Football news

Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Brazil next month would be the ideal opportunity to reverse some poor results against their South American opponents, forward Lionel Messi said.

Barcelona's Messi has bad memories against the five-times world champions, being on the wrong end of three-goal defeats in his first two meetings against them.

He played when Argentina lost 3-0 to Brazil in a friendly in September 2006 in London and when they were beaten by the same score in last year's Copa America final in Venezuela.

Previous to that, Brazil beat Argentina 4-1 at the Confederations Cup final in Germany in 2005 when Messi did not play.

"We're very eager for this game," Messi told reporters at Buenos Aires airport.

"In the last two matches, they have beaten us badly and we hope that this time it will be different."

Brazil host Argentina in a World Cup qualifier on June 18 in Belo Horizonte.

Milan's Jankulovski top Czech player

Milan defender Marek Jankulovski was named Czech Footballer of the Year for the first time this week.

The 31-year-old won Champions League, European Super Cup and Club World Cup with his Italian side last year and was a pillar of the Czech national team in their successful Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Jankulovski, who is the first defender to win the award in 17 years, beat Chelsea's goalkeeper Petr Cech, who won the award in 2005.

Tomas Rosicky was third.

McBride leaving Fulham

Fulham striker Brian McBride is leaving the English Premier League club to return home to the United States.

The US international made more than 150 appearances for the Londoners, scoring 40 goals.

"After much consideration with my family we have decided to leave Fulham after four and a half fantastic years," McBride told reporters.

"I have always stated my intention to return to America at some stage and this seems like the right moment."

Advocaat honoured

Dutchman Dick Advocaat has been made honorary citizen of St Petersburg after he led local side Zenit to the UEFA Cup crown.

Zenit beat Rangers 2-0 in the May 14 final in Manchester to claim their first European trophy.

"I was surprised to hear this but I feel very proud. Never before someone had given me such honour," the 61-year-old coach was quoted as saying.

Bolivia grateful

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has been thanked by Bolivia president Evo Morales for the decision by soccer's governing body to lift a ban on playing international matches at high altitude.

Morales had led a high profile campaign against the ban, which he called "soccer apartheid" and would have prevented Bolivia from hosting matches in La Paz. At one point he took part in a game on a volcano at more than 5,000 metres above sea level.

"I want to thank the president of FIFA and his directors for understanding the vociferous request and the feelings of the Bolivian people," he said.

FIFA agreed earlier this week to lift the ban on international matches at over 2,750 metres above sea level at their Congress in Australia. La Paz is situated at 3,600 metres while the Ecuadorean capital Quito lies at 2,800 metres.

Serie A to start on August 31

The 2008-09 Serie A campaign gets underway on August 31, the Italian football league confirmed yesterday.

The season, which promises to be more exciting than the one which has just ended, will conclude on May 31, 2009.

There will be three midweek rounds, all to be played on Wednesdays, on September 24, October 29 and January 28.

There will also be three rest weeks - September 7, October 12 and March 29 - due to the national team's 2010 World Cup qualifying commitments.

The Christmas break will see no action on December 28 and January 4, while the Coppa Italia will begin on August 9 and end with the final on May 13.

Mourinho a great coach, says Ibra

Zlatan Ibrahimovic wants to stay at Inter and believes Jose Mourinho is a great coach, the Sweden striker said yesterday.

Italian champions Inter have made no comment over who could replace Roberto Mancini after he was sacked in a meeting with club president Massimo Moratti on Tuesday. However, the players are preparing for Mourinho to take over.

"It is Moratti's decision. He is the boss and he decides and what he does is right. Mourinho is a great coach. Who doesn't know that?," Ibrahimovic said.

The striker played down talk linking him with a move to Spain. "I am settled at Inter, I have won two titles and now we will try to do it in the Champions League as well," he said.