Serbia: Serbia coach Javier Clemente has named uncapped midfielder Milan Smiljanic to replace suspended captain Dejan Stankovic in his squad for the Euro 2008 qualifier at Belgium on August 22. Smiljanic moved to Primera Liga side Espanyol from Partizan Belgrade during the close season after impressive performances at the European Under-21 championship in The Netherlands in June. Valencia striker Nikola Zigic returns to the Serbian squad after missing the previous two qualifiers through suspension.

Chelsea: If Chelsea avoid defeat against Birmingham City today they will extend their unbeaten league record at Stamford Bridge to 64 games, beating the English top flight sequence of 63 games set by Liverpool at Anfield between February 1978 and January 1981.

Gilberto: Arsenal's Brazilian midfielder Gilberto will miss the season-opener against Fulham today. Manager Arsene Wenger has given him more time to recover from the Copa America tournament. Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is also out as he has not recovered from a groin problem.

Braga: Abel Braga has returned to coach world club champions Internacional, four months after quitting the job. The Porto Alegre-based club said on their website that Braga was replacing Alexandre Gallo, who became the 25th coaching casualty of the year among Brazil's 20 first division clubs when he was sacked on Friday.

Dutch Super Cup final: Ajax vs PSV Eindhoven 1-0.

Friendly matches played yesterday: Vitesse Arnhem vs Athletic Bilbao 0-1; AZ Alkmaar vs Inter 4-2; FC Twente vs Mallorca 2-2; Juventus vs Roma 5-2.

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