England-Germany: England will face traditional rivals Germany in a friendly international at the new Wembley stadium on August 22. It's six years since the countries last met - in a game no English supporter will ever forget - the stunning 5-1 World Cup 2002 qualifier win in Munich back in September 2001. Germany were the last team to play at the old Wembley and left with a 1-0 win in October 2000, again in a 2002 World Cup qualifier.
Ronaldinho: Barcelona's appeal against a one-match ban for Ronaldinho was rejected by the Spanish Football Federation yesterday. The club had said the Brazilian forward did not merit a straight red card for kicking out at Getafe defender David Belenguer in a league match last weekend because he had been provoked. Barca could now take their appeal to the Spanish Committee for Sporting Discipline (CEDD) in an attempt to get the ban overturned.
Ranieri quits: Coach Claudio Ranieri has quit as coach of Serie A club Parma. "We thank him for helping Parma stay in the Serie A," the club said on their official website last night. Media reports in England have linked former Chelsea coach Ranieri with a return to the Premier League with managerless Manchester City.
Julio Cesar: Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar has signed a new contract with the Italian champions yesterday. The new deal will keep him at the San Siro outfit until 2012.
Argentina: Argentina will play former African champions Algeria in a hastily arranged friendly in Barcelona next Tuesday. The match will be played at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium and is the first meeting between the two countries.
Pandiani: Espanyol striker Walter Pandiani will miss his side's remaining two league games against Barcelona and Deportivo after straining a muscle in his left leg. The Uruguayan has scored seven league goals and was the top scorer in the UEFA Cup with 11 goals.
Hassan: Veteran Egyptian striker Hossam Hassan, who will turn 41 in August, has signed a one-year deal with Al Ittihad of Alexandria. The striker was previously the world's most capped international, playing an Africa record 168 times for Egypt, including winning three African Nations Cup titles and competing at the 1990 World Cup finals in Italy. His 80 international goals is also an African record.
Montenegro in: Montenegro was accepted as FIFA's 208th member association yesterday. The country was formerly part of Yugoslavia and competed as Serbia and Montenegro in the World Cup in Germany last year. Montenegro attained independence when it split from Serbia last June and became a full member of UEFA in January.