Asian heavyweights China and North Korea took their places in the Women’s Asian Cup semi-finals Friday with comprehensive wins over Thailand and Vietnam respectively.
Qu Feifei scored twice for China as they inched closer to defending their title with a 5-1 victory while the Koreans, who won the tournament in 2001 and 2003, swept past the host nation 3-0.
AC Milan have rejected an approach from Chelsea for permission to talk to coach Carlo Ancelotti about the vacant manager’s position at Stamford Bridge.
The Premier League and Champions League runners-up began their search for a new boss after sacking Avram Grant.
Iranian-American football manager Afshin Qotbi quit as coach of Iranian side Persepolis, just a week after guiding the club to the league title in his first year back in Iran, officials said Friday.
Qotbi, who returned to Iran last year after spending much of his life in the United States, is set to leave the country in the next few days with his South Korean wife.
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO v ENGLAND
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain
Date: Sunday, 1 June Kick-off: 2230 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC ONE, BBC Radio 5 Live/online
David Beckham has been named England captain for Sunday’s friendly against Trinidad & Tobago.
Wages and profits are up again in the English Premier League, but it lags behind Germany’s Bundesliga in terms of profitability, a study by accountants Deloitte showed Thursday.
Manchester United, fresh from winning another domestic title and the European Champions League, is the richest club in Britain with record operating profits of 66 million pounds (84 million euros, 130 million dollars).
Germany captain Michael Ballack said on Thursday he is confident his side can reach the Euro 2008 knock-out stages and will be in form for Saturday’s final warm-up with Serbia.
Germany were held 2-2 by minnows Belarus on Tuesday night and Ballack says while intensive training in Mallorca had taken its toll, the side will be stronger when they open their Euro 2008 campaign against Poland on June 8.
An early goal by Maciej Zurawski gave Euro 2008 finalists Poland a 1-0 win over Albania here on Tuesday.
The former Celtic striker struck in the third minute as the Poles put in a more impressive display than they had done on Monday in a 1-1 draw with Macedonia, albeit with a second string side.
Greek First Division side OFI Crete appointed seasoned Czech coach Frantisek Straka on Tuesday on a one year contract it was announced by the Czech Football Federation (CMFS).
The 50-year-old former Czechoslovakian international – who was part of the side that reached the last eight of the 1990 World Cup finals where they were beaten by eventual champions West Germany – said he was looking forward to the experience.
Chelsea received a double blow in their search for a successor to Avram Grant on Monday as Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini and Russia coach Guus Hiddink both denied they want the Stamford Bridge job.
David Bentley has warned David Beckham he is determined to end his England career.
The Blackburn Rovers winger will go head-to-head with Beckham for a place in manager Fabio Capello’s midfield for the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in September.
