Albania: Albania's European Championship qualifier against Romania next month will be played at the Qemal Stafa stadium in Tirana after the soccer federation and stadium managers reached a financial agreement yesterday. Russia complained about the poor pitch when they lost 3-1 to Albania in the northern town of Shkoder in 2003. The match against Romania on Sept. 6 risked being moved after stadium management revised upwards its share of ticket sales. Soccer federation secretary general Roland Mici told reporters proceeds would be split in half.
Mido: Controversial striker Mido is back in the Egypt squad after being dramatically suspended by his country during the African Nations Cup earlier this year. The Roma player, who was on loan at Tottenham Hotspur last season, missed Egypt's victory over Ivory Coast in the Cairo final in February after being banned for six months for his angry reaction to being substituted in the semi-final.
Kezman: Atletico Madrid striker Mateja Kezman signed a four-year contract with Turkish club Fenerbahce yesterday. The 27-year-old, dropped by Serbia after a poor World Cup, joined Atletico from Chelsea in June 2005. Media reports said Chelsea had paid PSV a fee of nine million euros. Kezman scored 105 goals in 123 games for PSV but only managed four goals in his one season at Chelsea. He also failed to live up to his billing at Atletico, scoring eight times in 30 Primera Liga appearances.
Munteanu: Veteran midfielder Dorinel Munteanu, recalled to Romania's squad earlier this month at the age of 38, said yesterday he wanted to play international soccer for another two years. Munteanu, who has scored 16 goals in 131 appearances for his country, was brought back by Romania coach Victor Piturca for the 2-0 friendly win over Cyprus on August 16. He is hoping to stay in the squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Bulgaria on Saturday and Albania four days later.
Samaras: Greece dropped Manchester City's Georgios Samaras from their squad yesterday for the Euro 2008 qualifier against Moldova on Saturday. Samaras, a late substitute in the 1-0 win over Arsenal at the weekend, made way for experienced AEK Athens striker Nikos Lyberopoulos who was left out for the friendly against England on August 16.
Scottish League Cup: Draw for the third round - Hibernian vs Gretna; Queen's Park vs Motherwell; Inverness vs Falkirk; St Johnstone vs Dundee United; Kilmarnock vs Livingston; Dunfermline vs Rangers; Celtic vs St Mirren; Alloa vs Hearts. Ties: September 19 and 20.
In England: Premier League - Middlesbrough 0 Portsmouth 4 (Kanu 7, 57; Mwaruwari 50; Todorov 90). The Championship - Sunderland vs West Brom 2-0.
In Spain: Primera Liga - Celta Vigo vs Barcelona 2-3.