Gallas: William Gallas is almost certainly out of France's Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy next month, and may not return until October. The Arsenal defender suffered a groin injury in his side's 1-1 Premier League draw with Blackburn on Sunday and is expected to be sidelined for at least a month. He said: "I believe it is over for Italy," he said. "You will not see me again until October."

Maldini: Milan captain Paolo Maldini said he hoped to return to action at the end of September after undergoing surgery on a knee injury in May. "I'm fine. The knee isn't swollen," he said.

Hagi: Steaua Bucharest coach Gheorghe Hagi brushed off threats from the club's owner to sack him and said he wanted to stay at the club to transform them into a leading European side. Steaua's main shareholder Gigi Becali was angry when the team drew 0-0 at CFR Cluj at the weekend. He complained that Hagi had not stuck to the line-up he had asked him to play before the game.

Crisis talk: Real Madrid have held a crisis meeting at the Bernabeu after the team's crushing 5-3 defeat against Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup. Spanish media said the team had now decided against selling Brazilian right-back Cicinho and would renew their bid to buy Chelsea winger Arjen Robben.

Hleb: Arsenal midfielder Alex-ander Hleb has been made captain of the Belarus national team by new coach Bernd Stange. German Stange took over the job three weeks ago.