FIFA president Sepp Blatter said Saturday that there were concerns about preparations for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, adding he was taking action personally and will meet the government in the new year.

"The executive committee is worried about that," he said when asked about preparations for the showpiece tournament, which have been dogged by fears they are running behind schedule.

Santos take on Barcelona in the final of the Club World Cup on Sunday, pitting Lionel Messi against Neymar in what is being billed as a clash between two of the finest players on the planet.

The European champions Barca will be clear favorites against the Brazilians, who were sublime going forward but edgy at the back in their semi-final 3-1 defeat of Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol on Wednesday.

England's two surviving representatives in the Champions League, Chelsea and Arsenal, were handed tough ties against Italian opposition in Friday's draw, while holders Barcelona will come up against Germany's Bayer Leverkusen.

Chelsea will take on Napoli, while Arsenal will meet reigning Serie A champions AC Milan, with both Premier League clubs travelling to Italy first.

Former top-ranked tennis player Marat Safin has won a seat in Russia’s lower house of Parliament and will represent the pro-Kremlin party United Russia.

The 31-year-old Safin will be one of the youngest members in the 450-seat legislature.

Record-breaking sprinter Usain Bolt says he will not be regarded a legend of athletics unless he successfully defends his three Olympic titles in London next year.

"I want to be a legend in the sport and defending my Olympic titles will definitely help me in achieving this goal," the 25-year-old Jamaican was quoted as saying by the Times of India on Friday.

American Michelle Kwan, who won five world championship titles, was elected to the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame on Thursday.

Kwan is the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history with nine American titles.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque faced the prospect on Thursday of David Villa's broken leg pushing the defending champions' Euro 2012 hopes to breaking point.

Villa, dubbed King David for his spectacular scoring record of 51 goals in 82 internationals, faces five months on the sidelines after fracturing his left tibia in Barcelona's Club World Cup semi-final win over al-Sadd in Japan.

Germany international Bastian Schweinsteiger will not return to action until the start of the new year following recent surgery on a broken collarbone, his club Bayern Munich said on Thursday.

Bayern sporting director Christian Nerlinger said last week he hoped the midfielder would return before the start of the Bundesliga's winter break.

Barcelona set up a Club World Cup showdown with South American champion Santos by brushing aside Qatari club al-Sadd 4-0 Thursday in the semifinals.

Adriano scored two first-half goals to lead Barcelona, which will be returning to the Club World Cup final for the first time since 2009 when the team beat Argentine club Estudiantes. Seydou Keita and Maxwell added the others for the Champions League champions.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has dismissed talk of his side's title chances as the Serie A's joint leader prepares to take on struggling Novara on Sunday.

Juventus, which was held to a 1-1 draw at Roma on Monday, is now level on 30 points with Udinese at the top of the standings.