Sporting briefs

Ronaldinho back: Brazil forward Ronaldinho was included in the Barcelona squad to face Lyon in the Champions League tomorrow, but injured France striker Thierry Henry was left out. Ronaldinho had pulled out of the Barca squad on Saturday hours before the Primera Liga clash in the Nou Camp against Recreativo Huelva, which the side went on to win 3-0. The club said he had been suffering from excessive fatigue and that it had been a mutual decision between the player, medical team and coaching staff that he rests.

Zenga quits: Former Italy goalkeeper Walter Zenga quit as coach of Dinamo Bucharest yesterday after the club were beaten 1-0 in a derby against Steaua Bucharest. "It's easier to fire a coach rather than 30 players," Zenga, who took charge of the club in September, told reporters. Steaua beat champions Dinamo late on Saturday with a goal from Adrian Neaga in a match marred by violent clashes between fans and riot police.

Football for Hope: Every goal scored in the preliminary rounds of the 2010 World Cup will help pay for centres in Africa to teach football to youngsters, FIFA said. Launching the "Football for Hope" project in Durban yesterday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter urged players to improve on the 2,464 goals scored during the previous World Cup preliminary campaign. FIFA and its partners will donate $500 for each goal scored during the preliminary round of matches, Blatter said.

Benzema: Olympique Lyon striker Karim Benzema said yesterday he was determined to play in tomorrow's Champions League Group E match at home to Barcelona despite a thigh injury. "It still hurts but I will do everything I can to play," Benzema told Reuters. "It's a big match and I want to be part of it." The France forward left the pitch on a stretcher in the second half of his side's 2-0 Ligue 1 win at Stade Rennes on Saturday. A scan yesterday confirmed he had a bruised right thigh muscle. He did not Reuters