Gilardino: Genoa coach Pasquale Marino believes the absence of striker Alberto Gilardino through injury has cost his side dearly in recent weeks. Marino’s men have lost three consecutive league games. “We are missing Gilardino and his absence is hurting us a lot, especially in front of goal,” Marino said. “In the space of one week we have thrown away all the great work we had done before.”
Racism: France’s top two football divisions have witnessed an unwelcome upsurge in racist abuse from the terraces in the 2011-12 season to date, a police report revealed. According to Antoine Boutonnet, head of the National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH), “a worrying phenomenon is the return of racism in the stands”. Since Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 resumed at the start of the season, police have made 432 hooliganism-related arrests.
McClean: Sunderland winger James McClean was yesterday called up by Euro 2012 finalists Ireland for next week’s friendly with the Czech Republic. The 22-year-old, who has been in fine form for the Black Cats since being given his chance by manager Martin O’Neill, has been drafted in along with Derby midfielder Paul Green.
Bellamy: Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy featured in the Wales squad named by new manager Chris Coleman yesterday for next week’s international friendly with Costa Rica. The fixture is being held in honour of Gary Speed, the late Wales coach who died in November. Speed had persuaded Bellamy to prolong his inter-national career but next week’s game, in which he will be earning his 68th cap, could be his last for Wales.
Scotland: England U-20 international Matt Phillips and Celtic defender Charlie Mulgrew have been called up for the first time by Craig Levein for Scotland’s friendly international in Slovenia next week. The Scottish FA are awaiting clearance from FIFA to select Blackpool winger Phillips, but expect to receive that this week.
Jankulovski: Czech defender Marek Jankulovski announced the end of his career yesterday after grappling with a knee ligament injury for almost a year. The 34-year-old returned from Milan to Banik Ostrava last summer after being sidelined since March 2011. But his hopes of a new start were dashed as he only managed seven minutes for his new team before hurting his knee again last October.
Serie B: Torino vs Sampdoria 2-1.
League One: Brentford vs Carlisle 4-0.
La Liga: Zaragoza vs R. Betis 0-2.