Looking more like a ward of hospital patients than a squad of professional footballers, Japan arrived in Melbourne with seemingly one goal in mind. Forget the three qualifying points on offer from their World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos, Takeshi Okada’s men appeared more determined to avoid contracting swine flu as they disembarked in the sporting capital of Australia. It was surgical masks all around at Tullamarine Airport, with the Japanese leaving nothing to chance in a city that has been beset by an outbreak of the highly contagious H1N1 virus. The disease is not Takeshi Okada’s only concern, with Japan forced to leave Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura at home due to a groin strain.

Looking more like a ward of hospital patients than a squad of professional footballers, Japan arrived in Melbourne with seemingly one goal in mind. Forget the three qualifying points on offer from their World Cup qualifier against the Socceroos, Takeshi Okada’s men appeared more determined to avoid contracting swine flu as they disembarked in the sporting capital of Australia. It was surgical masks all around at Tullamarine Airport, with the Japanese leaving nothing to chance in a city that has been beset by an outbreak of the highly contagious H1N1 virus. The disease is not Takeshi Okada’s only concern, with Japan forced to leave Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura at home due to a groin strain.

UEFA u21 Championship FT Sweden 5:1 Belarus Malmo - The hosts announced themselves in style with a 5-1 mauling of Belarus in Malmo. In a tournament of mostly up and coming footballers, Sweden boast some heavy armoury in the form of their forward pair of Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonen, two aces honed in Holland's Eredivisie.

UEFA u21 Championship FT Sweden 5:1 Belarus Malmo - The hosts announced themselves in style with a 5-1 mauling of Belarus in Malmo. In a tournament of mostly up and coming footballers, Sweden boast some heavy armoury in the form of their forward pair of Marcus Berg and Ola Toivonen, two aces honed in Holland's Eredivisie.

UEFA U21 Championship: Sweden v Belarus Malmo - After England took the initiative with a 2-1 win over Finland last night and Spain and Germany tussled to a 0-0 finish, it is up to the host nation to stamp their authority on Group A. Sweden kick off shortly against a Belarus side missing only their manager - coach Yuri Kurnenin is suspended after being given his marching orders in the second leg of their play-off victory over Turkey back in October.

UEFA U21 Championship: Sweden v Belarus Malmo - After England took the initiative with a 2-1 win over Finland last night and Spain and Germany tussled to a 0-0 finish, it is up to the host nation to stamp their authority on Group A. Sweden kick off shortly against a Belarus side missing only their manager - coach Yuri Kurnenin is suspended after being given his marching orders in the second leg of their play-off victory over Turkey back in October.

During the first half of the Group 2 Asian World Cup qualifier in Seoul between South Korea and Iran six of the Iranian team including the captain wore green wristbands in a show of support for the ongoing protests over the disputed elections in Iran . The players removed their wristbands for the second half after officials of the Iranian team asked them to do so. The match ended 1-1 leaving Iran's chances of reaching the finals in South Africa in the balance. Iran went ahead through an own goal, but Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung equalized for the hosts.