ISTANBUL - THE TWO sides of Formula One reality were brought into sharp focus after Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix, with Jenson Button being acclaimed and Lewis Hamilton conceding that his title defence is over.

As Button revelled in his sixth win in seven races this season and a 26-point lead in the drivers' championship, his team chief Ross Brawn declared that the 29-year-old Englishman was improving all the time.

PARIS - FOR all its star players and financial muscle, England's Premier League failed to match the popularity of Germany's Bundesliga last season when it came to getting their fans through the turnstiles.

Germany led the way in terms of attendance in Europe's five major leagues with an average of 42,600 per match, followed by the Premier League with 35,600, according to figures published by the football business unit of consultants Deloitte.

TOKYO - JAPAN are eyeing clashes against the giants of world football to help them gear up for an assault on next year's World Cup, where they have targeted a semi-final berth.