Football news

Toulouse and Saint Etienne have lost out in their bids to host matches in the 2016 European Cham-pionship.

The cities were named as reserves as the French football federation yesterday chose the nine localities that will host Euro 2016 games.

The cities chosen were Saint-Denis (Stade de France), Paris (Parc des Princes), Lille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Marseille, Lens and Nancy.

Lyon was included despite the slow start to building work on the Grande Stade there.

The Grande Stade will be one of four stadiums newly-built for the tournament, along with those in Bordeaux, Lille and Nice.

Pirlo heading for Juventus

Playmaker Andrea Pirlo, out of contract after 10 years with Milan, should be playing at Juventus next season, his agent said yesterday.

“He still has some details to sort out, but I think that Andrea Pirlo is heading for Juve,” said Tullio Tinti, saying that a three-year contract was being discussed without giving details of the salary.

Pirlo, 32, joined the club in 2001 after three years at cross-town rivals Inter. He started his career at Brescia and moved to Inter in 1998 but was only a bit-part player and had loan spells at Reggina and back at Brescia.

Schweini to miss Germany qualifiers

Bastian Schweinsteiger will play no part in a friendly against Uruguay on May 29 or in two Euro 2012 qualifiers next month because of injury.

The 26-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder, one of the stars of Germany’s strong 2010 World Cup performance, broke a toe in his right foot in a Bundesliga match on April 23 but continued playing despite the pain.

Now Schweinsteiger, who has 87 caps for Germany, “needs to have a lengthy break,” the DFB said in a statement.

Germany have back-to-back Euro 2012 qualifiers against Austria on June 3 in Vienna and against Azerbaijan on June 7 in Baku.

Denilson eyes Arsenal exit

Arsenal midfielder Denilson is determined to leave the club after enduring another trophyless season with the Gunners.

The 23-year-old Brazilian joined Arsenal from Sao Paulo in 2006, and has become increasingly frustrated at the club’s failure to challenge for silverware in the five years since his move.

Denilson said he has already met Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and informed him of his decision to leave.

“I’ve simply told Wenger how I felt and he has agreed to let me go,” Denilson said.

“I can’t see myself returning in a Chelsea shirt, or Liverpool or Manchester City and definitely not Tottenham Hotspur.

“I think my future will be either in Spain or Italy.”

Di Canio to be new Swindon manager

Former West Ham and Lazio striker Paolo Di Canio has been appointed as new manager of Swindon, the recently relegated League Two club con-firmed yesterday.

The 42-year-old Italian is expected to be formally unveiled next week after reaching a verbal agreement.

Swindon were relegated from League One earlier this month after finishing bottom of the league table.

Di Canio, who had been linked with a possible return to West Ham following the dismissal of Avram Grant, emerged as a favourite for the Swindon position after the club drew up a short list which included ex-Scotland manager George Burley and for-mer Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann.

Bassong unhappy at Tottenham

Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong believes his career has stagnated at White Hart Lane and has indicated he wants to leave the Premier League side.

The Paris-born Cameroon international said he is unhappy after failing to nail down a regular place in the Spurs back four, starting in just seven of Totten-ham’s 37 Premier League games this season.

Bassong, 24, said he felt his career had gone from “heaven to hell” since his move to London from Newcastle 12 months ago.

“For a bit I felt lost because I haven’t faced this situation before in my career.

“I feel that I have gone back-wards, like I have gone from heaven to hell,” Bassong said.

Ronaldo set for Romania farewell

Brazilian star Ronaldo will bid his farewell to the national side in a friendly against Romania on June 7, national coach Mano Menezes said.

This week, Menezes named a 28-man squad for friendlies against the Netherlands on June 4 and Romania three days later as Brazil prepare for the Copa America in Argentina next July.

The Romania game will be the final match for 34-year-old Ronaldo.

“We’re not asking a lot of him (Ronaldo), it will be a moment of friendship,” said Menezes.

“He’ll come on in the first half, he’ll play a few minutes and during the break he can make his farewells.”