England striker Daniel Sturridge will miss Sunday’s friendly in Brazil after suffering an ankle injury in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Ireland.
The Liverpool forward was carried off on a stretcher in the first half at Wembley with what England manager Roy Hodgson thought was ligament damage.
“He’s not going to Brazil,” Hodgson told reporters.
“He had a good start and we were sad to lose him. He hadn’t played for a while and was carrying a slight injury.
“I fear it will keep him out for a few weeks.”
Duisburg protest after relegation
Fans of German second division side MSV Duisburg went on the rampage at the club’s MSV-Stadion on Wednesday night after learning their club would be relegated to the third division.
Duisburg, who last played in the Bundesliga in the 2007/08 season, were not granted a licence by the German Football League (DFL) after failing to demonstrate their liquidity for the 2013/14 season.
Their place in the second division will instead be taken by Sandhausen, who had finished in 17th place and would have been relegated.
The club is to appeal the decision but the DFL have said they have already had the final word.
Podolski shrugs off Bierhoff comments
Lukas Podolski shrugged off criticism after moving up to sixth in the list of all-time top Germany goalscorers with a brace against Ecuador on Wednesday.
The Arsenal striker responded to comments from Germany’s general manager Oliver Bierhoff, who said he had not been im-pressed with the player’s first season with the Gunners, by helping Joachim Loew’s side to a 4-2 win.
“It is always being made out that I need to be motivated, but that is not the case,” he said.
“I just wanted to play a good game. We wanted to put them under pressure from the beginning.”
Real president impressed by Bale
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez claims Tottenham forward Gareth Bale was “born” to play for the club, while he also insists he has options other than Carlo An-celotti to be their new manager.
A second PFA Player of the Year award added further to Bale’s appeal, and speculation about whether or not he will remain with Spurs has started to grow as a result of the club’s failure to qualify for the Cham-pions League.
Real have been considered a natural fit for him by some, and Perez was yesterday quoted in Marca as saying: “Bale was born to play in Madrid”.
Pellegrini talks of City agreement
Departing Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini hopes a verbal agreement with Manchester City will turn into a firm offer, he said in an interview with Spanish radio station Onda Cero.
“I have a commitment to make Manchester City my priority. I have a verbal agreement with them and I hope it is carried out,” the Chilean said.
Last week, Pellegrini said he was leaving Malaga at the end of the season after two-and-a-half years at the helm. He has been linked with a move to trophy-hungry Manchester City since the sacking of Roberto Mancini earlier this month.
Real-Emirates deal
Real Madrid have agreed a new shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates airline for the next five seasons.
No official figures were released for the sponsorship deal which is reported by media to be worth up to €30 million a year.
Real’s famous white strip will carry the slogan ‘Fly Emirates’.
The Dubai-based carrier rep-laces online betting firm bwin who have sponsored Real’s shirts for the last six years in a deal that was reported by consulting firm Sport+Markt to be worth around €23 million a year.
On Tuesday, the club said bwin will become their official digital partners in a new multi-year deal as the company switches its strategy to focus on social media, gaming and the integration of online with mobile useage.
Inter receive €260 million offer
Inter are weighing up an offer from Indonesian businessman Erick Thohir who wants to buy an 80 per cent share in the club for €260m, according to reports.
Ore 24 claimed that the 42-year-old entrepreneur submitted the proposal to Inter president Massimo Moratti on Wednesday, with the club expected to make a decision soon.
Thohir has shares in NBA team Philadelphia 49ers as well as MLS club DC United and is president of the Southeast Asia Basketball Association.
Speculation has been rife for some time that Inter are looking for fresh investment to boost the squad’s competitiveness and to fund a new stadium.