Spanish third-tier football club Linares captain FRAN CARLES died on Friday at the age of 26 from organ failure. His death "was apparently the result of a blow to his thigh that produced a hemorrhage that proved fatal" (EL PAÍS, 7/9). ... Wales coach CHRIS COLEMAN said that the 2018 World Cup campaign "will be his last in the job as he looks to build on his side's run" to the Euro 2016 semifinals. Cardiff "came to a standstill" on Friday as an estimated 200,000 people packed the streets of the Welsh capital to recognize the achievements of Coleman's squad. The Wales manager "quickly turned his attention" to his "last hit at it" in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, which starts at home to Moldova on Sept. 5 (London INDEPENDENT, 7/9). ... PHIL ROBERTSON was crowned World Match Racing Champion and received a bonus of $1M, the largest prize money ever awarded in the sport of sailing. The 29-year-old and his crew also banked $33,000 for winning in Marstrand, Sweden (World Match Racing Tour). ... MARCELO BIELSA, who pulled out of coaching Serie A side Lazio "in a shock move just 48 hours after his appointment was announced," blamed the club for his exit, saying it had "failed to sign a single player." The Argentine called Lazio President CLAUDIO LOTITO overnight Thursday "to say he had decided not to come to Rome, triggering threats of legal action from the Italian club." Bielsa also complained that Lazio "announced he was to join the club knowing full well that the conditions he had demanded had not been met" (AFP, 7/9). ... Arsenal Manager ARSÈNE WENGER said that he will "never rule out" becoming England manager in the future -- "but insists he's committed to Arsenal until the end of his contract." Wenger has another 12 months left on his deal at the north London side, "where he has been manager for nearly 20 years," and said that he will honor the contract until it runs out. But he admitted that he does not know where his future lies "beyond next summer." He said, "Could I manage England, why not? I would never rule that out, but I am happy and focused in club football" (London TELEGRAPH, 7/10).
