Soccer

Mario Zagalo, who coached Brazil to the World Cup title in 1970, was hired to succeed Carlos Alberto Parreira as coach of Brazil’s national team.

Zagalo, 63, was Parreira’s assistant this year as Brazil won its fourth title. This will be his third stint as coach. Zagalo also will coach Brazil’s Olympic team in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Miscellany

Defending champion Jill McGill posted a pair of 3-and-2 victories to advance to today’s round of 16 in the 94th U.S. Women’s Amateur at Hot Springs, Va., as all three qualifying medalists were eliminated along with seven of the eight members of the British Curtis Cup team. McGill will play England’s Lisa Walton, the lone survivor from the British team.

Sonia O’Sullivan, a former Villanova runner from Ireland, continued her good season by winning the women’s 3,000 meters in 8 minutes 31.84 seconds in the European Championships at Helsinki. Last month, O’Sullivan had a world’s best time in the non-championship 2,000 meters and a European record in the 3,000. She will try for the 1,500-meter title Sunday.

Panama blanked Sweden, 6-0, to move into the quarterfinals of the World Amateur Baseball Championship in Managua, Nicaragua. Panama finished the first round with a 5-2 record, including a victory over the United States.

The sixth annual California State Games, a statewide amateur sports festival modeled on Olympic tradition, begins today and continues through Sunday in Ontario. An estimated 4,500 athletes between 6 and 18 will compete in 17 sports. Opening ceremonies will be Friday at 7:20 p.m. at Chaffey High.