Osim recovery: The coach of Japan's national soccer team, Ivica Osim, is on his way to recovery after suffering a stroke last week, a senior soccer official was quoted as saying yesterday. The 66-year-old Bosnian, in charge since Japan's exit from the 2006 World Cup, had collapsed after climbing stairs at his home in Chiba, east of Tokyo, after watching soccer on television.
Hurtado: Ecuador defender Ivan Hurtado, who has won a record 145 caps, has been recalled to the squad for tomorrow's World Cup qualifier at home to Peru by interim coach Sixto Vizuete. Hurtado, 33, had been left out by Luis Fernando Suarez, who quit as coach immediately after Saturday's 5-1 defeat in Paraguay. Hurtado, who is taking part in his fifth World Cup qualifying campaign, was dropped by Suarez along with Ulises de la Cruz after complaining about the atmosphere in the squad.
Pavlyuchenko: Russia striker Roman Pavlyuchenko will miss his team's final Euro 2008 Group E qualifier away to Andorra tomorrow with an ankle injury. Pavlyuchenko, who scored both goals in Russia's 2-1 win over England in Moscow last month, suffered the injury in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Israel in Tel Aviv.
Bougherra: Charlton Athletic defender Madjid Bougherra has been banned from playing in Algeria's first two qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals. Bougherra and team-mate Mehdi Meniri, who plays for French club Bastia, were suspended for violet conduct in Algeria's African Nations Cup qualifier against Gambia in September, where the north Africans lost 2-1 to miss out on the 2008 finals in Ghana.
Doblas: Real Betis goalkeeper Toni Doblas will be out for up to five months after surgery on an injury sustained in a friendly last week. He completely dislocated his left ankle and severely damaged a ligament. "It's much more serious than we had expected," doctor Santiago Perez Hidalgo told reporters.
Lucrative incentives: A Russian billionaire has offered incentives to Croatia for beating England in their final Euro 2008 Group E qualifier tomorrow, a result that would give Russia a chance to reach the finals. Spartak Moscow owner Leonid Fedun said he would donate four Mercedes cars to Croatia's best players if their team comes away with a win at Wembley.
MFA Division Two: Sta Venera Lightnings vs Lija Athletic 1-3; Mgarr United vs St Andrews 0-0.