Former Ivory Coast coach Ulrich Stielike has signed a three-year deal with Swiss first division side Sion, the club announced on Saturday.

David Beckham will lead England out as captain for the first time since the 2006 World Cup in Sunday´s friendly against Trinidad and Tobago, the BBC reported on Saturday.

Veteran striker Oliver Neuville and captain Michael Ballack saved Germany´s blushes with second-half strikes on Saturday to seal a 2-1 win over Serbia in the hosts´ final Euro 2008 warm-up.

Double World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer regretted in the press here on Saturday the role of investors who use football clubs purely for speculative purposes.

African superstar Samuel Eto´o overcame an assault claim to score as Cameroon opened their challenge for a record sixth World Cup appearance with a 2-0 win over Cape Verde Islands Saturday.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani claimed on Saturday that his team´s failure to qualify for next season´s Champions League has cost the club around 20 million euros.

Portugal warmed up for Euro 2008 with a 2-0 home win in Viseu on Saturday over Georgia courtesy of first half goals from Joao Moutinho and Simao Sabrosa.

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has said their coach Carlo Ancelotti will not be taking over the vacant Chelsea manager´s job, the Italian first division club said on their website.

Italian fullback Gianluca Zambrotta, who played at Barcelona for two seasons, has joined AC Milan, the Italian first division club said on Saturday, without giving further contract details.

The Australian government said Sunday it backed the country´s bid to organise the 2018 World Cup, despite comments from FIFA President Sepp Blatter that Europe would likely host the tournament.

Robinho´s second-half strike lifted Brazil to a 3-2 victory over Canada here Saturday in a friendly tuneup for their upcoming qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.

Twenty four year old Liverpool and Spanish striker Fernando Torres has stated categorically that he has no intention of leaving Liverpool.

Cameroon international striker Samuel Eto´o has been accused of headbutting a journalist during a heated Indomitable Lions press conference, according to press reports here on Saturday.

Former Germany captain Oliver Kahn insisted Saturday the public and press here must trust national goalkeeper Jens Lehmann for Euro 2008 despite the Arsenal man spending most of last season on the bench.

Troubled Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton was cleared of all charges relating to the vandalising of a taxi in Manchester last year.

Striker Ryan Babel has been ruled out of the Euro 2008 tournament starting next week after sustaining an injury in training, Dutch football officials said on Saturday.

South Korea squandered a two-goal lead in front of 53,000 fans here Saturday as Jordan battled to a 2-2 draw in the third round of Asian World Cup qualifying.

Newly promoted West Bromwich Albion have signed Czech Republic striker Roman Bednar from Scotland’s Premier League side Heart Of Midlothian.

Former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is close to being named the new boss of Inter Milan according to Italian press reports following the release of pictures of the Portuguese coach meeting with Inter president Massimo Moratti in Paris.

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has urged his players to be patient and wary of Iraq´s counter-attacks if they are to remain unbeaten in their World Cup qualifying group here on Sunday.