Brazil reportedly set to appoint Luiz Felipe Scolari as coach

Brazil are expected to appoint former World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari as their new coach.

The 64-year-old will replace Mano Menezes, who was sacked as the Selecao coach last week after just over two years in charge.

The official announcement is expected to be made on Thursday and Scolari, who led his country to the 2002 World Cup triumph, is likely to be given the task of leading Brazil to the 2014 World Cup finals.

"We did a thorough evaluation, we analysed various elements and especially experience," Brazilian confederation president Jose Maria Marin is quoted as saying by Jornal O Globo.

"A World Cup requires above all a lot of ability and experience."

Carlos Alberto Parreira, who won the 1994 World Cup with Brazil, also revealed he would become the team's technical co-ordinator and is looking forward to working with Scolari.

"I have great relationship with Scolari and it will be a pleasure to work with him," he told the newspaper.

England,Football,Chelsea

FIFPro World XI: Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard make shortlist

England midfielders Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have been named among 15 midfielders on the shortlist for the 2012 FIFPro World XI.

Eden Hazard, David Silva and Yaya Toure are the other Premier League players to be nominated by fellow professionals.

Three midfielders will be selected for the team, which will be announced during the Fifa Ballon d'Or Gala on 7 January 2013.

Spanish giants Barcelona have four players on the shortlist.

The four - Sergio Busquets, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez - helped Spain to the Euro 2012 title this year.

Nominees: Xabi Alonso (Spain and Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Spain and FC Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Spain and FC Barcelona), Steven Gerrard (England and Liverpool), Eden Hazard (Belgium and Chelsea), Andres Iniesta (Spain and FC Barcelona), Frank Lampard (England and Chelsea), Luka Modric (Croatia and Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Germany and Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy and Juventus), Franck Ribery (France and Bayern Munich), David Silva (Spain and Manchester City), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany and Bayern Munich), Yaya Toure (Ivory Coast and Manchester City), Xavi Hernandez (Spain and FC Barcelona)

Chelsea Football Club  is an English football club based in Fulham, London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Their home is the 41,837-seat Stamford Bridge stadium, where they have played since their establishment.

Chelsea had their first major success in 1955, when they won the league championship, and won various cup competitions during the 1960s, 1970s, 1990s and 2000s. Overall, Chelsea have won four league titles, seven FA Cups, four League Cups and four FA Community Shields. The club have also been successful in continental competitions, winning two UEFA Cup Winners' Cups, one UEFA Super Cup and one UEFA Champions League title. In 2009–10, the club won their first "Double"and in 2012 became the first London club to win the UEFA Champions League.

Chelsea's regular kit colours are royal blue shirts and shorts with white socks. The club's crest has been changed several times in attempts to re-brand the club and modernise its image. The current crest, featuring a ceremonial lion rampant regardant holding a staff, is a modification of the one introduced in the early 1950s.The club has sustained the fifth highest average all-time attendance in English football.Their average home gate for the 2011–12 season was 41,478, the sixth highest in the Premier League.In April 2012 it was ranked by Forbes Magazine as the seventh most valuable football club in the world, at £473 million ($761 million).Since 2003, Chelsea have been owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich