Italy: Italy will host the United States in a friendly in Genoa on February 29. It will be the 2006 world champions’ first match of 2012 as they prepare for June’s Euro Championships in Poland and Ukraine. Italy have been drawn with Spain, Ireland and Croatia in Group B.

Hughes: Mark Hughes was set to become the new manager of Queens Park Rangers after several British media outlets reported he was having talks yesterday with the Premier League strugglers. QPR owner Tony Fernandes sacked former manager Neil Warnock on Sunday after a run of eight league games without a win left the west London side just a point above the relegation zone.

Rangers: Trading in shares in Scottish Premier League champions Rangers were suspended yesterday after the Glasgow giants submitted unaudited accounts. The club also confirmed they were considering withdrawing their listing on the PLUS Stock Exchange.

Quagliarella: Juventus forward Fabio Quagliarella underwent a 20-minute operation yesterday to repair the damage to his broken cheekbone. The 28-year-old was injured during Sunday’s 1-0 win at Lecce. Juventus say he will need a week of complete rest before returning to training.

Lucescu: Shakhtar Donetsk president Rinat Akhmetov has said coach Mircea Lucescu is likely to require at least four weeks to recover from injuries sustained in a car crash in his Romanian homeland last week. Lucescu was taken to a Bucharest hospital on Friday with chest and rib injuries after his car was struck by a tram.

French Cup: Paris SG were drawn against fifth-tier Sable-sur-Sarthe on Sunday for the French Cup round of 32 to be played on January 21-22. PSG will be wary of the side from the Loire after being pushed hard by Saint-Colomban Locmine, another fifth-tier side, in Sunday’s last 64 clash.

MFA Div. Two: Mellieħa vs Għargħur 1-1; Gżira vs Żurrieq 2-0.