Brazilian club's goals.

After months of putting his health at risk while playing with a chronic bowel disease, Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher has been forced take an extended break from football to rest and recuperate.

The 27-year-old Scotland captain, who did not play between March and September with what United previously called a "virus," has been suffering from ulcerative colitis — an inflammatory bowel condition.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Tuesday the club may seek to strengthen their striking resources in next month's transfer window ahead of the African Cup of Nations.

The Gunners have bounced back from a disastrous start to the season to challenge for a top four place while qualifying for the Champions League knockout rounds as group winners.

Bayern Munich's France star Franck Ribery is an injury doubt for Friday's German league game against Cologne after picking up a thigh strain.

The 28-year-old suffered an injury in the 2-1 win over Stuttgart on Sunday which gave Bayern a three-point lead at the top of the table.

Former German star Boris Becker said Tuesday he believes his country's tennis could be on the cusp of a renaissance - seeing signs of promise particularly among the women.

"I will not be surprised if Andrea (Petkovic) or Sabine (Lisicki) show themselves capable of reaching not just the semi-finals or finals but actually winning a Grand Slam," triple Wimbledon champion Becker told sports news agency and AFP subsidiary SID.

Spanish center Marc Gasol said on Monday that he has reached a tentative agreement on a new NBA contract that will keep him playing for the Memphis Grizzlies.

Gasol, the younger brother of Los Angeles Lakers center Pau Gasol, announced the deal on his Twitter microblogging website.

Croatia striker Ivica Olic says he would be interested in a move to Italian Serie A side Lazio and hopes they follow through with reported interest.

Olic has been a bit-part player at Bayern Munich this season under coach Jupp Heynckes and he fears that his place in the Croatia squad at the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine in June could be in jeopardy if he doesn't get more pitch time.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic have been named ITF World Champions for 2011.

Djokovic won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in a stellar year in which took over as the top-ranked men's player, finishing with a 70-6 overall record.

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been voted the French player of the year by France Football magazine after scoring 32 goals in 56 matches for club and country in 2011.

Benzema, who scored crucial goals to help France qualify for next year's European Championship, won the magazine's vote ahead of Barcelona defender Eric Abidal and Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who was third.

Beating Real Madrid 3-1 last weekend will make things easier on Barcelona as it bids for another title at the Club World Cup, defender Gerard Pique said Tuesday.

European champion Barcelona will face Qatari club Al-Sadd in the semifinals on Thursday, with the winner advancing to take on either South American champion Santos or J-League side Kashiwa Reysol.