Barca-Bayern: European champions Barcelona will play Bayern Munich in the annual Hans Gamper trophy in late August. The German champions follow Juventus and Milan who have been Barca's opponents in the last two editions of the trophy, which is the traditional curtain-raiser to the Catalan club's season. Barca said the date of the game had not yet been confirmed, but that it was likely to take place on August 22, three days before they play fellow Spaniards Sevilla in the European Super Cup in Monaco.
Anti-World Cup: A group of Dutch women, fed up with their partners' obsession with soccer, have joined forces to revolt against the World Cup. "We, the Women for Football-free Netherlands, have rebelled against the World Cup. Get rid of the World Cup once and forever," their website (www.wegmethetwk.nl) says.
Rennes: Stade Rennes coach Laszlo Boloni is preparing to join Ligue 1 rivals Monaco, Rennes president Emmanuel Cueff said yesterday. "It's possible that Laszlo Boloni may no longer be trainer of Stade Rennes if a certain number of details can be settled with Monaco," he said. Boloni took the club to seventh place in Ligue 1 in the season just ended. French media reports have speculated that current Monaco trainer Francesco Guidolin could be on the way out after less than a year in charge after failing to get the club higher than 10th place last season.
Kewell: Injured Australia striker Harry Kewell has joined up with his team-mates at their training camp in the Netherlands. Kewell missed Australia's 1-0 win over European champions Greece in Melbourne on Thursday to remain in England for treatment on his injured groin. The Liverpool striker will also miss this week's friendly against Holland and possibly the final warm-up against Liechtenstein but expects to be ready for Australia's opening World Cup Group F match against Japan on June 12.
No exams: Hundreds of students at a Bangladesh university besieged the office of their vice-chancellor demanding exams be postponed during the World Cup. The Bangladesh University of Engineering had announced exams would run from June 3 to 29, ignoring a call from the students to defer the tests for a month. The authorities called in the police but they did not try to break up the protest.