Van Bommel: Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel says he is disappointed to have picked up an ankle injury just when he was cementing his place in the first team. Van Bommel sustained the injury while training with the Dutch national squad for yesterday's friendly against Italy. The 28-year-old will miss Barca's league match against arch-rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu next Saturday and will be out of action until the end of the year. "I was unlucky, but it could have been a lot worse," the player said. "Although it is a serious injury, I was fortunate not to have torn a ligament and I hope to be back as soon as possible."

German Invitation: A French policeman beaten almost to death by German hooligans during the 1998 World Cup in France has been invited by the German Football Association (DFB) to attend a game at next year's finals in Germany. DFB general secretary Horst R. Schmidt has personally invited gendarme Daniel Nivel, his wife and their two sons to a game of the 2006 World Cup. Nivel was brutally beaten up by German hooligans after a World Cup tie between Germany and Yugoslavia in Lens on July 21, 1998.

Desailly: Marcel Desailly, the former captain of France and Chelsea, has been approached by Ligue 1 strugglers Racing Strasbourg. New Strasbourg chairman Alain Afflelou told reporters he had contacted the 37-year-old defender, who told him he needed two weeks before making a decision. The 1998 World Cup winner returned to France this week after cancelling his contract with Qatar Sports Club.

Betar Jerusalem: Betar Jerusalem named the club's Dutch technical adviser Ton Kaanen as coach on Friday, two months after Eli Ohana quit the post. Kaanen was called in last month to help new owner Arkady Gaidamak assess the squad while he sought a high profile coach but the Dutchman has been appointed to take over from caretaker coach Guy Azuri after the club failed to net a big name.

Friendlies: Finland vs Estonia 2-2; Belarus vs Latvia 3-1; Bulgaria vs Georgia 6-2; S. Africa vs Senegal 2-3; Liechtenstein vs Macedonia 1-2.

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