Friendly spotlight on Parreira and Maradona

Carlos Alberto Parreira will make his second debut as coach of 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa today while Argentina coach Diego Maradona will also be in the spotlight.

Parreira resumes his role when South Africa host Japan a friendly in Port Elizabeth while Maradona's team visit Spain, one day before the volatile Argentina coach faces a disciplinary hearing which could sideline him from part of the 2010 World Cup.

England will attempt to beat Brazil for the first time in nearly 20 years when they meet in Qatar in another of today's friendlies, which are little more than a sideshow to the battle for the final places in South Africa next year.

Another leading match will see Italy host Netherlands in Pescara to show solidarity with the Abruzzo region hit by an earthquake that killed 297 people in April and left thousands homeless.

Slovakia host a United States team weakened by domestic club commitments and Denmark entertain South Korea in other meetings between teams who have already booked their places in South Africa.

Germany have cancelled their match at home to Chile because of the death of goalkeeper Robert Enke, who committed suicide on Tuesday.

Parreira took over for the first time as South Africa coach in 2007 but quit last year after his wife fell ill.

He returned last month to replace fellow Brazilian Joel Santana, who lost eight of his last nine games in charge - with only a 1-0 win over Madagascar in a hastily-arranged friendly interrupting the sequence.

The 1994 World Cup winner faces a huge task to get the Bafana Bafana even to the knock-out stages of the first African World Cup, yet knows a good run could be crucial for the success of the tournament.

His first move was to recall Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy, who missed the last 14 games after being dropped by Santana.

Japanese media reported that their team have been ordered to stay in their hotel because of security fears.

Argentina's visit to Spain comes one day before Maradona faces a FIFA disciplinary tribunal in Zurich over his widely-publicised foul-mouthed outburst following last month's 1-0 win in Uruguay.

He could be hit with a stadium ban that would stop him coaching his team for several World Cup games.

Huge doubts remain about Maradona's coaching ability and a bad result in Spain would raise more questions over his credentials.

Brazil coach Dunga has called up strikers Carlos Eduardo and Hulk and full-back Michel Bastos for the first time as his team defend a long unbeaten record against England.

England last beat the South Americans at Wembley in 1990 when Dunga was a midfielder in the Brazilian side. Seven subsequent meetings have seen four draws and three Brazilian wins.

Although Brazil qualified for the World Cup with three matches to spare, a 3-1 defeat in Bolivia and goalless draw at home to Venezuela have since dampened enthusiasm for Dunga's team which is often seen as too pragmatic.