U.S. soccer draws confident vote

Sports In Brief

The Associated Press

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LONDON — U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati believes the Americans can win next year's World Cup.

The U.S. is ranked 11th but a world title is not so farfetched, Gulati said, if you consider the Americans beat European champion Spain in the Confederations Cup semifinals in June and led Brazil by two goals at halftime in the final before eventually losing.

"It's not an American arrogance that we think we can win it.

It's a confidence of: 'Why would we play if we didn't have a shot?' " Gulati told The Associated Press on Friday. "If I had a coach saying we had no chance of winning it, why would you have him as a coach?"

Even if the Americans lose or draw in Honduras on Saturday, avoiding defeat against Costa Rica on Wednesday in Washington would send them to South Africa and a sixth straight World Cup. ...

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro will join the team as scheduled Sunday despite failing a doping test. Cannavaro's club team Juventus has said the failed test was the result of cortisone used to treat a bee sting.

Boxing

Israel Vazquez (43-4, 31 KOs) will return from a 19-month absence tonight in downtown Los Angeles against Colombia's Angel Priolo. Vazquez, a former 122-pound champion, is moving up to featherweight, with an eye on bigger opponents and paydays — and perhaps a fourth fight with Rafael Marquez, who he has beaten twice.

Basketball

Sacramento Kings swingman Francisco Garcia will have surgery after breaking his right forearm while lifting weights.

Golf

Nathan Smith built a big lead early and cruised to a 7-and-6 victory over Tim Spitz for his second title at the U.S. Mid-Amateur at Kiawah Island, S.C. Smith, the 2003 champion, was 3 up after five holes and never let Spitz back in it over 30 holes at Cassique at The Kiawah Island Club.... Sergio Garcia shot a 5-under 67 and David Drysdale had a 65 to share a one-shot lead after the second round of the Madrid Masters.

Figure Skating

Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen has withdrawn from the first Grand Prix figure skating event of the season because of tendinitis in her right calf.

Tennis

Rafael Nadal moved into the semifinals of the China Open by defeating Marat Safin 6-3, 6-1. Nadal will play Novak Djokovic in the final Sunday. Djokovic defeated Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-3, 1-6, 6-1. ...

Second-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overpowered qualifier Ernests Gulbis 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the semifinals of the Japan Open.