James fit to play

LONDON: England goalkeeper David James has declared himself fit to play for Portsmouth in next week’s FA Cup final against Championship side Cardiff. The 37-year-old revealed that a scan on the injured calf which has kept him out of Pompey’s last two league games had come back clear and said he was ready to play this weekend in his club’s final league match, at home to Fulham. — AFP

Vettori awaits verdict

LONDON; New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will learn this weekend whether an injured finger will prevent him playing a full role in next week’s first Test against England at Lord’s. Vettori has been forced to miss the warm-up match against an England Lions side and the spinner admits he is in uncharted territory with the relatively minor but painful injury he suffered in a match against Essex at the weekend. — AFP

Bayern Munich win

BERLIN: French midfielder Franck Ribery and Germany striker Lukas Podolski fired Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich to a 2-0 win on Wednesday. Bayern were crowned champions following the 0-0 draw at Wolfsburg on Sunday and there were big celebrations after the final whistle in Munich on Wednesday. Ribery put his side ahead with a first-half strike at home to Arminia Bielefeld while Podolski scored early in the second half. — AFP