Federer looked in complete control and saved the only break point he faced in the final game of the match. (Source: AP)

Seven-time champion Roger Federer returned to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon with a clinical 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Tommy Robredo of Spain on Tuesday.

The fourth-seeded Federer looked in complete control and saved the only break point he faced in the final game of the match with a forehand volley. He has yet to lose a set at the All England Club this year.

Federer, who owns 17 Grand Slam titles, lost in the second round at the All England Club in 2013, ending his streak of reaching the quarterfinals at 36 consecutive major tournaments.

He served 11 aces and hit 41 winners against Robredo, who defeated Federer in the fourth round of the U.S. Open last year.

The 23rd-seeded Robredo never has been past the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Keane, 42 a former Manchester United midfielder has coaching experience with Sunderland, Ipswich and the Rep. of Ireland national teams. (Source: AP)

Roy Keane was confirmed as Aston Villa’s new assistant manager on Tuesday, working alongside the Premier League club’s boss Paul Lambert while continuing his job as number two to Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill.

O’Neill has given the move his approval and the 42-year-old former Manchester United midfielder will be in place when pre-season training begins on July 7.

Following discussions with O’Neill, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and Aston Villa, Keane felt the move will give him a chance to coach outside the international window and monitor the progress of Irish players in the Premier League.

“I am looking forward to linking up with Paul Lambert at Aston Villa and thank Martin and the FAI for giving me the opportunity to do so,” Keane said in an FAI media release on Tuesday.

“I remain totally committed to my job with the Republic of Ireland and all that it involves. This agreement promises to be an exciting challenge and will give me an opportunity to continue developing my coaching skills on a daily basis that should ultimately benefit everyone.”

Lambert had no doubts that the former Irish international’s input would prove a huge asset for the club.

“Roy has a great knowledge of football, on the coaching side as well, and he’ll be a great asset and a big help to everybody here at Aston Villa Football Club,” Lambert told the Villa website (www.avfc.co.uk).

“Roy brought Sunderland up out of the Championship and into the Premier League, he gained further experience at Ipswich – where we were close rivals while I was manager at Norwich – and he’s now working at international level as assistant manager with the Republic of Ireland.

“All of that experience and knowledge along with the qualities he has as a longstanding, leading professional in the game means he will bring a lot to the table. We’re delighted to have him here,” Lambert added.

The contract with the Monza track may not be renewed after 2016 as Bernie Ecclestone described it as a “Commercial disaster.” (Source: Reuters)

Formula One may say goodbye to one of its most historic tracks at Monza, according to boss Bernie Ecclestone.

Monza’s current deal was agreed to in 2010 and Ecclestone said he believes it is unlikely to be renewed when it runs out at the end of 2016.

“Its future isn’t good,” Ecclestone said in an interview published by the Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday. “I don’t think we’ll do another contract, the old one was a disaster for us from a commercial point of view. After 2016, bye bye…”

Monza, which first hosted an F1 race in 1922, is one of the most famous and beloved tracks on the circuit. Every Italian Grand Prix since 1950 has been held at the track except the 1980 race, which was held at Imola.

“Ecclestone’s comments on the Monza Grand Prix are worrying,” said Antonio Rossi of the Department of Sport and Youth Policy in the Lombardy Region. “As regional councilor I ask for the government to help us protect the Italian Grand Prix, which has played an important part in the history of Formula One and which, above all, plays an important economic role and brings jobs to the region.”

If Monza is dropped by F1, the Italian Grand Prix could be held at Mugello, a proposal that has been mooted by Ferrari President Luca di Montezemolo. Ferrari owns the circuit.

Italy could also lose its race altogether due to the sport’s dwindling fan base in the country following numerous disappointing seasons for Ferrari.

“TV audiences are lower in Italy than elsewhere,” Ecclestone said. “If Ferrari starts placing first or second in qualifying and races … the audiences would increase everywhere. Ferrari is a worldwide passion.”

Defender Benoit Assou-Etoko argues with Achille Weboc and Benjamin Moukandjo. Cameroon had a dismal showing at the World Cup as they lost all their games and managed to score only one goal. (Source: AP)

Cameroon’s football federation said it will investigate allegations of match-fixing by its team at the World Cup and the possible existence of “seven bad apples” in the squad.

Fecafoot said in a statement late Monday it had instructed its own ethics committee to open an investigation, although it added it had not yet been contacted by FIFA, the sport’s global governing body.

Cameroon was eliminated after losing all three of its group-stage matches at the World Cup: 1-0 to Mexico, 4-0 to Croatia and 4-1 to host Brazil.

“Recent allegations of fraud around Cameroon’s three 2014 FIFA World Cup preliminary games, especially Cameroon vs. Croatia, as well as the `existence of seven bad apples (in our national team)’ do not reflect the values and principles promotes by our administration in line with the FIFA Code of Conduct and the ethics of our nation,” Fecafoot said in the statement.

“We wish to inform the general public that, though not contacted by FIFA in regards to this affair, our administration has already instructed its ethics committee to further investigate these accusations.”

Cameroon had a disastrous World Cup, conceding nine goals and scoring just one in its three games.

The Croatia match was also marred by an argument between Cameroon teammates Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Benjamin Moukandjo that ended with Assou-Ekotto head-butting his teammate.

Fecafoot has already launched a disciplinary investigation into the behavior of its players in the Croatia game. “We are strongly committed to employ all means necessary to resolve this disruptive matter,” the federation said of the investigation and the match-fixing allegations.

Keshi was the captain of Nigeria for their maiden World Cup appearance in the United States in 1994 and also worked as national coach of Togo and Mali in the past. (Source: AP)

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has stepped down from his post after the country’s elimination from the World Cup, FIFA said on Tuesday.

The Nigerian Football Federation have yet to confirm his resignation, however, and Keshi was evasive in answering a question on his future after Monday’s 2-0 loss to France in their last-16 round encounter in Brasilia.

FIFA.com quoted a tweet from Keshi, although earlier in the tournament Nigerian officials claimed the manager had no social media presence.

“Friends, it has been a good run and I have enjoyed every moment. It’s been an honour coaching the Super Eagles. It is however time to bow out,” the tweet said.

Asked what he planned to do after the World Cup, after being linked to the national team job in South Africa, Keshi told reporters on Monday: “I’m going home to visit my wife and kids. I’ve not seen them for a long time.”

The 52-year-old, whose nickname is “Big Boss”, coached the Super Eagles to last year’s African Nations Cup crown. He had been in charge of the side since late 2011 after several previous stints as assistant.

Keshi was the captain of Nigeria for their maiden World Cup appearance in the United States in 1994 and also worked as national coach of Togo and Mali in the past.

Lallana made 235 league appearances for Southampton, scoring 48 goals, and was instrumental in helping the club to an eighth-place finish last term. (Source: AP)

Liverpool confirmed on Tuesday the arrival of England midfielder Adam Lallana from fellow Premier League side Southampton on a long-term deal.

No transfer fee was announced but British media estimate Liverpool paid around 25 million pounds ($42.54 million) for the 26-year-old, a member of the side who failed to progress to the second round of the World Cup in Brazil.

“It’s a huge step. Liverpool have got so much history and after the season they had last season, I can’t wait to get started and carry on and build on that,” Lallana said on the club website (www.liverpoolfc.com).

Lallana, Southampton’s captain, will rejoin former club and country team mate Rickie Lambert, who also moved to Liverpool this month.

Lallana made 235 league appearances for Southampton, scoring 48 goals, and was instrumental in helping the south coast club to an eighth-place finish last term with a record 56 points.

His form led to an England call-up, and he appeared in all three of England’s World Cup matches, starting the goalless draw with Costa Rica.

Liverpool, who finished runners-up to Manchester City last season, also last month agreed in principle to bring in midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.

Lallana’s departure is a further blow to Southampton, who saw England defender Luke Shaw leave for Manchester United on Friday for a reported 30 million pounds and manager Mauricio Pochettino head for Tottenham Hotspur.

The offer is apparently inspired by Robin van Persie (in pic) ‘taking flight’ to score his spectacular headed goal in the 5-1 thrashing of Spain. (Source: AP)

In an ‘out of the world’ incentive, a Dutch aerospace engineering company has offered the entire Netherlands team a flight into space if they win the World Cup.

After finishing runners-up on three occasions, the Netherlands are keener than most to secure their elusive maiden World Cup title.

If that motivation is not enough for the players, this year’s squad have been given an even bigger incentive to bring the trophy home.

Dutch aerospace engineering company ‘Ruimtevaartbedrijf SXC’, or SXC for short, has promised the 23-man squad all a

flight into space if they win their maiden World Cup trophy, The Independent reported.

The offer is apparently inspired by Robin van Persie ‘taking flight’ to score his spectacular headed goal in the 5-1 thrashing of Spain.

“As a company of Dutch origin, we are mega proud of the achievements of Oranje in Brazil. An unearthly performance deserves an unearthly reward!” Co-founder of SXC, Michiel Mol, told Dutch media.

“We are going to try to take the players literally to a higher level – 103 km!” he said.

“(We’ll take) the whole selection of 23 players and of course, Louis van Gaal,” Mol was quoted as saying.

SXC are reportedly hoping to be able to offer commercial flights into space from next year, meaning that Arjen Robben and team could be the first footballer astronauts as early as 2016.