Okocha: Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha will miss Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Zimbabwe due to a groin injury. Okocha also missed the World Cup qualifier against Algeria in Oran last month. Nigeria must win Saturday's game and hope Group Four leaders Angola fail to beat Rwanda in Kigali if they are to qualify for next year's World Cup finals in Germany.
Lazaroni: Former Brazil coach Sebastiao Lazaroni has been fired by Juventude after Tuesday's 3-2 defeat at Ponte Preta in the Brazilian championship. Lazaroni, who had been in charge for 16 games, became the third coach to leave the club since the competition started on April 23. He had replaced Zetti, who lasted only four games in the hot seat.
Tomasson: Stuttgart striker Jon Dahl Tomasson has been banned for three matches after being sent off against B. Dortmund on Sunday. The Dane clattered into Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller and was shown a red card in the 80th minute of the goalless draw. Tomasson's promising form has been one of the few positives for Stuttgart this season. He has scored four league goals since arriving from Milan.
Nowotny: Bayer Leverkusen have told former captain Jens Nowotny that his legal action against the club means he will no longer be able to play for them. Nowotny, who is nearing a comeback from the latest in a series of knee injuries, is seeking six months sick pay from Leverkusen rather than the legal minimum of six weeks. The former Germany international lost the case in September but is now in the process of appealing.
Dudek: Liverpool's Jerzy Dudek believes he is unlikely to play in Poland's potential World Cup Group Six decider against England next Wednesday. "In my opinion it will be Artur Boruc who starts at Old Trafford," Dudek, who is still returning to fitness after injuring his right elbow in early August, said. "Liverpool didn't want to release me after such a serious injury. I promised that I would be reasonable. But if the Poland coach says: 'Jerzy, you're no.1 and you have to play,' then I won't refuse."
Johnston: Former Scotland international striker Maurice "Mo" Johnston was named interim manager of Major League Soccer's MetroStars yesterday following the sacking of Bob Bradley. Johnston, 42, made headlines in 1989 when he moved to Rangers, becoming the first Catholic since the Second World War to join the club.
In Italy: Serie B - Arezzo vs Torino 1-2; Bari vs Mantova 1-1; Brescia vs Rimini 0-2; Catanzaro vs Avellino 1-2; Cesena vs Catania 1-0; Modena vs Crotone 1-0; Pescara vs Vicenza 3-1; Piacenza vs Atalanta 3-0; Triestina vs Ternana 2-0. Serie C - Perugia vs Torres 0-0.