Today's other stories in brief
Robinho rescues Brazil
Robinho scored a hat-trick to give Brazil a badly-needed 3-0 Copa America win over Chile on Sunday, while Mexico reached the quarter-finals after beating Ecuador 2-1.
Mexico's win, which started with another goal by striker Nery Castillo, made them the first team to reach the final eight of the tournament. They lead Group B with six points, followed by Brazil and Chile on three. Ecuador are virtually out of the running after two defeats.
Brazil needed a controversial penalty to get off the mark in the 36th minute. Paraguayan referee Carlos Torres apparently gave the kick for pushing and Robinho calmly scored with a low shot amid Chilean protests.
Chile squandered several chances to equalise after half-time before Robinho added two more in the last 10 minutes. He latched on to Vagner Love's pass to chip the ball over Claudio Bravo in the 84th minute and was on target again after a 40-metre run three minutes later.
In the second match of the double bill, Castillo - scorer of a superb effort against Brazil -- took advantage of hesitation in the Ecuador defence to slot the ball home after a Rafael Marquez pass in the 22nd minute.
Two Mexican substitutes combined to produce the second in the 80th minute when striker Cuauhtemoc Blanco floated over a superb cross from the right wing and Omar Bravo bulleted home a diving header.
Ecuador looked demoralised but they gave themselves a glimmer of a chance with a deflected strike from more than 20 metres out by Edison Mendez.
Lampard wants to stay
Frank Lampard's agent has revealed the Chelsea midfielder has not had the chance to reject a new contract from the Stamford Bridge club and wants to stay there for the rest of his career.
The 28-year-old England midfielder is alleged to have turned down a contract extension that would have made him Chelsea's highest earner with wages of £131,000-a-week.
But the player's agent, Steve Kutner, is adamant that no talks have taken place with Chelsea between Lampard and the club's chief executive Peter Kenyon. Kutner declared: "The three of us haven't had a chance to have talks. There has never been a time when the three of us have been free as Frank has been on holiday and Peter has been away.
"But nothing has changed. Frank has always said he wants to stay at Chelsea for the rest of his career."
Chelsea l midfielder Michael Ballack is set to an undergo ankle operation in Germany today. Surgery is needed after he developed complications in healing from a previous operation on the problem in May.
Rigters joins Blackburn
Blackburn have announced the signing of Maceo Rigters from NAC Breda for an undisclosed fee. The Netherlands under-21 striker, who starred for his country in this month's European Championships, has signed a four-year deal.
Rigters had been linked with a host of British clubs, including Celtic, Rangers, Newcastle and Norwich.
Wiltord arrested
Former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord was arrested when he turned up for training with Lyon yesterday. No reason has been given for the arrest by police but it has been reported that the France international had not turned up at court to answer charges of speeding.
In brief . . .
Newcastle target Eidur Gudjohnsen is determined to fight for his future at Barcelona. Gudjohnsen's father and agent Arnor said: "Eidur is away on holiday now and he has not been in contact with any clubs. He is planning to meet up with his Barcelona team-mates for pre-season later in July. Although he wants to stay, I don't know what Barcelona's intentions are."
Robbie Fowler has revealed he has had no offers from other clubs since being released by Liverpool.
Aston Villa are on the verge of finally signing West Ham midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker in an £8million deal. The England under-21 skipper is understood to have undergone a medical at Villa's training complex over the weekend.
