Valcareggi: Ferruccio Valcareggi, coach of the Italy team which lost the 1970 World Cup final to Brazil, has died at the age of 86. Valcareggi was in charge when Italy won the European Championship in Rome in 1968 and two years later at the World Cup. In Mexico, Valcareggi's side took part in one of the most memorable games in World Cup history when they beat West Germany in the semi-final, 4-3 after extra time, to set up the final against Brazil. The Italians were crushed 4-1 by a superb, Pele-inspired Brazilian side in the final.
Best: Manchester United legend George Best appears to be gradually overcoming the illness that has kept him in hospital throughout October. Best, 59, was admitted to Cromwell Hospital in west London on October 2 but his condition deteriorated last week. The former United and Northern Ireland winger was supported by a ventilator after suffering internal bleeding and an infection. But Best's consultant Professor Roger Williams yesterday described Best's condition "greatly improved", although he will remain in intensive care at least for the next few days.
Sanchez: Mexican first division club UNAM yesterday named youth team coach Miguel Espana as the replacement for flamboyant former Real Madrid and Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez, who quit as coach the day before. Sanchez, widely regarded as the best player the country has ever produced, won two domestic titles during his four-year stint in charge but his team hit a slump this year.
Santa Cruz: Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz wants to postpone a knee operation until after his daughter is born, even if it hurts his World Cup chances. The Bayern Munich player will need five to six months to recover from the cruciate knee ligament injury he suffered on Saturday. That gives him little margin of error in proving his fitness for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, which starts on June 9, but the 24-year-old is not going to rush his comeback. "The birth is the most important thing at the moment," he said. "I definitely want to be there. If I'm out for six months, two weeks doesn't add much more to it.
Hearts: Wim van Hanegem has put his name forward for the vacant manager's job at Hearts while former England manager Bobby Robson expressed reservations after George Burley's shock dismissal. Burley left 11 days ago despite steering the club to the top of the Scottish Premier League, after a showdown with club owner Vladimir Romanov. "I have no doubt my vision for football would fit the mentality of the Scottish game where standards of the clubs and the national team have risen," van Hamegen said.
Lotina: Primera Liga strugglers Espanyol have decided to keep faith with coach Miguel Angel Lotina after an emergency board meeting to discuss his future. The club said that they had brought forward a meeting originally scheduled for yesterday to "end the speculation" over their coach's future. Lotina's position was cast into doubt following the team's poor start to the season, which has seen them drop to 19th place in the 20-team first division with eight points from 10 games.
In England: The Championship - Coventry vs Stoke 1-2; Derby vs Ipswich 3-3.