Other soccer stories in brief
Operation on ankle a success
Fabio Cannavaro had a successful operation yesterday to mend ankle ligaments he tore in Italy's first Euro 2008 training session.
The defender was ruled out of the tournament after being injured on Monday when he was tackled by team-mate Giorgio Chiellini in a training session.
Donadoni finally signs new contract
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni signed a new two-year contract yesterday to end a drawn-out saga which had threatened to cloud the team's Euro 2008 campaign.
He agreed the contract with the Italian soccer federation on May 20th, but has taken his time putting pen to paper, with the world champions facing Netherlands in their Group C opener in Berne on Monday.
The deal runs until the 2010 World Cup, but includes an escape clause for both parties should Euro 2008 go badly.
Donadoni, who took over from Marcello Lippi after Italy's World Cup triumph two years ago, said last month an escape clause was unnecessary as he would walk away anyway if the team played poorly.
Finnan hints at international return
Steve Finnan has revealed he is considering coming out of international retirement to play for new Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni.
"We're going to have a chat," Finnan said yesterday. "When a new manager comes in that's normal, and out of respect you have to do so."
The Liverpool defender decided to quit the Republic of Ireland set-up after the team failed to qualify for Euro 2008.
"The opportunity to work with someone of that experience is very tempting. He's got a great CV and he's done really well at lots of clubs. Everyone in my position would consider it.
"No deadline has been put on making a final decision, but I take it he'll want to know before the first World Cup qualifier."
Trapattoni is also keen to persuade Andy O'Brien and Stephen Ireland to return to the international fold.
Russia warming up for finals
Russia struck three second-half goals to beat Lithuania 4-1 in their final Euro 2008 warm-up last night.
The Russians, already without leading striker Pavel Pogrebnyak because of a knee injury, lost Alexei Berezutsky early in the game when the defender sustained a cut over his eye after being caught by an elbow.
Lithuania scored against the run of play in the 25th minute when Mantas Savenas slotted in the rebound after his first effort was saved by Russia's reserve keeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev.
Midfielder Konstantin Zyryanov equalised with a long-range shot into the top corner eight minutes later and Andrei Arshavin, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vladimir Bystrov struck after the break to seal Russia's third consecutive victory.
Pogrebnyak suffered his injury in a 2-1 win over Serbia in Burghausen last Wednesday and is expected to miss Russia's Group D opener against Spain next Tuesday. Russia also play Greece in Salzburg and Sweden in Innsbruck.
The quartet of players handed debuts by England in Sunday's friendly against Trinidad Tobago are in danger of losing their caps after Fifa suggested the match should not be considered an official A international because the visitors had used seven substitutes.
Substitutions put England caps at risk
The Fifa president Sepp Blatter instigated a rule four years ago restricting countries to only six changes in a game, a move partly prompted by Sven-Goran Eriksson once fielding an entirely new team for the second half of a friendly.
The English FA believed it had been granted permission by Fifa to exceed that limit for the match in Port of Spain.
Fabio Capello introduced Joe Hart, Phil Jagielka, David Bentley and Peter Crouch at half-time, with Ashley Young, Theo Walcott and Stephen Warnock brought on during the second half.
But Fifa was unimpressed by the number of changes made and last night insisted it had not given either side the green light to bend the rules, potentially stripping the game of A-international status.
Miller makes the cut, but Yorke's future not clear
Dwight Yorke remains in talks with Sunderland over a new contract. The 36-year-old midfielder will be a free agent at the end of this month following the expiry of his initial two-year agreement at the Stadium of Light.
Roy Keane is keen to retain his experience and hopes to persuade his former Manchester United team-mate to stay at Wearside.
The Black Cats yesterday issued their retained list for the new season and Yorke's name could yet be added to it. There is a place for the Republic of Ireland's Liam Miller, who was transfer-listed for persistent lateness in February, but fought his way back into the side.
But there are otherwise few surprises after the manager moved quickly to identify those players who were no longer part of his plans at the end of last season.
Ian Harte, Stephen Wright, Andy Cole and Stanislav Varga were all told their contracts would not be renewed, while loan signing Jonny Evans has returned to Old Trafford.
