Ismael: Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has turned down a reported offer from French centre-back Valerien Ismael to play for the 2006 World Cup hosts. Ismael, the 30-year-old Bayern Munich player, was quoted in German media as saying he was "waiting for Klinsmann's phone call" for a chance to represent Germany. "The call's not going to come," Klinsmann said. "He is a top player but he has no direct relation to Germany."
Police probe: Aleksei Eremenko has been excluded from Finland squad for today's World Cup qualifier against the Czech Republic after he became a suspect in a police investigation. The Finland FA did not say in a statement what the Finnish police was investigating, referring only to "events on the night from Saturday to Sunday" and saying the midfielder had "violated the team's internal rules of conduct".
Metzelder: Germany defender Christoph Metzelder is warning not to expect too much too soon as he prepares for the comeback he feared would never happen. Metzelder is set for a recall in Germany's friendly international against China today, 32 months and a career threatening injury on from his last appearance. The 24-year-old centre-back suffered a series of Achilles tendon injuries that kept him out of Euro 2004 and he has only recently gained full fitness after several setbacks.
Wome: Pierre Wome, whose missed penalty cost Cameroon a place in the World Cup finals, says he could have been killed by fans after Saturday's match and that his family is now living under police protection. Wome, who plays for Inter, struck an injury-time penalty against the post in the qualifier against Egypt, leaving the game to finish 1-1 and allow Ivory Coast to qualify for the finals ahead of Cameroon. "It could have ended very badly indeed," Wome said after returning to Inter's training camp yesterday. "They wanted to and could have killed me."
Beckham: England captain David Beckham will not be able to watch their final World Cup qualifier against Poland today after being called back to Spain for training with his club Real Madrid. Beckham is suspended for the Group Six game after being sent off in Saturday's 1-0 win over Austria which helped England to qualify for next year's finals. The midfielder had planned to be a spectator at Old Trafford.
UEFA U-21 Championship: Finland vs Czech Rep. 1-3; Netherlands vs Macedonia 4-0; Kazakhstan vs Denmark 1-1; Albania vs Turkey 1-1; Greece vs Georgia 3-0; Luxembourg vs Estonia 1-1; France vs Cyprus 2-0; Ireland vs Switzerland 0-1; Belarus vs Norway 2-3; Italy vs Moldova 1-0; Slovenia vs Scotland 3-0; Austria vs Germany 0-3; England vs Poland 4-1; Wales vs Azerbaijan 3-0; Serbia vs Bosnia 5-1; Lithuania vs Belgium 1-2; San Marino vs Spain 1-10.