Football news

Egypt striker Amr Zaki has been ruled out of the Confederations Cup with a hamstring injury and been replaced by Mohamed Mohsen Abougreisha, FIFA said.

Zaki, whose loan deal with English Premier League club Wigan Athletic ended last month, was injured last Sunday in Egypt's defeat in a World Cup qualifier in Algeria.

Ismaili forward Abougreisha, 27, was preferred as replacement to Zaki's club colleague Mido, who was axed from Egypt's squad after an altercation with Zaki during a World Cup qualifier in Cairo in March.

Egypt, who arrived in South Africa yesterday, play their opening Confederations Cup match against Brazil in Bloemfontein on Monday.

Stoichkov scoffs at Iran job reports

Former Bulgaria international Hristo Stoichkov has denied media reports claiming he has been named as the new coach of Iranian Pro League team Abu Moslem.

Last month, the Mashhad-based side said on their website that former Barcelona striker and Bulgaria national team coach had signed a two-year contract with the club.

"To be honest, this information is completely wrong," Stoichkov told reporters.

"It's just sheer nonsense."

The 43-year-old Stoichkov resigned as national team coach in April 2007 to take over at Celta Vigo but left the Spanish club six months later.

Greaves gets 1966 World Cup medal

England striker Jimmy Greaves, controversially left out of the World Cup final team in 1966, was presented with a winner's medal this week along with the other 10 squad members who did not play in the game.

The decision by manager Alf Ramsey to leave out Greaves, now 69, was a huge talking point in the build-up to the final against West Germany which England won 4-2 thanks to a hat-trick by striker Geoff Hurst.

"It's been a long wait, but in the days we played, only the 11 that played in the final got the medals," Greaves said.

"All the squad now get a medal. It's very nice but if Sir Alf was still around we'd have probably got it sooner."

Schwarzer - the best 'down under'

Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was named footballer of the year at the Australian Football Awards.

The award caps a magnificent season for the 36-year-old goalkeeper, both with his English Premier League club Fulham and the national side. Schwarzer set an Australian record of seven consecutive clean sheets for the Socceroos in their qualifiers, which saw them become one of the first nations to claim a place at next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.

During the season Schwarzer also became the longest-serving Australian international of all time, racking up almost 16 years since his senior international debut against Canada in a World Cup qualifier on July 31, 1993.

Hiddink hands Arshavin captaincy

Andrei Arshavin will captain Russia for the rest of their World Cup qualifying campaign after an impressive performance in the 3-0 victory over Finland.

Regular skipper Sergei Semak was on the bench with a minor injury but Russia coach Guus Hiddink told reporters after the win, which put the team a point behind Group Four leaders Germany, Arshavin would remain captain even with Semak in the starting line-up.

Arsenal forward Arshavin was Russia's captain during their Euro 2008 qualifiers but was stripped of his duties after being sent off in their final game in Andorra.

Eto'o must respect wage structure

Barcelona president Joan Laporta warned he would not break the club's salary structure to extend Samuel Eto'o's contract.

"A lot of clubs would like Eto'o in their team," said Laporta.

"We will do our best in order to renew his contract because he, in my opinion, is the best striker in the world."

Eto'o has one year remaining on his contract and Laporta said extending that "depends on two parties, but we have a wage structure that we will respect.

"We would like to renew the contract with Eto'o but not at any price because in this global economic crisis we have to be an example as well," Laporta said.

"I hope that he understands, and we will see in the next weeks."

Genoa sign Kharja from Siena

Genoa have strengthened their ranks with the signing of Morocco midfielder Houssine Kharja who played for Serie A rivals Siena last season.

Reports said the Griffins will pay Siena €4 million for Kharja and the deal also sees Genoa players Gianluca Pegolo and Manuel Coppola going the other way.

Kharja scored fived goals for Siena last season and provided most of his team's other goals with perfect assists to his team-mates.

So far, Genoa have already completed the signings of Sergio Floccari and Hernan Crespo.