England tour: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says England's tour of the United States in May will exhaust players after a long Premier League season. "I cannot understand the logic of going to the United States. Half of the team will pull out anyway and the other half will be going after 55 games," said Wenger. "I am not at all happy to lose Ashley (Cole) and Sol (Campbell). On one hand you want the England national team to have a four-week break before the World Cup in 2006. But then you don't want to give them a holiday after a long and exhausting season." England will play the US on May 28 in Chicago, a week after the FA Cup final, and Colombia in New Jersey on May 31.
Croatia: Croatia will host world champions Brazil in a friendly in Split on August 17, officials announced yesterday. "I expect a great game and huge interest, particularly because the match comes in the midst of the tourist season," Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjcar told reporters. It is the first time Croatia face Brazil since the former Yugoslav republic gained independence in 1991. With Croatia and Hungary having submitted a joint bid to host the 2012 European Championship, the Croatian FA are hoping the match will boost their chances of staging the event.
Spain: Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia and Arsenal striker Jose Antonio Reyes have been recalled to the Spanish squad for a friendly against China and the World Cup qualifier against Serbia & Montenegro. Spain coach Luis Aragones also named Deportivo La Coruna forward Juan Carlos Valeron in the 22-man squad. Four new faces have also been included with defenders Sergio Ramos and David Navarro, midfielder Antonio Lopez and striker Mista all being rewarded for their recent displays in the Primera Liga.
Van Nistelrooy and Robben return: Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben have been named in the Dutch squad for the World Cup Group One qualifiers against Romania and Armenia after recovering from injuries. The English Premier League forwards missed last month's friendly match with England but could start in Romania on March 26 and in Eindhoven against Armenia on March 30. Van Nistelrooy made his comeback for Manchester United three weeks ago after an Achilles problem while Robben has still not played for Chelsea since breaking his foot in early February.
Korea: South Korea will play their reclusive communist neighbours North Korea in the East Asian championships on August 4, a spokeswoman for the Korea Football Association said yesterday. The game will take place in the South Korean city of Chonju. Japan and China are also taking part in the tournament that kicks off in South Korea on July 31. The two Koreas met in a World Cup qualifier in 1993 when the South won 3-0. In their last meeting in September 2002, they drew 0-0 in a friendly in Seoul.
In England: The Championship - West Ham vs Leicester 2-2. League One - Tranmere vs Peterborough 5-0.
UEFA chief executive Lars-Christer Olsson says the European governing body will not hesitate to take action against those who damage soccer's reputation in the wake of referee Anders Frisk's resignation. UEFA and Chelsea have been involved in a heated exchange since Frisk's retirement with Jose Mourinho questioning the reason for the Swede's decision and UEFA's referee committee chairman Volker Roth criticising the Chelsea manager for damaging soccer. UEFA has since distanced itself from the growing row and will not sanction Chelsea but Olsson said: "We will not hesitate to take action against those not performing in a proper way."