Sporting briefs

Simeone: Catania named former Argentina hard-man Diego Simeone as their new coach a day after parting company with Marco Giampaolo. Simeone, 40, played for Inter and later moved on to Lazio before retiring from his playing career in 2006.

Wright-Phillips: Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips is a transfer target for Fulham and Newcastle. Wright-Phillips’s agent Wayne Lindsay confirmed that both Fulham and Newcastle are keen to sign him before the transfer window closes on January 31. “My understanding is that Fulham have made an enquiry for Shaun, as have Newcastle,” Lindsay said.

Detained: The main suspect in the shooting of Paraguay player Salvador Cabanas in a Mexican bar one year ago was detained this week. Jose Jorge Balderas Garza was presented to the media in the Mexican capital with six others, including a Colombian woman identified as his partner.

Barnetta: Bayer Leverkusen have confirmed Tranquillo Barnetta will be out for several weeks with a knee injury. The Switzerland international requires surgery on a torn cartilage. He suffered the problem in a game this week against second division Bochum. Bayer lie fourth in the Bundesliga.

Da Costa: West Ham defender Manuel da Costa was charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in a nightclub. Former Portugal U-21 international Da Costa will appear at Redbridge Magistrates’ Court on January 25 charged with sexual assault and common assault on a woman.

Asian Cup: Iraq set up a quarter-final clash with Australia after beating North Korea 1-0 yesterday. The 2007 champions finished second in Group D, behind rivals Iran, but they will be the underdogs to upset an Australian team out for revenge after Iraq defeated them 3-1 on the way to Asian Cup glory four years ago.

Cricket: Sussex batsman Ed Joyce was named in the Ireland World Cup squad, despite having played for England at the 2007 edition. Joyce, 32, played 50 times for Ireland between 1997 and 2005 before qualifying for England on residency grounds. He made 17 appearances for England but failed to break into the Test side. Ireland have been drawn in Group B at the World Cup, which runs from February 19 until April 2, alongside Bangladesh, India, England, the Netherlands, South Africa and West Indies.

Basket, NBA: Josh Smith sank the go-ahead lay-up with 34 seconds left in overtime, Joe Johnson finished with 19 points and Atlanta defeated Miami 93-89 on Tuesday to send the Heat to their fourth-straight loss. Johnson had a game-tying lay-up with 25 seconds left in the fourth quarter and two game-clinching free-throws with five seconds left in overtime. Jamal Crawford also scored 19 for Atlanta.

Cycling: Team Sky sprinter Ben Swift claimed his first major win of the season after surviving the crash-marred finale to the second stage of the Tour Down Under yesterday. Swift finished ahead of Australian pair Robbie McEwen (RadioShack), in second, and Rabobank’s Graeme Brown, who was third. McEwen took the overall race leader’s ochre jersey from overnight leader Matthew Goss, who slipped to second overall with Swift moving up to third.

Rugby Union: Uncapped trio Jon Welsh, Rob Harley and Jack Cuthbert have been named in the Scotland squad for the Six Nations. Bath back Cuthbert has been included alongside Glasgow loosehead prop Welsh and his fellow Warrior Harley, who can play at flanker or lock, in the 34-man squad for next week’s training camp in St Andrews. Scotland have won five of their last six games and begin the Six Nations against France in Paris on February 5.