Helguera: Real Madrid's Ivan Helguera says he wants to clear the air with Luis Aragones after the Spain coach decided not to call him up to cover for injuries to two of the national side's centre-backs. Helguera said he was mystified by Aragones's failure to draft him into the squad after Valencia's Carlos Marchena and David Navarro were forced to drop out of tomorrow's World Cup Group Seven qualifier against Serbia. "I ask myself why I haven't been called up and I just hope that it is nothing personal," Helguera said.
Ireland: Ireland manager Brian Kerr will make at least four changes to his starting line-up for today's friendly against China after a 1-1 draw in their World Cup qualifier against Israel at the weekend. Kerr said goalkeeper Paddy Kenny, defender Richard Dunne and midfielders Andy Reid and Graham Kavanagh were all likely to start. "I'll certainly use Kenny at the start. He's playing well for his club and he has to get international experience," Kerr said. China are rebuilding after failing to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. Coach Zhu Guanghu was appointed earlier this month following the dismissal of Dutchman Arie Haan.
Defiant Coach: Brazilian Carlos Alberto is determined to stay on as Azerbaijan coach despite his team's humiliating 8-0 defeat in a World Cup qualifier at the weekend. Azeri media reported yesterday that Carlos Alberto would resign after the 8-0 drubbing by Poland in European Group Six on Saturday, but the Brazilian said: "I wouldn't be here (in Baku) if I had resigned. I think one should not leave the team now but pool all the efforts and work together."
Mourinho: Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho said yesterday that he wants to coach Portugal before retiring. Mourinho said he did not want the England job, but coaching his own country was part of his ambitions. "My idea is to work for 13 (more) years, so if I can spend four of them with the Portuguese national team, I have nine years in English soccer," he said. "The England job is not for me. First of all the team is in good hands and secondly when Sven decides to go or when the English FA decide that it's time for Sven to go I believe that it is a job for an Englishman."
Kalou: Ivory Coast have given up trying to persuade Dutch-based striker Salomon Kalou to play for them, officials said yesterday. The 19-year-old Feyenoord striker has rejected several invitations to join the team, which is on course to reach the 2006 World Cup, even though his elder brother Bonaventure is the captain. Ivorian FA president Jacques Anouma said they had given Kalou a deadline but that he had not responded. Anouma added that Lecce defender Axel Konan would also no longer be considered.