German optimism: Germany's sport minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said he got smacked by his father as a young boy for predicting West Germany would win the 1954 World Cup, and is now again sure the team will win. "I'm a hopeless optimist," said Schaeuble, who is also Germany's interior minister. "In 1954 I knew we would win and said 'Germany will win the world championship'," he said. But when West Germany fell behind 2-0 to favourites Hungary in the first half, Schaeuble said his father blamed him and smacked him in the face. West Germany scored three goals in the second half to win the first of the country's three World Cups.

Motherwell: Motherwell named former Scotland defender Maurice Malpas as their manager yesterday following the departure of Terry Butcher. Malpas had been assistant to Butcher who has taken charge of Australian side Sydney FC.

Santini: Auxerre have dismissed coach Jacques Santini after his failure to get the Ligue 1 side into Europe. The club said in a brief statement yesterday that they had ended their collaboration with the former France and Tottenham Hotspur coach. Auxerre had a good start to the season but then ran out of steam, finishing sixth and out of the European places after going five matches without a win.

Primera Liga: The last Primera Liga match of the season between Athletic Bilbao and champions Barcelona has been moved from tomorrow to Saturday at 9 p.m. The game will be played without internationals who have been called up for World Cup duty.

Assauer: Schalke 04 general manager Rudi Assauer has stepped down, the Bundesliga club said yesterday. Assauer has resigned all his posts with the club. He had been criticised for his treatment of former coach Ralf Rangnick, who was fired just before the winter break even though he led Schalke into the Champions League and oversaw one of the most successful periods in the club's history. One of the Bundesliga's most colourful managers, the cigar-chomping Assauer had been set to step down as general manager at the end of the season to become the club's president.

In Gozo: GFA Cup SF - Kercem vs Nadur 4-2. Kercem play Ghajnsielem in final on Sunday.

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