Divine Intervention: Mexico's religious leaders blessed the national soccer team on Saturday before the players left for Europe to prepare for the World Cup finals. Catholic Cardinal Norberto Rivera addressed 21 squad members, dressed in suits and green ties to match the Mexican strip, at a mass in the capital's huge Basilica of Guadalupe attended by thousands of fans. The cardinal gave them pictures of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's most revered image, and they presented him with an autographed ball as chants rang round the church. Mexico will play friendlies with France and the Netherlands before the World Cup starts next month.
Viduka: Striker Mark Viduka has been handed the task of leading Australia at their first World Cup finals for 32 years. The 30-year-old Middlesbrough forward was named captain of the Socceroos by coach Guus Hiddink yesterday and said he was honoured to have been selected ahead of former skipper Craig Moore. "To be honest, it was with mixed emotions because when he (Hiddink) told me he said I looked like a 60-year-old," Viduka told reporters of the moment the Dutchman broke the news.
Benfica: Benfica have appointed Portuguese Fernando Santos as their new coach, the Lisbon club announced at a news conference on Saturday. The former Sporting, AEK Athens and Porto trainer, 51, will sign a two-year contract. He replaces Dutchman Ronald Koeman who resigned earlier this month to join PSV Eindhoven after Benfica finished the season in third place in the Portuguese League, failing to secure an automatic Champions League spot.
Hagi: Former Romania playmaker Gheorghe Hagi has resigned for the second time as coach of first division Politehnica Timisoara, saying he could not stop his team's run of poor results, a club official said. Politehnica Timisoara lost 2-0 at home to Otelul Galati on Saturday. They are eighth in the table 14 points behind leaders Steaua Bucharest. "Hagi announced his decision soon after the match," Politehnica Timisoara director Ion Craciunescu told Reuters yesterday. "He assumed the whole responsibility for his team's bad results."
Dawson: Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson has been put on stand-by for England's World Cup squad after Luke Young withdrew with an ankle injury, the Football Association said yesterday. Central defender Dawson will join the rest of the England squad at their training camp in Portugal today. "It's amazing really and caps a fantastic season for both myself and the club," Dawson told Tottenham's website.