England will begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign against minnows Andorra on September 6.
Fabio Capello's team then face their Euro 2008 nemesis Croatia in Zagreb four days later. England end their campaign at home to Belarus on October 14, 2009, four days after a trip to Kiev to face Ukraine.
England's fixtures: vs Andorra (a) Sept. 6; vs Croatia (a) Sept. 10; vs Kazakhstan (h) Oct. 11; vs Belarus (a) Oct. 15; vs Ukraine (h) April 1, 2009; vs Kazakhstan (a) June 6; vs Andorra (h) June 10; vs Croatia (h) Sept. 9; vs Ukraine (a) Oct. 10; vs Belarus (h) Oct. 14, 2009.
Keegan still loves Newcastle
Former Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan became the latest person linked to the vacant manager's job at St James' Park yesterday following the departure of Sam Allardyce last week.
Keegan, 56, who played for the club in the 1980s and managed them for five years in the 1990s, taking them close to the title in 1996, told Sky Sports News yesterday he was "not ruling himself in or out," quickly adding: "It's a club I love, everyone knows that."
Former England boss Keegan has not coached since leaving Manchester City in March 2005.
Rossi won't quit Lazio
Lazio boss Delio Rossi said he would not resign after being locked in talks with club president Claudio Lotito following the 2-1 home defeat to Genoa, which leaves the Rome club close to the Serie A relegation zone.
"Now, with humility, we must only think of safety," Rossi told reporters.
"My position is not in discussion. I want to stay at Lazio as it is in difficult moments that real men come to the fore."
Bangura allowed to stay in Britain
Watford's Sierra Leone midfielder Al Bangura has won the right to remain in Britain after he was awarded a work permit yesterday.
The move follows a campaign to allow the 19-year-old to remain in the country after he was told he was being deported last month.
Watford announced the news on their website, saying a government panel decided Bangura's "footballing credentials warranted his extended stay in this country".
'Foreigners quota won't work'
Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief, says any attempt to impose quotas for overseas players on clubs will fail and would not aid the national team anyway.
Scudamore said FIFA president Sepp Blatter's idea for voluntary quotas was unworkable.
He said: "You can get yourself into difficult debates about who can and cannot play for your country," said Scudamore.
"If the law of the land says you are nationally qualified, then you are nationally qualified, no matter what Mr Blatter says."
Scudamore was speaking a week after Blatter accused the Premier League of hindering England's international prospects.
Tiago not leaving Juventus
Tiago Mendes is staying with Juventus despite his poor showing in Catania last weekend. The midfielder was given a chance to shine in Sicily but he struggled to make an impact and was substituted at half-time.
With reports that Liverpool's Mohamed Sissoko is set to join Juve, it had been suggested that Tiago would make way, but he now seems determined to win over the Juve faithful.
"I really think that he will stay in Turin," agent Roberto Calenda said.
"We spoke to the coach and he told us that he was happy with Tiago's performance on Saturday and that the substitution was to do with the formation."
Agger faces long lay-off
Daniel Agger, the Liverpool centre-half, has suffered a recurrence of the metatarsal injury which has kept him out of action since September.
The Dane, who was days away from making a first team return, is now not expected to feature for the rest of January and could be out for longer.
Manager Rafael Benitez said: "It's not easy to say when he will be back. He is going to see different surgeons and then we'll see."
Agger's absence means Benitez is likely to accelerate the introduction of new defensive signing Martin Skrtel into the team.
Apology for punching team-mate
Deportivo's Gustavo Munua has apologised for attacking fellow goalkeeper Dudu Aouate during an argument after training last week.
Israel keeper Aouate needed several stitches around his left eye after the Uruguayan international punched him in the face during a dispute in the changing room on Friday.
"I want to apologise to my team-mate Dudu Aouate, his family and everyone that knows him for the incident," Munua told a news conference yesterday. "I'm ashamed to be in this situation."
After the incident, Deportivo coach Miguel Angel Lotina said both players would remain on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
Borriello dreams of Milan return
Marco Borriello, a Genoa hero after a match-winning brace against Lazio took his tally to 10 goals, hopes Milan will take him back to the San Siro in the future.
The 25-year-old joined Genoa in a co-ownership deal with Milan. He failed a drugs test at Milan in January 2007.
He said: "I'm happy with Genoa and I have been welcomed like a son, but if Milan wanted to take me back I don't think that there would be problems finding an agreement.
"I was certainly happy to hear praise from Silvio Berlusconi in recent weeks."