Veteran Portuguese midfielder Luis Figo says he is heading into the World Cup drained after a demanding season at Inter Milan but he believes he will fully recover before the tournament gets under way in Germany on June 9.
Injured Everton midfielder Tim Cahill says he is well on the way to recovery from a knee ligament injury in the countdown to Australia’s World Cup opener with Japan in Kaiserslautern on June 12.
Cahill picked up the injury playing for Everton against Birmingham in the English Premier League on April 22.
Five-times World Cup champions Brazil have all the pressure on them ahead of their World Cup finals’ match with Australia in Germany next month, according to qualification hero John Aloisi.
Ivory Coasts’ talismanic striker Didier Drogba says he was fed up with Premiership football and was ready to ditch it for football on the mainland European continent.
The 28-year-old Chelsea star told the Sun that he was fed up with the constant criticism of his alleged diving in matches, though, he himself admitted to deliberate handball in a 2-0 victory over Manchester City last campaign.
Alain Goma was among several players released by English Premiership side Fulham.
The 33-year-old French defender joined Facundo Sava, Robert Watkins, Neale McDermott, Adam Green and Richard De Villiers in leaving the west London club’s Craven Cottage home.
There had been speculation that Goma’s contract, which expires shortly, would be renewed but contract negotiations faltered.
Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus signed a new two-year contract with the English Premiership that is set to keep the 32-year-old centre-half at Fratton Park until 2008.
However, the south coast club will not be offering fresh deals to several out-of-contract players including former Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld and striker Vincent Pericard, who has been on-loan at Plymouth.
Australian striker says he will be returning from Dutch club PSV Eindhoven to play with his hometown A-League club Melbourne Victory next season.
PSV Eindhoven has decided not to exercise its option to buy the Socceroos striker after he spent the past six months on loan in the Netherlands.
France international striker Djibril Cisse is ready to join French giants Marseille from FA Cup winners Liverpool should they launch a new bid.
The 24-year-old scored in the epic 3-3 draw with West Ham in the FA Cup final last Saturday, which Liverpool won on penalties, but is believed to be surplus to manager Rafael Benitez’ plans for next term.
Charlton have been granted permission to talk to Preston manager Billy Davies with a view to the Scot taking over as boss of the Premiership club.
Davies has guided Preston to the Championship play-offs in consecutive seasons, missing out on promotion to the top flight this year following a semi-final defeat by Leeds.
