Tomorrow (Friday) sees the Frontline Test Match between Great Britain and France at Headingley.

Home of two major cities, Sacramento and San Francisco, northern California is a world away from the beaches, flipflops and celebrities of southern California.

Italy have won the 2006 World Cup final in Germany, on a penalty shootout. The final score after extra time was 1-1, Zidane putting France ahead early on with a penalty, before Materazzi equalised for the Italians a short time later. The Italian full back, Fabio Grosso scored the all important penalty which means Italy have won the World Cup for the fourth time. The career of Zinedine Zidane, unfortunately ended in disgrace. In injury time, in his last ever football match, he was given a red card for an outrageous head butt on Marco Materazzi. This is a sad way for such a magnificent player to end his career. France were overall the better side, and penalties is the cruellest way to lose in the World Cup final. But for now, the World Cup belongs to Italy, which is an outstanding achievement, bearing in mind the state of football in their home country.

A penalty from Zinedine Zidane was enough to send France into the world cup final, and leave Portugal to slug it out against Germany in the third place play off match. Unlike yesterdays semi final, this match was far from engrossing, with neither side playing the game at a particularly high tempo. Zinedine Zidane will now play his last ever competitive football match in the world cup final, which is a fitting end to a magnificent career of a magnificent player. This defeat for Portugal also ends manager Scolari’s impressive run of 12 consecutive wins in World Cup matches.

There was no separating France and Switzerland in the second Group G match played today. Switzerland had the best scoring oppurtunities, but neither side was able to break the deadlock, as the match finished 0-0. France haven't won a match, or even scored a goal in the World Cup since their victory in the 1998 final.

A very focussed Justine Henin-Hardenne set about calmly defending her title today, bidding for her third womens championship title at the Roland-Garros French Open. On winning her first Grand Slam title in 2003 at the Roland Garros, she dedicated it to her mother, (who passed away in 1995), saying

The top 4 Men' seeds made it through to today's semi-finals, and moved into the record books as it is twenty-one years since that previously happened at the Roland-Garros French Open championship.

It is Federer's eight consecutive Grand Slam semi-final, and by winning today ensures he will now play his 14th consecutive tournament final. Federer's last Grand Slam loss was to Rafael Nadal in the 2005 Roland-Garros French Open final.

Martina Navratilova and her mixed doubles partner Bob Bryan won their quarter final match yesterday against Maria Kirilenko (Rus) & Leander Paes (Ind) 6-3 6-3

Mens Singles Quarter-Final Results:

Defending champion Justine Henin-Hardenne plays against her fellow countrywoman Kim Clijsters in Thursday’s semi-final, in a repeat of the 2003 final. So far this championship Henin-Hardenne has dropped only one set in five matches and spend barely more than a total of six-and-a-half hours on court.

Although she and her Doubles Partner Liezel Huber were knocked out in the second round of the French Open, Martina Navratilova and her mixed doubles partner Bob Bryan will be hoping to make it through to the semi-finals. Their quarter-final match today is against against Maria Kirilenko (RUS) and Leander Paes (IND).