Football news

Euro 2008 will be the most difficult tournament of all time and there are no clear favourites, according to Germany coach Joachim Loew.

In an interview with yesterday's Der Tagesspiegel newspaper, Loew noted that all four semi-finalists at the 2006 World Cup had been European.

"That underlines what quality this European Championship has," he said, adding that nations such as Poland and Croatia had improved drastically.

Meeting could bring Anfield peace

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez said he hoped peace might break out in the open feud that has developed between the club's American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Benitez told reporters that Hicks, who defiantly turned up to watch Tuesday's match despite fears over his safety, had met him at the club's Melwood training ground earlier in the day.

"He came to say hello and to arrange a meeting between the owners and everyone else involved," Benitez said. "I think it is a positive move. There is a chance that we may find some peace. There is a chance."

Cahill to have foot surgery

Everton midfielder Tim Cahill has returned to his native Australia for surgery on a persistent foot problem.

The 28-year-old has already been ruled out of Australia's four World Cup qualifiers in June and is having surgery to ensure he is ready for next season's English Premier League.

"I hope to be back for pre-season ready for the first game of Everton's next season," Cahill said.

Cahill scored 10 goals in all competitions for Everton.

Ban cuts short Hleb's season

Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb will miss the rest of the season after he admitted a charge of violent conduct, the English FA said yesterday.

The Belarus international, who will serve an automatic three-match ban, escaped punishment at the time for slapping Reading's Graeme Murty in the face during Arsenal's 2-0 Premier League win on Saturday, an incident the referee did not see.

He was charged with violent conduct after referee Peter Walton watched video footage of the incident and informed the FA that he would have shown Hleb a red card.

'Mum's illness was hard moment'

Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard described the past week as the hardest of his life after his mother was rushed to hospital with a serious illness.

The England international said any thoughts of a Champions League final had been put firmly to the back of his mind while his mother Pat battled with pneumonia.

"This time last week was very bleak," Lampard said yesterday.

"I won't go into details but we were getting a very bleak outlook. That was the hardest moment for me in my life."

Wrexham lose status

Wrexham lost their status in the Football League this week following a 2-0 upset to Hereford. Manager Brian Little said he has to be ruthless if the club is to bounce back.

"It's horrible," Little said. "But it's now about looking at the club in the future. I know I can't be nice to too many people at this moment. My job is to be ruthless and sort the team out."

The relegation comes 30 years to the day after Wrexham sealed their first promotion to the second level of English football.

Amauri - 90% going to Juve

Palermo's Brazilian forward Amauri is likely to sign for Juventus at the end of the season, the Sicilian club's president Maurizio Zamparini said.

"Amauri has a 90 per cent chance of going to Juve," Zamparini told the ANSA news agency.

"The operation has a high chance of being completed, unless Barcelona or Real Madrid move in, which could turn the situation around."

Change of date for Samp-Juve

The final day of the season match between Sampdoria and Juventus could be moved forward to Saturday, May 17 because of a visit by the Pope.

The last four rounds of the Serie A campaign are traditionally played simultaneously so no team can have the advantage of knowing the other results beforehand.

The problem this time is that Pope Benedict will make an official visit to the city of Genoa on May 18. Due to security concerns, the authorities have agreed to move Sampdoria-Juventus forward 24 hours.

Martins - £90,000-a-week deal

Newcastle are close to reaching a deal worth £90,000 a week with their striker Obafemi Martins to stay at St James' Park.

The Nigerian, formerly of Inter, had appeared to becoming frustrated after finding himself hauled off once again by manager Kevin Keegan during the Magpies' derby victory over Sunderland last weekend.

However, Martins now looks set to complete the formalities in the coming weeks and sign a new contract.