A wrap-up of the rest of the day's soccer news.

Eriksson eyes Serie A

Sven-Goran Eriksson has revealed that his long-term aim is to return to manage in Italy after his reign as England coach comes to an end.

Eriksson insists that his sole focus right now is plotting England's course to the Euro 2004 finals, especially as his side have taken four points from their opening two qualifiers and face a tough task to overhaul Turkey. His five-year contract with the Football Association takes him up to the end of the 2006 World Cup, with an option for a further two years beyond that.

However, Eriksson (54), admits that he is missing the "stress and pressure" of club management and will not be able to resist the lure of a return to that way of life forever. While the Premiership is one obvious possibility, it seems that the call of Serie A is evidently still appealing, especially as his partner, Nancy, is Italian.

Eriksson told Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport: "I will certainly return to Italy but I do not know when. Now I am only thinking of taking England to the European Championships in Portugal, an aim that requires maximum concentration."

Fined over crowd trouble

The English and Slovakian Football Associations have been fined by UEFA after crowd trouble marred their Euro 2004 qualifier in Bratislava in October.

The English FA were fined 20,000 Swiss francs ($14,020) for crowd disturbances and the Slovakian FA were hit with a 60,000 Swiss francs fine for the racist behaviour of their spectators.

It is the second-biggest fine imposed by European soccer's governing body for racist offences, following a 70,000 Swiss francs penalty on Italian Serie A club Lazio in 2000. The English FA said they would not comment on the fine until they were officially informed by UEFA.

Award for Crowe

Glen Crowe is the Eircom League November Player of the Month. Crowe was in his usual goal-scoring form for Bohemians during the month, netting three times in five appearances, as the club stayed on course to win their ninth league title.

But no matter what he did for Bohs during the month of November, it would always be overshadowed by another achievement. When Crowe was picked to play for Ireland against Greece on November 20th, it was the first time a home-based player had been capped at senior level since Pat Byrne - then at Shamrock Rovers - had played against Czechoslovakia in 1986. Crowe has scored 70 goals in just 114 Eircom League appearances.

Silvestre's signs contract

Mikael Silvestre's central role in Manchester United's recent revival was rewarded yesterday when the French international defender signed a new four-year contract with the club. The 25-year-old French international, whose current deal expires at the end of the season, said he had put pen to paper to quash suggestions he was holding out on signing to see what his options were. "Looking for another club and weighing up other possible moves after January was never in my thoughts. I feel great and happy here," Silvestre said.

Boost for Australia

Australian soccer has been reeling from a shortfall in cash in recent months, but that is all about to change.

FIFA yesterday handed Australia a lifeline after virtually decades of neglect.

The game's world governing body announced that the Oceania winners will automatically qualify for Germany 2006.

And that means no more marathon trips to countries like Argentina, Iran and Uruguay, where the Socceroos have had to trek for away legs in intercontinental play-offs where they came off second best each time. Barring an upset against New Zealand, who beat an understrength Aussie team in the recent Oceania Nations Cup to qualify for the Confederations Cup, Australia will play in the World Cup finals for the first time since 1974.

FIFA post for Linsi

Urs Linsi has been appointed general secretary of world soccer's governing body, FIFA said yesterday. The 53-year-old Swiss was appointed FIFA's interim general secretary in June after Michel Zen-Ruffinen was sacked by president Sepp Blatter following Blatter's re-election.

Zen-Ruffinen had alleged Blatter could have committed criminal acts under the Swiss penal code during his time at FIFA. Blatter was cleared of these accusations earlier this month by prosecutors.