Nowotny: New Bayer Leverkusen coach Michael Skibbe hopes he will soon be able to recall suspended former captain Jens Nowotny. Defender Nowotny is involved in a legal battle with Leverkusen over sick pay and has been told by the club he cannot play for them. "I personally get along with him very well," Skibbe said. Nowotny, 31, is ready for a comeback from the latest in a series of knee injuries. He is seeking six months sick pay from Leverkusen rather than the legal minimum of six weeks.
Drogba: Chelsea striker Didier Drogba hopes Ivory Coast will be drawn with France at next year's World Cup finals in Germany. The Ivory Coast captain dreams of revenge against the French after the Elephants were trounced 3-0 in August in a friendly. "It would be great to be drawn with France. Beating them would be revenge after the Montpellier game," Drogba said. Ivory Coast take on Italy in Geneva on Wednesday.
Zidane: France are falling short of their best and need to improve to do well at next year's World Cup, Real Madrid playmaker Zinedine Zidane said yesterday. "It's way too short for the moment. At the World Cup, we'll have to do better, all together," Zidane said. Zidane, who missed the two games with a groin injury, said France had improved since coach Raymond Domenech took over from Jacques Santini in July 2004. "There was a little something missing, a victory, a little bit of confidence. That is what we gained with our victory in Ireland last month," he said.
Great Squad: Sven-Goran Eriksson says the current England squad is the best he has ever had since taking charge of the national team. The Swede also sung the praises of strike partnership Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen after their goals clinched a tremendous 3-2 victory over Argentina on Saturday. "They play very good together," said Eriksson. "They are top class players, both of them. It seems our squad is much more mature every time it comes together. If we don't have injuries it's the best squad I ever had. I hope we can bring everyone to the World Cup."
Leonardo: Brazil will be clear favourites to win the World Cup for the sixth time when they take part in next year's tournament in Germany, says former World Cup-winning midfielder Leonardo, a figurehead and spokesman for the Milan foundation. "They have to accept their role as the favourites because no other team has so many great players as Brazil, just look at the team and you can see them," Leonardo said.
Friendly: Serbia and Montenegro beat China 2-0 yesterday in a friendly marred by rain and the poor quality of the Olympic Stadium pitch in Nanjing, eastern China. Defender Nenad Djordjevic got the Serbs' opener in the 48th minute and Nikola Zigic headed their second 16 minutes later. Serbia qualified for next year's World Cup finals in Germany. Other friendly (in Spain) - Poland vs Ecuador 3-0.