As had been widely reported, the Manchester United man's name was missing from Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad when it was unveiled by the Football Association.

Ferdinand's long-time central defensive partner John Terry was included while Wayne Rooney got the nod despite being suspended for England's first two group games.

Hodgson's firm decision about injury-plagued Ferdinand appears to signal the end of his 81-cap England career.

Ferdinand last featured for his country in the EURO 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June last year, although he was selected for the friendly against Netherlands the following August which was postponed due to the London riots.

England squad for Euro 2012:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich).

Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry (Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton).

Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man United), James Milner (Man City).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd), Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).

Substitute Sergio van Dijk's strike and an Akihiro Sato own goal in the second half sealed a deserved victory for the Reds, who will be Australia's sole representatives in the knockout stages.

The prize that awaits the triumphant Reds is a clash with Japanese outfit Nagoya Grampus at Hindmarsh Stadium on 29 May.

The J.League side - home to Australia striker Josh Kennedy - put Central Coast Mariners to the sword on Tuesday night and will present the Reds with a formidable challenge.

However, with travel considerations making home advantage particularly beneficial in Asia, the Reds will fancy being able to maintain their stunning Champions League form.

Unable to qualify for the next round Gamba made nine changes to the side that played in the domestic J.League at the weekend, resting a host of key players including club linchpin Yasuhito Endo.

Adelaide coach John Kosmina kept faith in the side that earned a point at home against Uzbek side Bunyodkor two weeks ago, with Iain Fyfe making his first start of the campaign in the absence of injured utility Osama Malik.

Livewire midfielder Iain Ramsay was at the core of much that was good about Adelaide in an attacking sense, particularly early on.

At the other end, Nigel Boogaard made a few telling interventions to keep the home team at bay.

The recently re-signed Adelaide defender showed a timely touch to deny Gamba on three occasions in the first half, while goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic was forced into a sharp save on the stroke of half time.

Van Dijk's introduction proved pivotal.

Fullback Daniel Mullen produced a measured cross from the right that was expertly glanced home by the Dutchman in the 67th minute for his first goal of the campaign.

The match sealer came with just three minutes to play after van Dijk was denied his second by a fingertip save from Gamba shot stopper Yosuke Fujigawa.

From the resultant Dario Vidosic corner, Gamba striker Sato turned the ball into his own net at the near post, capping a forgettable night for the host but an equally memorable one for Adelaide.

Although neither side could progress past the group stage based on the outcome of the match, it was still an exciting and fiery encounter in front of a crowd of 5615 at Suncorp Stadium.

A combined total of five yellow cards was handed out during the clash.

It was Roar who was first to find its rhythm, with Besart Berisha opening the scoring in the 15th minute after some classy lead-up play from Mitch Nichols and Kofi Danning.

Danning was in the thick of the action for the next 10 minutes, being a key figure in three more goalscoring opportunities.

But Roar wasted its attacking moments and was made to rue its lack of execution when Beijing midfielder Li Hanbo levelled the scores with a powerful right-foot strike in the 34th minute.

Roar was once again the dominant side in the second half, spending the majority of the latter stages of the match laying siege to the Beijing goal.

But a strong defensive effort from Beijing, led ably by goalkeeper Bai Xiaolei, ensured that the scores remained locked up at fulltime.

The game had to be stopped twice late on, the first time after Hertha fans threw fireworks on to the pitch and the second when Fortuna supporters invaded it with one minute remaining, prompting a 15-minute delay as the teams to left the pitch and police and stewards tried to restore order.

The match ended 2-2 on the night, with Fortuna winning 4-3 on aggregate to replace Hertha in the Bundesliga next season.

The pitch invasion came during seven minutes of stoppage time and Rehhagel was disturbed by the scenes.

"It was catastrophic, I never experienced anything like it," said the 73-year-old.

"I could not have imagined something like that being possible in Dusseldorf.

"It really could have ended in a catastrophe."

Fortuna coach Norbert Meier praised the way in which referee Wolfgang Stark dealt with the situation.

"We all want to see football," he said.

"Quite honestly, I was pleased that Mr Stark kept such a cool head and was a relaxing influence on both sides.

"Compliments must go to Mr Stark for his performance."

Hertha finished the game with 10 men and Rehhagel claimed Anis Ben-Hatira's red card cost the capital club its place in the Bundesliga.

Ben-Hatira was sent off in the 54th minute of the match, picking up a second yellow card when the game was finely poised at 1-1 and Rehhagel's side was pushing for a goal which would have levelled the tie.

"Of course it is a great disappointment for us that we were unfortunately unable to make it," said Rehhagel, whose short-term contract has now expired.

"We had to play with a man less yet again. If we had remained with 11 men then we would have been able to cause them more problems.

"We were only a few inches away and had we not got the red card, then I think we would have been able to gain more from this game."

The 36-year-old's future is up in the air with his current deal with the Rossoneri outfit ending next month.

He does not want to call time on his career, though, telling Italian TV station LA 7: "I have taken a week to decide. I don't want to retire.

"I will play for another two or three years and I don't exclude anything, not even the possibility to remain at Milan."

Seedorf, a four-time UEFA Champions League winner, scored two goals in 18 league appearances for Milan this season.

The Dutchman joined the Serie A giant in 2002 from city rival Inter Milan.

Montella is the favourite to replace Luis Enrique after the Spaniard announced last week he would not continue in charge despite having one year left on his contract.

Reports in Rome claim the Eternal City giant is willing to offer Montella a two-year deal with an optional third year.

"I would be delighted if Montella returned," De Rossi said. "I always thought he was a good coach and his experience in Catania has confirmed that."

Montella guided Roma to end sixth in Serie A in 2010-2011, having taken over as caretaker boss in the February, but was not offered a contract extension to remain at the Stadio Olimpico.

He joined Catania last summer and led them to a respectable 11th-placed finish this season, while Roma finished outside of the European places in seventh.

The centre-back picked up a right thigh strain in Juve's final game of the Serie A season against Atalanta on Monday (AEST) and the Turin club confirmed he will be out for 20 days.

Chiellini, who was included in coach Cesare Prandelli's preliminary squad for this northern summer's tournament in Poland and Ukraine, will miss Monday's Coppa Italia final against Napoli.

The 27-year-old missed just four league games this season and was key in helping new champion Juve finish with the best defensive record in the division with only 20 goals conceded in 38 games.

Italy begins its EURO 2012 campaign against world and European champion Spain on 11 June before taking on Group C rival Croatia four days later and Republic of Ireland on 18 June.

It's understood Popovic signed after final talks with Football Federation Australia officials on Wednesday, putting the first major block in place as the team prepares to enter the competition in 2012-2013.

The appointment, believed to be on a four-year deal, will be announced at a media conference at 1200 (AEST) on Thursday.

The name, colours and home ground of the new team are also expected to be announced.

The announcement comes after Popovic quit his post and was formally released as assistant coach of Crystal Palace in England and he knocked back an offer from Sydney FC this week.

Sydney installed Ian Crook as its coach on Monday.

After assistant coaching roles with Sydney and Crystal Palace, Popovic is set for his first head coaching job.

Popovic will be charged with the considerable task of building the club's squad from scratch and will turn his immediate focus to player recruitment.

Adelaide's former A-League player of the year Marcos Flores, Carlos Hernandez, Issey Nakajima-Farran, Tarek Elrich, Kasey Wehrman, Ali Abbas, Michael Thwaite, Adam Griffiths and Ante Covic are among players to have been linked with the club.

Popovic will also be able to draw on his coaching and playing experiences playing in England, Asia and the Middle East in recruiting a squad.

Sydney-born Popovic started his playing career with Sydney United before spells with Japan's Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Crystal Palace, Qatar's Al Arabi and Sydney.

He was capped 59 times for Australia in 12 years and was part of the Socceroos squad at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

The new franchise will likely wait to announce a team name with a series of public forums settling on Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers as the leading contenders with the team colours tipped to be red, black and white.

Now he wants to play an active part in the blue riband event of Asian club football with Guangzhou R&F.

Griffiths quit the Mariners in the second part of the last A-League season to sign a two-year contract with the Chinese club.

"I was really, really looking forward to playing in this year's ACL before the opportunity to join Guangzhou came up," the 24-year-old said.

"I always wanted to play against the best Asian teams and in a way it's a shame I'm not playing for the Mariners anymore.

"I'm disappointed also because they are a great group of boys.

"I still support them and I followed their match against Nagoya Grampus online, same as I have done for all their A-League and ACL matches since I left.

"I thought they did particularly well to get that 5-1 win over Tianjin two weeks ago."

Guangzhou's strong start to the Chinese Super League season has rekindled English-born Griffiths's dream of playing in the ACL.

The team trails leader and crosstown rival Guangzhou Evergrande by one point after 10 matches and if current form is maintained, Griffiths should reach his Asian ambition in 2013.

"The chance to play in my first ACL is providing me with an incentive to do well with Guangzhou and finish in the top three, which would guarantee us participation," he said.

"Our coach (Sergio Farias) is pretty keen to get back in the ACL because he has won it in 2009 with Pohang Steelers.

"The fans now realise that we are going to be quite competitive this season and the big boss who owns the club has told us he is expecting us to go on and make the ACL next season."

Griffiths, who made his name as a skilful defensive midfielder with North Queensland Fury and later with the Mariners, said he was taken aback by the overall level of the Super League.

"I've been surprised with the standard actually," he said.

"The games are quite good and the players generally have high individual technique.

"The weather's a bit cooler so the pace tends to be faster than that in Australia.

"The main difference is over here play is less structured because players do not have the same tactical discipline you find in the A-League.

"My Aussie 'background' has come in handy because I'm probably the only one in the team who sticks to his position for the whole match and keeps the team ticking over.

"The forwards generally do not track back when we lose the ball so that gives us at the back more work ... thankfully our four defenders are pretty solid."

Griffiths is one of five foreigners in the Guangzhou club that is chasing its first Chinese championship.

The other four are Brazilian, same as coach Farias.

"We play with four at the back, three in the middle and three up front and I'm the defensive midfielder," Griffiths explained.

"Two of the Brazilians are pretty good, especially our No 10 Davi, and we've also got a couple of talented Chinese blokes.

"The coach likes us to pass the ball, dominate possession and attack as much as possible but in some games, because the attackers are just attackers and don't defend, we have to do a lot of defending."

Griffiths said he has just about adjusted to life in southern China and was pleased to note that the city of Guangzhou was as appealing and easy to live in as he was led to believe.

"I was told by the club that it is one of the best in China and I'm enjoying the city because it is modern and clean and has a 'western' feel to it," he said.

"The food is good and there are many places serving 'western' fare.

"You see some things you are not used to in some takeaway places but touch wood I have never been sick."

Griffiths has become a popular figure among Guangzhou's fans and he was invited to join the Chinese version of Twitter called Weibo. What followed staggered him.

"I got a 1000 followers on the first day and I'm up to about 3000 now and I've been on it for only five days," he said.

"The problem is that the vast majority of the tweets are in Chinese and I can't understand a thing. Thankfully some of them are in English."

The out-of-contract Costa Rica international revealed, that he was dumped via an email by Victory managing director Richard Wilson, in a Facebook note to Victory fans on Wednesday afternoon.

"I want to thank all the Melbourne Victory fans for all your continuing support," Hernandez wrote from Costa Rica.

"I know the club has not informed you that I won't be continuing with them.

"I received an email from Richard Wilson, so I want to thank you with all my heart.

"I love you. You'll be in my heart forever. Thanks you Australia and especially Melbourne for opening your doors to me.

"Farewell from your great friend, Carlos Hernandez."

Hernandez, who won the A-League Premiership/Championship double in 2008-2009 and was voted the best player in the A-League in 2009-2010, leaves Melbourne after 36 goals in 121 appearances in five years.

Last Wednesday afternoon Victory confirmed Hernandez would not be returning for another A-League campaign.

"The club has spent considerable time negotiating with Carlos, but ultimately it was unable to agree to terms," a club statement read.

Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou explained Hernandez's departure.

"The club engaged in discussions with Carlos, but couldn’t reach agreement and will now move in a different direction," Postecoglou said.

"This provides some clarity for us to seek out and secure key players with our remaining visa spots."

Earlier in the day, Postecoglou said he wanted to free up salary cap space to start the rebuilding at the club, with the reported $350,000 a season 30-year-old Hernandez is seeking viewed as too much for a player with a questionable work rate and fitness.

"It looks like it's becoming increasingly difficult to fit him in," Postecoglou said. "From my point of view, I need to change things here.

"I want to play a different style of football and when you look at Carlos, he's out of contract.

"With the salary cap, I just think we need a little bit more to manoeuvre with. This is my opportunity to change things around. It's going to be very hard to fit Carlos in there."

Renowned for his long-range goals, Hernandez had been linked with a possible move to Adelaide United, though his salary demands would suggest a move overseas is more likely.

But the news is brighter for Harry Kewell, who is understood to be close to agreeing to a new deal to stay at Victory.

After re-organising the club's football department, Postecoglou is keen to nail down his foreign signings first, earmarking a central defender and defensive midfielder as priorities to strengthen the squad.

The size of Kewell's pay packet is also set to determine the level of Victory's spending on new players.

"We found in Brisbane if you get the right foreigners in the mix, you can certainly make a difference," Postecoglou said.

"Our first couple of signings will be foreigners.

"That's where I want to spend the cash first. Then we'll see what we have for Australian players."

Victory has released out-of-contract veterans Ante Covic and Grant Brebner.

But Postecoglou said their release was not necessarily a comment on the players, more about creating the freedom to bring in the right new talent.

"When you're restricted by salary caps, if you want to make changes, you have to make decisions and release people," Postecoglou said.

"It's my opportunity to stamp my authority on the club, and my style on the club. And that releases some spots where I can bring some people in."

Matildas coach Tom Sermanni picked 31 players for the three-day gathering at the Australian Institute of Sport.

The Aussies take on New Zealand in late June at WIN Stadium in Wollongong prior to a meeting with Japan in Tokyo on 11 July.

"With the matches in June against New Zealand fast approaching it's time to start pushing the younger players to force themselves into selection and also for some of the more experienced players to start guiding the team towards competitive football," Sermanni said.

"We are bringing in some of our injured players for treatment too which will help us get a better idea of who will be available for the New Zealand and Japan matches.

"I just read on her Twitter account that Bubs (Westfield Matildas captain Melissa Barbieri) has been given the all clear to train (after ankle surgery) which is a great boost for the squad."

Matildas development squad is:
ALLEN Teigen
ANDREWS Tara
BISSET Jennifer
BOLGER Nicola
BROGAN Danielle
BROWN Ashley
BRUSH Ellie
CANNULI Catherine
CATLEY Stephanie
CHECKER Emma
COOPER Caitlin
FOORD Caitlin
KENNEDY Alanna
PERRY Ellyse
POLIAS Teresa
POLKINGHORNE Clare
RASO Hayley
ROLLASON Renee
SLATYER Thea
SYKES Nicole
WALSH Sarah
YEOMAN-DALE Georgia
BARBIERI Melissa (GK)
ARNOLD Mackenzie (GK)
BURKE Trudy (GK)
COLTHORPE Lauren (INJ)
DAVEY Brianna (INJ-GK)
GARRIOCK Heather (INJ)
KERR Samantha (INJ)
POPOVIC Vedrana (INJ)
WILLIAMS Lydia (INJ)

Ian Crook was on Monday appointed as the Sky Blues' new head coach and his promotion from the youth team might also signal the elevation of some youngsters into the senior team.

With the coaching role filled, the club will shift its focus on recruiting new players, with Crook saying the process will begin this week.

McFlynn said the veterans in the squad aren't concerned.

"We're not threatened, not at all. That's progression," McFlynn said.

"We've got a hell of a lot of good players already at this club and we've got maybe five or six of them who will make that step up from the youth side.

"Maybe three or four fresh faces will come into the first team too, and that's exciting. That's the future of the club."

Joel Chianese, who was last season promoted from the youth team in April to make his debut in the senior side, said Crook's appointment had given other young players hope they might also get an opportunity.

"Crook's appointment is really exciting for the younger players," Chianese said. "They're probably thinking maybe they will get more of an opportunity.

"But he's got to get results because it's his job on the line as well."

The awards will be presented at a function in Brisbane on Wednesday 13 June in conjunction with the Football Media Association (FMA).

The PFA awards to be presented are:

:: PFA Footballer of the Year, Previously won by Tim Cahill (2009), Mark Schwarzer (2010) and Matt McKay (2011);

Nominees
Besart Berisha, Brisbane Roar (Australia)
Thomas Broich, Brisbane Roar (Australia)
Alex Brosque, Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan)
Adam Federici, Reading FC (England)
Brett Holman, AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands)
Josh Kennedy, Nagoya Grampus (Japan)
Luke Wilkshire, Dinamo Moscow (Russia)
Patrick Zwaanswijk, Central Coast Mariners (Australia)

:: PFA Harry Kewell Medal for Australia's best male player under the age of 23, previously won by Nikita Rukavytsya (2009), Mitch Langerak (2010) and Robbie Kruse (2011);

Nominees
Aziz Behich, Melbourne Heart (Australia)
James Brown, Gold Coast United (Australia)
Luke Devere, Gyeongnam (Korea)
Mate Dugandzic, Melbourne Heart (Australia)
Ryan McGowan, Heart of Midlothian (Scotland)
Mitch Nichols, Brisbane Roar (Australia)
Matt Ryan, Central Coast Mariners (Australia)
Rhys Williams, Middlesbrough FC (England)

The men's nominees are being voted on by the more than 300 professional footballers playing in the A-League and in other leagues around the world.

:: PFA Women's Footballer of the Year, won by Servet Uzunlar in 2010 and Elise Kellond-Knight in 2011.

Nominees
Caitlin Foord, Sydney FC (Australia)
Elise Kellond-Knight, Brisbane Roar (Australia)/Fortuna Hjorring (Denmark)
Sally Shipard, Canberra United (Australia)/ Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)
Lydia Williams, Canberra United (Australia)/ Pitea IF Dam (Sweden)

The PFA Women’s Footballer of the Year Award will be voted for by the Matildas.

"Anywhere in the world, the most coveted individual honour a player can receive is the one voted on by his or her peers," PFA President and Melbourne Heart defender Simon Colosimo said.

"With more and more players having the opportunity to earn their living from football, the PFA Footballer of the Year Awards are more competitive than ever." The PFA’s highest honour, the PFA Alex Tobin Medal, will also be presented to a current or former professional who has demonstrated leadership, achievement as a player, service and dedication to the game and commitment to the wellbeing of fellow professionals.

The four previous recipients of the award are:– the late Johnny Warren, Joe Marston, Craig Johnston and Mark Viduka.

The FMA will also be presenting the winners of its International Footballer of the Year (men and women) at the awards, the evening after Australia takes on Japan in a FIFA 2014 World Cup qualifier.

Shannon Cole, Michael Beauchamp and Scott Jamieson are all off contract with the club, which has been waiting for the appointment of a new coach to decide the players' fate.

With Crook - who was on Monday promoted from youth team coach to the head coaching role - now in charge, decisions will be made.

Crook said he'd sit down with Sky Blues football director Gary Cole, assistant coach Steve Corica and goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac to sort out various team issues.

"Certainly over the next 72 hours we'll start nutting some real serious things down," Crook said at his first training session at the helm on Wednesday.

"We probably have three things to discuss: players that we've got here and what we'll do for them, players that are out of contract, and players that we're looking to bring in."

Crook, who is a former Norwich City and Tottenham Hotspur player, said it had been "a bit of whirlwind" since his appointment and the phone was running hot with not only well-wishers but player agents.

"Maybe I was a bit sceptical about what the feeling would be out there, but it's been great and for that I'm delighted," he said.

"Most of the phone calls have been well-wishers at the moment, even the agents, but I'm sure their next call will be 'what about this player, what about that player'."

With Brazilian import Bruno Cazarine leaving the club, Crook pinpointed the forward stocks as a priority when recruitment begins.

The Englishman denied new owner, Russian billionaire David Traktovenko, would have an input in the search for new players.

"Up front is a vital area for us and I'll go anywhere whether it's Penrith or Peterborough in England, as long as it's somebody I believe will do a job for this club," Crook said.

"And I can honestly say that I haven't had one comment from anybody board-related that said to me 'what about this player'."

Messi has carried off the accolade in each of the last three years, collecting his third award in January.

But Mourinho believes Ronaldo would be a worthy winner when the awards come around again, pointing out that a huge part of Real's Primera Liga success this season came due to the remarkable goalscoring feats of the former Manchester United forward.

Although Ronaldo's 46 league goals were not enough to beat Barcelona's Messi to the title of the league's top scorer, known as the Pichichi, they steered Madrid to the title.

And for that reason Mourinho believes his 27-year-old compatriot should be rewarded by FIFA when Ballon d'Or voting takes place.

The Madrid boss told Portuguese TV station SIC: "Cristiano has to win the Ballon d'Or, not because he has been the top goalscorer, he was that already last season, but because his goals have delivered a title."

"Messi scored 50 goals that weren't worth anything, in the same way that Cristiano scored 42 last season that didn't stand for anything."

"He hasn't been able to win the Pichichi and I believe he should be compensated with the Ballon d'Or."

Mourinho described his first league title in Spain as the toughest he has ever won.

The 49-year-old manager has now won seven championships in four different countries, after collecting two league titles each with Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.

But he believes overcoming Barcelona has been the biggest challenge of his career.

He told Portuguese sport newspaper Record: "All the titles are well recognised, this is undeniable."

"But I can say that this was the most difficult of the seven titles I have won."

"This was more difficult because we had an opponent that is recognised as the best team in the past few years."

"Throughout the whole tournament there was a great pressure because if we drew we could lose points in the title race. For this reason it has been the most difficult, but also very deserved."

Mourinho's team reached 100 points, breaking Barcelona's previous 99-point record.

"The important thing was to win the title, but when we won it and we could get to 100 points, we maintained a high motivation level and went in search of these victories," Mourinho said.

"Madrid has won 32 leagues, but this team will be remembered as the team of 100 points, because at this moment it is a unique mark and, I believe, very difficult to beat."

The play-off second leg had to be stopped twice, the second because of a pitch invasion, but eventually the visitor was relegated to the second division after going down 4-3 on aggregate.

Socceroos attacker Nikita Rukavytsya played 72 minutes for relegated Hertha while countryman Robbie Kruse was not in promoted Dusseldorf's squad.

Maximilian Beister gave Fortuna a dream start with a goal inside the first minute, but Anis Ben-Hatira replied with a header in the 22nd minute.

Ben-Hatira was given his marching orders for a second yellow card in the 54th minute and Fortuna did not need long to take advantage with Ranisav Jovanovic putting it 2-1 up five minutes later.

Hertha fans manifested their frustration, interrupting the play as they threw fireworks onto the pitch, and not even an equaliser from Raffael in the 84th minute could appease them as they again disrupted the proceedings, causing seven minutes of stoppage time to be added.

A pitch invasion with a minute still to be played caused a further delay before referee Wolfgang Stark blew the final whistle to bring an end to the drama and seal Fortuna's return to the top flight.

Beister, who will join Hamburg next season and was therefore already certain of a place in the Bundesliga, gave the home side a perfect start with a long-range effort that caught Thomas Kraft cold with less than a minute played.

Hertha responded well and deservedly levelled through Ben-Hatira in the 22nd minute as he headed Ronny's free-kick past Michael Ratajczak.

Hertha's chances of getting the goal which would have levelled the tie were dealt a blow when Ben-Hatira was sent off for a second yellow card in the 54th minute.

Five minutes later, Jovanovic headed Fortuna back in front from Thomas Broker's cross, but the drama was only just beginning.

Adam Matuschyk shot wide of an open goal as he missed the chance to seal Fortuna's return to the top flight, and almost in the next Hertha attack, Otto Rehhagel's side levelled.

Raffael played the ball to the feet of Adrian Ramos inside the penalty area, and he returned the gesture to set up Raffael to give Hertha hope with the equaliser on the night.

Only one goal was now needed to keep Hertha in the top flight, but its fans did not seem to care as they once again threatened to force the game's abandonment as they threw more fireworks onto the pitch.

After a break of several minutes the game restarted with seven minutes of stoppage time announced.

With Dusseldorf fans lining the pitch preparing to invade it at the final whistle, Jovanovic missed the chance to seal the win in the sixth minute of stoppage time when he wasted a one-on-one against Kraft.

Hundreds of fans stormed on to the field of play with one minute of the game still to be played.

The teams were forced to leave the pitch as stewards and police tried to send the fans back into the stands, forcing a delay of 15 minutes while order was restored.

Both sides eventually emerged with Hertha seeming reluctant to return to play out the remaining 60 seconds before another pitch invasion greeted the final whistle, with Dusseldorf returning to the Bundesliga in dramatic circumstances.

Pizarro activated an option to terminate his deal a year early, and the 33-year-old confirmed he was keen for another challenge before retiring.

"It was a difficult decision because I love this team and the club, but I would like to do something new at the end of my career. I can't yet say what that will be, but I have several propositions that I have to consider," Pizarro said on club website werder.de.

Pizarro enjoys the distinction of being the leading non-German goalscorer to grace the Bundesliga, with 160 goals in 333 appearances - 89 of them for Bremen across three stints since first signing for the club in 1999.

"Three times we had managed to convince him of Werder, a fourth time was not possible," Bremen director of sport Klaus Allofs said.

"We regret it very much, but are glad that finally a decision has come and we thank Claudio for a great time together."

Bayern Munich is thought to be tracking the availability of its former player, who made nearly 200 league appearances for the Bavarian club between 2001 and 2007.

Pizarro signed off from Bremen on a personal high with two goals in their 3-2 defeat to Schalke on the final day of the season, and coach Thomas Schaaf was happy that his future had been resolved so quickly.

"We must accept this decision. I would have liked to continue working with him, but it was important for Claudio to state his intentions," Schaaf said.

"We are now planning for the upcoming season ahead and looking for attractive solutions."

The 26-year-old, who was at the centre of one of last northern summer's most protracted transfer sagas over a move to Chelsea which did not materialise, will wait until after the European Championship to make any decisions.

The Croatia international told the Daily Mirror: "I will decide about my future after the Euros."

"I will make the decision where to continue my career. I'm ready for the big tests."

Tottenham's participation in the UEFA Champions League next term depends on the result of this season's final, as Chelsea will take the fourth available spot if it beats Bayern Munich this weekend.

Goal-line technology will be used for the first time in an English football match on Thursday (AEST) during the Hampshire Senior Cup Final between Eastleigh FC and AFC Totton.

FIFA will rule in July whether the technology will be allowed across the world and the Premier League is keen to implement one of two systems after a controversial season for referees.

This term Clint Hill was denied what looked like a goal when the ball appeared to have crossed the line at Bolton Wanderers and Juan Mata was awarded a goal in Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur that should not have been given.

It had been anticipated that the technology would be introduced at the start of the 2013-2014 season but Scudamore now thinks the system could be in place by the middle of next season, providing FIFA give it the green light this summer.

He said: "The original position was that we would only introduce it at the beginning of a season, but having thought it all through there is some possibility of introducing it mid-season if we get it right."

Hodgson is believed to have spoken to the Manchester United defender and told him he would not be going to Poland and Ukraine this northern summer.

Ferdinand has made no comment on the matter, although it is thought Hodgson's decision may have been shaped more by concerns over the 33-year-old's long-standing back problems.

Although he was speaking about the potential for Ferdinand being selected for duty at the Olympics later in the summer, Sir Alex Ferguson said it was impossible for the former West Ham man to play twice in four days.

As a similarly packed schedule would have to be navigated at the European Championships, it is thought Hodgson has concluded that he cannot take the risk of managing one of his senior players through a tournament of such significance.

The news will come as a blow to Ferdinand, who had declared his intention to make himself available for England, despite obvious complications over his relationship with long-time central defensive colleague John Terry.

The Chelsea man will face a court case later this year after being charged with making comments of a racist nature to Ferdinand's brother Anton during the Blues' English Premier League encounter with Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last year. Terry denies the charges.

It is thought Terry will be part of the England squad, along with club colleague Frank Lampard.

Hodgson's firm decision about Ferdinand appears to signal the end of his 81-cap England career.

Ferdinand last featured for his country in the Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June last year, although he was selected for the friendly against The Netheralands the following August which was postponed due to the London riots.

And it is not the only bold decision Hodgson has taken.

During his extended period as interim manager following Fabio Capello's dismissal, Stuart Pearce claimed he had put everything into place for the new man to slot into.

Now it seems Hodgson was not that impressed.

After shoving the planned squad announcement back, Hodgson has now taken the even more significant decision to scrap next week's planned training camp in Spain.

Both Capello and then Pearce, who changed the destination, felt it was a good idea to take the England players away for a few days ahead of the friendly with Norway in Oslo on May 26.

Hodgson has decided his players could do with some additional rest instead, which may also have an impact on the plans to gather as a group for the first time early next week.

England is also believed to have been dealt an injury blow with the news that Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker has been ruled out with a broken toe.

Walker seemed certain to be handed a squad berth after winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award this season.

However, with Liverpool's Glen Johnson and Manchester City's Micah Richards both available, in addition to Phil Jones of Manchester United, Hodgson does have plenty of options in that area.

It remains to be seen whether Hodgson has any other surprises in store and he has previously offered few clues to his eventual selection.

On two separate occasions, most recently earlier this week, the 64-year-old has said he needed to pay considerable attention to the players responsible for getting England to the European Championships.

Given 15 players contributed some part to at least half of England's qualifying games, a figure that includes only one goalkeeper, Joe Hart, but not Danny Welbeck, Andy Carroll or Jones - it would appear Hodgson's job is almost done.

The situation is not that simple though.

At either end of the experience scale, Paul Scholes and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been talked about as possibles, whilst Hodgson also has to select a permanent captain, knowing Steven Gerrard is the obvious favourite but Scott Parker was the choice of interim boss Pearce for the February friendly defeat to The Netherlands at Wembley.

The talented AZ midfielder made the cut as Van Marwijk trimmed down a 36-player roster ahead of a pre-tournament training camp in Switzerland. The squad has to be reduced again to 23 players by May 29.

Van Marwijk sent home Urby Emmanuelson of AC Milan and Vitesse Arnhem defender Alexander Buettner, both of whom were under consideration for the left back position.

Also dropped were goalkeepers Jasper Cillessen of Ajax and Erwin Mulder of Feyenoord, FC Twente winger Ola John, Hedwiges Maduro of Valencia, Nick Viergever of AZ, Stefan de Vrij of Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven midfielder Georginio Wijnaldim.

The World Cup runner-up is in a group with Germany, Portugal and Denmark at the June 8 to July 1 tournament, jointly hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Ince, the son of former England international midfielder Paul, left Liverpool in the summer with a solitary Carling Cup substitute appearances to his name.

The 20-year-has gone on to establish himself as a key member of Ian Holloway's side, turning in a succession of dazzling displays on the way to Sunday's (AEST) npower Championship play-off final against West Ham United at Wembley.

"I can't fault my dad," Ince said. "He's brought me up in the best way I could have ever wished for.

"With my dad it's father to son, but it's also player to player. I've been having that double advantage and double guidance where someone can point me in the right direction both on and off the field.

"He'll be the first to praise me and the first to criticise me. I'll always get criticism and praise from my father as well as the gaffer."

Ince's elegant wing play is a far cry from his father's all-action, combative style - something that has resulted in some playful barracking from opposition players and fans during Blackpool's promotion push.

"A lot of this season I've been given a lot of stick from various clubs which isn't my fault," he explained.

"It's something I have to accept. I am who I am and I'm proud of that.

"It's great to have someone you can go home to and analyse your game."

"Barcelona and Real Madrid every year buy two or three players and spend a lot of money," Mancini told BBC Sport on Tuesday.

"I think for Manchester City it will be the same. We need to improve. We need to have the strength to play Champions League and Premier League."

"For this we need to have a good team, a strong team with a good mentality, but I'm sure we will do it."

Real Madrid and Barcelona have spent an estimated total of $170 million each, over the last two seasons, to recruit players.

City now has the spending power to match them and, as Mancini plans his quest for European glory, he is pleased with how his side has dealt with the pressures of the Premier League this season.

He said City - top-flight champion for the first time since 1968 - was a worthy winner of the title because, unlike second-placed city rivals Manchester United, it was never beaten heavily by anyone.

"We lost 1-0, 1-0, 1-0 - always games we could win," he said. "Manchester United lost 3-0 to Newcastle and 6-1 against us, but we never had a game like this."

"We worked very hard. We deserved to win this."

Mancini, 47, added that his relationship with strikers Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli remained good.

"It's not difficult to manage Tevez," he said of the Argentinian who refused to play for City for six months after refusing to come off the bench during a UEFA Champions League match at Bayern Munich in September.

"He's a good guy. We had a good relationship always. I don't know why we had that situation in September but in the end he's a good guy and a fantastic player."

Balotelli received two red cards during the season, and Mancini had words of caution for his compatriot.

"Mario is different, he's young, but an incredible talent," Mancini said.

"He's young, and for this reason sometimes he can have bad behaviour - it's normal. But it's important for him to understand he can lose his talent."

"He can play football for another 10 or 12 years. I hope that now, after this title, he can understand that it's better that he starts to work in a good way."

The Swiss Football League says its disciplinary commission acted after studying television pictures of the incident at a full hearing. Sion and Serey Die can appeal within five days.

Serey Die struck the young boy after Sion lost 1-0 at Lausanne-Sport on May 2.

Swiss media reported that the Ivory Coast international believed the ball had been returned to play too slowly.

Sion's defeat helped ensure it goes into relegation playoff against a second-tier team.

Sion was deducted 36 league points after lengthy legal challenges to FIFA, UEFA and Swiss football authorities.

Jeonbuk, also the 2006 champion, needed only a point to advance, but fell to second-half goals by Leandro Domingues and Junya Tanaka.

The K-League side's problems were compounded when Lee Dong-gook, the top-scorer in the 2011 ACL, hit the post off a penalty.

"Jeonbuk are a tough team and we expected the counterattack, but once we scored in the second half we had more chances and we could control the game," Kashiwa coach Nelsinho Baptista said.

"The players were very confident before the game. We knew that Jeonbuk have been playing well in the K-League, but they were without their captain and we knew we had a chance."

Kashiwa advanced as the runner-up in Group H to China Super League champion Guangzhou Evergrande, who beat Thailand's Buriram United 2-1 through an extra-time penalty from Dario Conca.

After a scoreless first half, Guanzhou's Gao Lin struck in the 49th minute only for Buriram's Suriya Domtaisong to draw his side level eight minutes later. With both sides facing an early exit, Conca scored the winner.

Nagoya Grampus has also advanced from Group G after beating Central Coast Mariners 3-0. South Korea's Seongnam Ilhwa topped the group with a 3-0 drubbing of Tianjin Teda.

IKeiji Tamada opened the scoring for Nagoya in the 19th minute and Jungo Fujimoto doubled the lead in the 36th minute. Marcus Tanaka finished off the one-sided affair with a goal in the 87th minute.

A double from striker Vladimir Jovancic has helped Seongnam beat winless Tianjin. Seongnam's Yoon Bit-Garam got the side on the board in the 33rd minute and then Jovancic struck in the 48th and 68th minute.

Leekens left the post on Sunday after signing a three-year deal to become the new manager of Club Brugge.

The 43-year-old Wilmots, an assistant under Leekens, will take charge of the side for its upcoming friendlies against Montenegro and England before a new full-time coach is appointed.

Reports in the local media had tipped incumbent Morocco boss Eric Gerets to land the role, but the former Marseille coach told Flemish TV station VTM that he would honour his contract that runs until 2014.

"Before 2014, I cannot become coach of the Red Devils. I only once broke my contract, for private reasons, and I have a bitter memory. I don't want to go through that a second time. In my case, I will respect my contract with Morocco," Gerets said.

Blues manager Roberto Di Matteo told a press conference on that Luiz and Cahill - who have not played for several weeks - were ready to train again as they battle to be fit for this weekend's clash with Bayern Munich.

Di Matteo is banking on Luiz and Cahill being available for selection, particularly as two pillars of his defence, captain John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic, are already missing through suspension.

Luiz and Cahill would be given up until the day of the game to prove their fitness, Di Matteo said.

"Gary and David are going to try to train with us today," Di Matteo said of the two centre-halves.

However Di Matteo was less upbeat about Malouda, who limped off during Chelsea's English Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers.

"Flo, we'll still assess and it's going to be touch and go for him to be available for Saturday," he said.

In addition to the absent Terry and Ivanovic, Di Matteo is also without the suspended Ramires and Raul Meireles, and admitted that he may be forced to fill out Chelsea's substitutes bench with reserves if Luiz, Cahill and Malouda failed to win their respective fitness battles.

"That's the worse-case scenario," he said. "We will take some reserve-team players onto the bench, into the squad, and just figure out what to do."

"I've been trying different options in training and different solutions just in case."

Meanwhile Di Matteo, who took over as interim Chelsea manager following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas in March, once again brushed off questions about his long-term future with the club.

Chelsea has consistently said it will make no decision on a long-term successor until the end of the season.

However Di Matteo did rule out a possible return to manage West Bromwich Albion, the club he led into the English Premier League before being sacked last year.

"In my life, I've gone back to an ex-girlfriend and it didn't work out," he said. "I'm not sure whether it's the right move."

Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc told German daily Bild that he met the player's agent and Kagawa "will definitely not be extending his contract with us."

The 23-year-old Kagawa has one year left on his contract with the two-time Bundesliga champion.

Zorc indicated Dortmund was ready to negotiate "should offers arrive for Kagawa now."

Dortmund paid nearly $450,000 to Cerezo Osaka for Kagawa in 2010, but his performances over two years in the Bundesliga are likely to command a much higher fee.

The attacking midfielder's 21 goals in 49 league games over two seasons played a large part in helping Dortmund achieve successive titles.

Kicker magazine reported that Kagawa flew with his agent to Manchester on Monday evening.

Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson attended the German Cup final in Berlin, when Kagawa scored one goal and set up another to help Dortmund rout Bayern Munich 5-2 in what may have been his last game for the club.

The man entrusted with filling the big shoes left by Ange Postecoglou will mark his first home match as Roar mentor when Brisbane runs out for its AFC Champions League match tonight.

The clash with Beijing Guoan at Suncorp Stadium will mark the end of its Asian commitments and another marathon campaign for Roar - much to Vidosic's relief.

While disappointed Brisbane will not be able to advance to the knockout stages, the former long-time Roar assistant admitted he was looking forward to finally putting down the clipboard.

"We started early May (last year). I think this is the longest season any club has had in the world - ever," he laughed.

"Everyone is looking forward to the break."

"Ninety more minutes and the season is over."

"Unfortunately there is not much riding on the game. I wish the game had more importance."

"We are just looking for a good performance. That would be a fantastic way to finish the season."

Roar remains bottom of Group F along with the win-less Beijing outfit and cannot progress to the knockout stages.

It is an anti-climactic end to a season that featured a second straight A-League championship for Roar under Postecoglou.

But Vidosic believes plenty could be gained from its failed campaign ahead of next season's Champions League quest.

"We've learned a lot about ourselves and of course Asian football," he said.

"This is an important part of our learning process."

"We will analyse all of our games, see what we need to improve on and I am sure we will do much better next season."

Goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos will wear the skipper's arm band after vice-captain Shane Stefanutto became the latest to be added to an injury list that also features regular leader Matt Smith.

"We want to make sure we finish on a positive note," Theoklitos said.

"What we have learned over our five games is that you get punished if you don't take your chances."

"The important thing is that we have not looked out of place in the competition."

"We've played well but we haven't had that element of luck (but) it's been a good experience."

With its progression to the round of 16 already assured, United can clinch top spot in Group E and valuable home-ground advantage for the next stage with a triumph in Osaka.

Before taking on the knockout stages, Adelaide also has the chance to bury some old demons.

Adelaide was trounced at Osaka 3-0 by in the first leg of its historic but losing appearance in the 2008 AFC Champions League final.

"In the end, it was four years ago and we've got a whole new team," said Adelaide captain Eugene Galekovic, one of four remaining members - along with Cassio, Fabian Barbiero and Mark Birighitti - of the Reds' 2008 squad which became Australia's first side to make a Champions League final.

"Not many of the boys did play in that game so, obviously, the revenge thing isn't there but there's enough motivation to finish first because, if we do finish first, we have that home final and I think that's what all the boys are thinking."

Adelaide has been in irresistible form since starting its fourth ACL tilt.

Three wins and a draw from its five group matches sees the Reds within touching distance of hosting its round-of-16 fixture, a massive advantage considering second place could mean a trip to South Korea or Japan.

Standing in its way is Osaka, whose domestic and continental form has been disastrous of late.

Brazilian Jose Carlos Serrao was dismissed from Gamba's head coaching post in March on the back of five consecutive defeats, handing the top job to local rookie Masanobu Matsunami.

Since Matsunami took over, Gamba has continued to struggle sitting second-from-bottom in the J-League, while its Champions League hope is over.

"We've already qualified so the pressure is off us in that regard but there's still pressure to finish top of the group," said Galekovic.

"We'd love to play at home because our supporters deserve it after the season we had in the A-League and, to get that extra game for them, I'm pretty sure Hindmarsh will be close to full if we do get that game."

"Obviously, you take out the travel factor, the conditions - it's a massive advantage."

"We know it's a massive game and hopefully we can do it."

Following the squad's final training session yesterday, the question over whether Bruce Djite or Sergio van Dijk will start remains unconfirmed, with the only definite change to the starting line up is that of Iain Fyfe, who comes in to replace the injured Osama Malik.

One thing that is for certain is that Gamba is not going to just roll over for the Reds, Matsunami declaring his side is determined to avenge its 2-0 loss at Hindmarsh Stadium earlier this year.

But regardless of who runs out for the home side tomorrow night, Galekovic's sole concern is on the approach and intent the Reds bring to the contest.

"We can only stay focused and worry about the things we can control – that's going out on the park trying to win the game."

Everton announced that its appeal against his red card had been rejected by the English Football Association.

Cahill has issued a statement, through his management company, in which he said: "I accept my three-match ban."

"My reaction at the end of the game was out of character but I was disgusted at comments made to me by Cabaye."

"I don't wish to elaborate on the exact detail of what was said - but his words have no place either on or off the football pitch."

"Cabaye has apologised via his club's website and as far as I am concerned the matter is now closed."

Cahill was sent off by referee Andre Marriner during his side's 3-1 win for grabbing the the throat of midfielder Cabaye in an altercation that resulted in both players being booked.

"I would like to apologise for the cross words I exchanged with Tim Cahill which resulted in his red card and my booking on the final whistle," Cabaye told www.nufc.co.uk.

"It was unnecessary and, regrettably, the result of frustration and disappointment, all in the heat of the moment."

"It is out of character and for that I am sorry."

The deadline for Barton to accept or deny the charges had been 6pm Tuesday (3am Wednesday AEDT) but the Football Association extended that to 12pm Wednesday (9pm Wednesday AEDT) following a request from his representatives.

The FA said in a statement: "The deadline of 6pm on Tuesday 15 May, which Joey Barton had until to respond to the two FA charges against him for alleged violent conduct has been extended to 12 noon on Wednesday 16 May following a request from his representatives."

"The charges against the Queens Park Rangers midfielder are in relation to Sunday's match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium."

"Following the player's dismissal in the 54th minute of the fixture, there followed two incidents involving Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany."

"As Barton had already been dismissed, both of these incidents fell outside of the jurisdiction of the referee."

Cahill and David Luiz both appeared to come through unscathed as they stepped up their comeback from hamstring injuries just four days before this weekend's showdown with Bayern Munich.

It was a huge boost for Chelsea, who was in danger of going into the Allianz Arena clash without any recognised senior centre-backs.

England defender Cahill, who suffered his injury during last month's epic semi-final second leg at Barcelona, said: "I'm just happy that it's healed quickly."

"We've worked really hard, all day, afternoons, and I'm fortunate enough to be back."

"Hopefully, I'll be fit, I will be fit, and hopefully I'll be out there if selected."

He added: "First full session with the boys today after my injury, so nice to get back out there and get running around and kicking a ball about."

"There's some work to be done in two or three days now leading up to the game for me to get back into it."

"And if I need to do a little bit of other training, I'll do that."

"But, touch wood, there's no reaction from today and I felt fine out there."

Cahill, who joined Chelsea from Bolton Wanderers in January, admitted the match would be the biggest of his life.

"I think it's the biggest game for probably many of the boys," he added.

"We're under no illusions how big the game is."

"It's going to be a good night and, hopefully, it goes to plan."

Cahill was desperate to hear the famous UEFA Champions League music one more time this season.

"It's just like when the national anthem plays for England, isn't it?" he said.

"It is a sort of hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck moment when you hear it and it gets you geed up and fired up for the game."

"But I don't think we'll need any of that for this game."

"Everyone knows how big the game is."

The winger was more than twice the limit when he got behind the wheel of his BMW to drive back from Manchester in the early hours of April 29, Trafford Magistrates' Court heard.

The 29-year-old was "depressed and stressed" after months of turmoil in his private life and suffering taunts while in a nightclub, it was claimed.

Pennant, who admitted his third drink-drive conviction in eight years, had been dumped by text message by his girlfriend on the night of the offence and another ex and the mother of his 20-month-old child had not turned up to see him play earlier in the day.

He was driving home from the nightclub and was involved in a minor road accident before he was arrested at the scene.

The defendant was breathtested and gave a reading of 89mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit in England is 35mg.

Pennant, had already been banned form driving earlier that month by magistrates in Cannock, Staffordshire, for losing too many points on his licence.

But he was not aware that he was banned because the letter had not reached him, the court heard.

In court, he admitted drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.

He was also fined £80 costs and given a 12-month supervision order.

Passing sentence, District Judge Khalid Qureshi told Pennant he accepted the defendant did not know he should not have been driving, but the previous convictions and high alcohol reading aggravated the offence.

But District Judge Qureshi said he could suspend a jail term because the previous offences were committed a "considerable time" ago and because of the situation Pennant found himself in, in the nightclub.

"I accept this had not been a pre-planned decision to drive," District Judge Qureshi said.

"The circumstances which arose you found difficult to deal with and led you to believe the only option you had was to drive your vehicle, to get away from an unpleasant situation, you had no option."

Mike Stephenson, defending, told the court despite the former Arsenal, Liverpool and Birmingham midfielder's previous convictions he had now matured.

In February 2004 he was disqualified from driving for 16 months.

But in March 2005 he was caught driving while disqualified and while over the alcohol limit again and was jailed for three months.

"He was a wayward young man with possibly too much money," Mr Stephenson told the court.

"That was the problem then. Seven years later he's grown up and disciplined himself with the help of Stoke City and the manager who has been a disciplinarian with the defendant."

Earlier the court heard Pennant's relationship with the mother of his child had broken down and he left the family home in Altrincham and went to live in Sandbach.

But the letter informing him he had been banned from driving for six months for losing too many points went to his old address - so he did not know he was banned or that his insurance was therefore invalid.

After moving to Sandbach he began a relationship with another woman but "comments were made by the press and on Twitter", Mr Stephenson said, and the relationship was, "doomed from the beginning".

At the same time he was having trouble seeing his child.

"For the last 10 months he has been under some stress and depression. It's no excuse but it's a fact," Mr Stephenson said.

On April 28 his estranged partner did not turn up with their child to see him play in Stoke's 1-1 draw with Arsenal and this left him "saddened", the court heard.

"He then went home following the match to discover his partner had left," Mr Stephenson added. "Taken all her items with her. He was informed by text that the relationship was over.

"He was home alone depressed and stressed."

Mr Stephenson said Pennant's friends invited him out and he ended up in a nightclub in Manchester - but there were further problems.

"Whilst in that nightclub, a certain individual in that club was making certain comments about his former partner, very personal comments."

"I don't want to mention in open court with the press here, but it was a very distressing thing they both suffered."

Mr Stephenson said Pennant's telephone then began to ring with people calling him about the comments and to ask him "if this was true".

"That was the straw that broke the camel's back," Mr Stephenson added.

"All the hotels were full. He got into his car and drove home to a place of safety."

Mr Stephenson said the defendant had "no idea" he was already disqualified from driving and that his insurance was therefore invalid, because of the mix-up over his address.

And he also denied any responsibility for the crash on his way home - and had not faced any charge in relation to that.

Danielle Allanson, prosecuting, told the court Pennant's white BMW was in collision with a silver Audi TT, which was hit side-on and spun round 360 degrees.

Mrs Allanson said the other driver's witness statement described him seeing a "flash of white" with the other car coming towards him at "quite a pace".

"He believed the other car must have gone through a red light to hit him," Mrs Allanson added.

The other driver was treated in hospital for whiplash.

The court heard Pennant and the mother of his child, who came to court with the defendant, were now hoping for a reconciliation in their relationship.

Kaboul suffered a recurrence of an old knee problem in last weekend's English Premier League win against Fulham and follows Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna, who suffered a broken leg against Norwich City earlier this month, in being ruled out of Blanc's preliminary selection.

"He suffers from a quite serious knee injury. He is out of the Euros," Blanc told Eurosport in a live broadcast to announce his provisional 26-man squad for next month's tournament in Ukraine and Poland.

Other English Premier League players did get the nod for a squad due to face England in its opening Group D game on June 11, with defenders Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) and Gael Clichy (Manchester City), and midfielders Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City), Hatem Ben Arfa and Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle United) all included.

Montpellier defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who has been central to his side's surprise Ligue 1 title bid, has been rewarded with a maiden call-up, while there was also a slot for Marseille's Loic Remy despite the striker suffering a thigh injury at the weekend that is set to sideline him for three to four weeks.

"This is a pretty serious injury," Blanc said.

"There is contact with the staff of the OM. Do we eliminate Loic today, or do we give ourselves a chance to him it back? We opted for the latter."

"We can follow the evolution of his injury. We will make a decision on May 28."

Blanc has to trim his squad to a final 23 by May 29, two days after a warm-up match against Iceland, while further friendlies are scheduled against Serbia on May 31 and Estonia on June 5.

Sweden and co-host Ukraine are alongside France and England in Group D.

Provisional France squad for Euro 2012: Carrasso (Bordeaux), Lloris (Lyon), Mandanda (Marseille); Debuchy (Lille), Reveillere (Lyon), Clichy (Manchester City), Evra (Manchester United), Koscielny (Arsenal), Mexes (AC Milan), Rami (Valencia), Yanga-Mbiwa (Montpellier); Diarra (Marseille), Gourcuff (Lyon), M'Vila (Rennes), Martin (Sochaux), Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Cabaye (Newcastle), Malouda (Chelsea), Nasri (Manchester City), Valbuena (Marseille), Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Ribery (Bayern Munich); Giroud (Montpellier), Benzema (Real Madrid), Remy (Marseille), Jeremy Menez (Paris Saint-Germain).

Kean is expected in India this week to discuss plans with Venky's, after a sorry season in which Blackburn was relegated from the English Premier League amid huge fan unrest.

A video featuring Kean was made public last night, in which the manager who has been the subject of persistent protests from the Ewood Park stands appears to make critical remarks about predecessor Sam Allardyce.

Press Association Sport understands Allardyce has instructed lawyers to initiate legal proceedings against Kean over some of the content in the four-minute clip.

Kean, unaware he was being filmed, was apparently speaking to fans in a bar during Rovers' pre-season trip to Hong Kong last year.

The footage was released on the internet by the BRFC Action Group, who has long campaigned for the removal of the unpopular Kean and Pune-based Venky's.

In the video, in which expletives are used, Kean also appears to predict a top-half finish and success in the Carling Cup.

The development comes a week after Kean vowed to fight on following relegation and build a side to challenge for promotion.

Yet it then emerged the club's former deputy chief executive Paul Hunt had written to Venky's last December suggesting Kean be relieved of his duties.

Kean brushed off that furore but will still travel to India after a petition containing around 4,500 signatures and intended for Venky's was compiled by fans demanding his dismissal.

The manager has struggled to convince supporters of his credentials since being promoted from his coaching role to succeed the sacked Allardyce in December 2010.

That came a month after Venky's took over the club.

The BRFC Action Group is now planning to meet with the Government and the Premier League to air its concerns.

Blackburn MP Jack Straw has facilitated a meeting of the fans with Sports Minister Hugh Robertson next month and the Premier League has agreed in principle to meet them too.

A statement from the group's committee read: "We as a group of supporters, elected by its members, are disgusted that our club has been allowed to be pillaged with very little resistance from the regulatory bodies who should act in the best interest of the sport and supporters."

"We are pleased to announce that the Premier League has invited the BRFC Action Group for a full meeting to take place in the next couple of weeks."

"We are further delighted that the Sports Minister has also agreed to a similar meeting to discuss the goings on, behind the scenes, at our club."

The group does not believe the firm is fit to run the club.

BRFC Action Group chairman Glen Mullan said: "This will give us an opportunity to put our case to the highest authorities and offer supporting evidence to why we feel that our club's activities have not been monitored at all, since the FA granted Venky's [status as] fit and proper owners."

"This will include agents' roles during their ill-fated tenure and lack of administration structure at the club."

Venky's said last week it had no intention of relinquishing control at Rovers and has never given any indication it would like to replace Kean.

Despite that, there is interest in buying the club from elsewhere.

Former Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan has said he is prepared to front a consortium after holding discussions with local investors and businessmen.

Khan told BBC Radio Lancashire: "I read the statement they [Venky's] put out last week that the family is in love with the club and want to see it through."

"If that is their intention, there is no time to be spent on this endeavour."

"If they were to decide that it's time for them to move on to a different business venture, I think our consortium is the only one that could turn this into a success for the town."

Blackburn had no comment to make on any of the matters concerning Kean or Venky's.

Press Association Sport understands Liverpool's manager flew back to England, after meeting principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner amid a growing crescendo of rumours about his future.

Speculation reached fever pitch on social networking sites, with unsubstantiated claims ranging from him being sacked to resigning.

With no statement forthcoming from either Fenway Sports Group or the club the rumour mill ran wild, although it gradually subsided the longer time went by with no announcement.

Without a public show of support from FSG, Dalglish's position will remain a subject for debate even though just over a month ago Werner stated they had "great confidence in Kenny and he enjoys our full support".

Since then results have not improved as Liverpool won just two league matches out of five and lost the FA Cup final to Chelsea.

But there has perhaps been too much being read into his trip to America, fed no doubt by FSG's restructuring at Liverpool, which has already led to the departure of director of football Damien Comolli, head of sports science Peter Brukner and head of communications Ian Cotton in the last month.

Dalglish, along with coach Steve Clarke, flew out after last weekend's defeat to Swansea City to present their view of what has been a disappointing season.

It was always designed to be part of the review process, which Dalglish had admitted some weeks before required him to provide a detailed report of his assessment of the last 10 months and his thoughts on plans going forward.

After a 14th loss of the league campaign, Liverpool's eighth-place finish was its worst for 18 years and a points tally of 52 itslowest since 1953/54.

It will have left Dalglish and Clarke to answer some testing questions from Henry and Werner about what progress was being made with their investment, having spent over $321 million to buy the club in October 2010 and then heavily backed their manager in subsequent transfer windows.

After the meeting Dalglish made plans to return, which partly explains why he was not pictured alongside Clarke, Henry and Werner at a baseball match between the Boston Red Sox, FSG's other marquee investment, and the Seattle Mariners.

The Reds boss still has two years to run on his contract and only last week spoke about planning for the new season in August.

The Turin giant was crowned Serie A champion in the penultimate week of the campaign and then celebrated in front of home fans two days ago after beating Atalanta 3-1 to cap an unbeaten season.

"This game is very important for us just as it is for Napoli," said Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci said.

"It will be an important test for us to see if winning the scudetto was enough for us or if we still have some appetite left."

The match will be the last in the Juventus uniform for captain Alessandro Del Piero.

The 37-year-old forward hopes to end his 20-year Juve career by lifting his second Coppa Italia.

"There are incredible moments that fill you up for ever," Del Piero said. "Like a scudetto victory or lifting a Coppa Italia."

"We celebrated on Sunday but now our focus is in Sunday's final."

"We want to cap off what has been a great season with a beautiful victory in Rome."

City striker Tevez, formerly of United, was filmed on TV with a sign which read 'RIP Fergie' during his club's open-top bus tour of Manchester city centre with the English Premier League trophy.

The banner, thought to have been passed onto the bus by a fan, may have referred to a remark by United boss Sir Alex Ferguson three years ago when asked if his side would ever be underdogs against City.

"Not in my lifetime," the long-time manager said.

City reacted quickly last night to express "sincerest apologies" while Tevez also spoke of his regret.

United chief executive David Gill told Sky Sports News: "I think it's right. The club acted pretty quickly."

"I think it was rather silly, frankly, in terms of what it said, but City acted with commendable speed."

"We move on and concentrate on other issues."

Tevez, who joined City from United in 2009, said he "got carried away in the excitement of the moment".

The Football Association is looking into the matter after chairman David Bernstein also described the Argentinian's actions as "silly".

Bernstein was asked about the incident by MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee.

Bernstein said: "It looked to me rather silly, more than anything else - an impetuous, silly thing to do. It certainly wasn't very sensible."

"I think it was a very excitable moment, emotions were running very high."

"As I understand it, and I stand to be corrected, I think someone passed this thing to Tevez who just sort of put it in the air, so I don't think it's the most serious thing I've ever come across."

"But I don't know all the facts and I would leave it to the people (at the FA) who will look at it professionally."

Tevez returned to play a key role in City's title run-in after an extraordinary dispute which saw him spend more than three months in Argentina without permission.

The 28-year-old failed in attempts to engineer a transfer in January but has recently said he wants to stay at Etihad Stadium.

Majstorovic, whose contract has ended at Parkhead, is to sign a deal with the Stockholm club until 2014, Celtic has announced on its official website.

Majstorovic, currently recovering from the cruciate ligament injury he suffered while training with the Swedish national side, joined Celtic in 2010 from Greek side AEK Athens.

In his first season with the club he helped Celtic win the Scottish Cup, with a 3-0 victory in the final over Motherwell.

Although this season has been injury-hit, he still made 15 Scottish Premier League appearances as Neil Lennon's side secured the league title.

He made 64 appearances for the Hoops, scoring two goals.

Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea is joined by Atletico Madrid duo Juanfran and Adrian Lopez as well as Isco, Benat Extebarria and Javi Garcia.

Del Bosque opted not to name any Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao or Chelsea players given their commitments in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League finals respectively in the coming weeks, so the final squad could look drastically different when it is named on May 27.

The former Real Madrid boss lamented the lack of preparation time afforded to many of his players ahead of the tournament, but believes it is a great opportunity for those that are new to the squad to make an impression.

He told Marca: "Isco and Benat are two prospects for the national team. They are with us and Isco in particular has had a great season at Malaga.

"Almost every Monday I also watch the players playing abroad and those that play well will be rewarded. This is the case with Javi Garcia.

"Our concern right now is to choose the best. Obviously we have the worry that there could be a step back in the emotion of the players. We want to arrive in the best condition possible. We are not going to have a pre-season towards the European Championships but a prolongation of the season just finished. We hope to have a good competition."

Del Bosque also recognised that the scheduling of the Copa del Rey final for the night before the first friendly against Serbia was not ideal, but something the world and European champion will just have to cope with.

"Our obligation is to adapt to the circumstances and arrive in the best conditions for the Championships. I don't think it is important for me personally to be at the Copa del Rey final because by whatever means we, as a coaching team, will be present."

Del Bosque touched on the latest developments in David Villa's race to be fit in time for the naming of the official squad.

The Barcelona forward has been out since breaking his fibula in December and is not expected to play any part in the final against Athletic.

"He is recovering from his injury and clearly he could come to Poland and Ukraine. We will know further down the line. We take the final decision on the 27th and on this day we will take the final decision on David Villa."

Spain squad: Casillas (Real Madrid), Reina (Liverpool), De Gea (Man United); Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Ramos (Real Madrid), Albiol (Real Madrid), Alba (Valencia), Monreal (Malaga), Torres (Atlético Madrid); Domínguez (Atlético Madrid); Alonso (Real Madrid), Cazorla (Malaga), Etxebarria (Real Betis), Isco (Malaga), Garcia (Benfica), Soriano (Villarreal) Silva (Man City), Navas (Sevilla); Negredo (Sevilla), Soldado (Valencia); Lopez (Atlético).

The Mariners needed a win to advance to the knockout stages of the tournament, but fell short after Japanese internationals Keiji Tamada and Jungo Fujimoto netted in the first-half, before Marcus Tulio Tanaka's late sealer.

The visitor showed promise throughout and perhaps should have made more of its early dominance of possession in each stanza.

Ultimately though, the A-League Premier was outclassed by its J.League counterpart, who started the match with six former or current Japan internationals.

One of those, 72-time capped Tamada, opened the scoring on 19 minutes with a free-kick from close range, Mariners goalkeeper Matt Ryan left frustrated by a glaring gap in his team's defensive wall.

The visitor came close to restoring parity moments later when Patrick Zwaanswijk's fierce free-kick was parried into the path of Michael McGlinchey, who forced a corner with his follow up.

Nagoya's second goal was sheer class.

Fujimoto ran onto an expert through ball and produced an equally clinical chip, with Ryan bearing down, to double the host's advantage.

Despite being short of match practice - having not played a competitive fixture in two weeks - the Mariners started the second-half in dynamic fashion.

Standout Central Coast midfielder Tom Rogic was twice denied in quick succession, first by defender Hayuma Tanaka's last ditch tackle and second by the fingertips of Nagoya stopper Seigo Narazaki.

Rogic's overall performance was a positive side note for the visitor, the 19-year-old producing another promising display well beyond his years.

Flamboyant defender Tanaka added a third for Nagoya with a close range header only minutes from time, ensuring that the Mariners' attention would now turn to preparing for the 2012/13 A-League season.

Sir Alex Ferguson was named the best manager in the Premier League's 20-year history and Ryan Giggs won the best player award at a ceremony in central London.

Ferguson, the victim of a taunt by City striker Carlos Tevez during the Blues' title-winning parade in Manchester, was not in London. Chief executive David Gill picked up the award on his behalf.

Giggs did receive his award, which was given to him after he beat off competition from the likes of Thierry Henry, Paul Scholes and Dennis Bergkamp to clinch the vote from a panel of experts.

The Welshman has made 909 appearances for United and is the most decorated player in the English game while Ferguson has won 12 Premier League titles since he took over the Lancashire club in 1986.

Former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville said of Giggs: "Ryan Giggs will go down as the most successful British footballer of all time and I cannot see anyone ever overtaking him.

"He has surpassed all records in terms of domestic titles and he has incredible desire, quality and spirit. He's just fantastic to watch every single week."

Ferguson pipped Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp and David Moyes to the manager's award.

Record Premier League goalscorer Alan Shearer said of the Scot: "How he's achieved what he has done over the past 20 years I think is absolutely incredible, so we all have to stand up, salute, admire and congratulate him."

Shearer received an award for the most Premier League goals (260) while David James received a prize for the most Premier League clean sheets (173).

The panel's elect team of the last 20 seasons was: Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville, Tony Adams, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole; Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs; Thierry Henry, Alan Shearer.

The Stoke player was more than twice the limit when he got behind the wheel of his BMW to drive back from Manchester in the early hours of April 29, Trafford Magistrates' Court heard.

The 29-year-old was "depressed and stressed" after months of turmoil in his private life and suffering taunts while in the nightclub, it was claimed.

Pennant had been playing football earlier that day and had arranged for his estranged partner and their 20-month-old child to come and see him perform but they did not turn up.

After suffering that blow, when he got home he found his new girlfriend had taken all her belongings and he received a text message telling him their relationship was over.

Depressed and home alone he accepted an invitation from friends to go to a nightclub in Manchester, the court heard.

But while there he became "distressed" because of comments circulating about his former partner, his lawyer Mike Stephenson said in mitigation.

This "broke the camel's back" and Pennant, unable to book a hotel room in central Manchester, decided to drive home.

He was arrested in the early hours of the morning after being involved in a minor road crash.

The defendant may have been speeding and gone through a red light, the court heard, but he was not prosecuted over the accident.

Pennant was breathalysed and gave a reading of 89mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Pennant, of Tool Lane, Sandbach, Cheshire, had already been banned from driving earlier that month by JPs in Cannock, Staffordshire, for totting up too many points on his licence.

Today he admitted drink-driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without insurance.

Pennant will be sentenced later on Tuesday (UK time).

The Colombian enjoyed a hugely successful debut season in Spain scoring 35 goals, 12 of which helped guide Atleti to its second Europa League triumph in three years, and he is hoping to build on that success next season.

He told Sport: "I am enjoying the moment with Atletico Madrid, I can't waste that. Moreover, I have four more years on my contract and I am only thinking about this.

"I think I am experiencing a special moment in my sporting career. I have obtained objectives that I had been thinking about for a long time, but I have a greater desire to continue growing and conquering other projects or dreams."

However, Atleti's economic situation may force the sale of its prized asset as general manager Miguel Angel Gil hinted before the final round of league fixtures that failure to qualify for the Champions League would make it difficult to hold onto its better players, and Falcao is looking for clarity on the matter sooner rather than later.

"Obviously Gil said there was a necessity to qualify for the Champions League due to the economic side of things, but the club is making efforts to maintain the squad and we will have to wait and see how the make-up of the team is resolved in the coming months," he said.

The 60-year-old coach has been out of a job since being sacked by Inter Milan in March.

Fiorentina is looking for a new tactician after dismissing Delio Rossi earlier this month and Ranieri is interested.

"Right now there has only been a discussion with Fiorentina," Ranieri said to Corriere dello Sport.

"I know the (Fiorentina owners) Della Valle family want to build something important and I asked to meet with them."

Ranieri enjoyed a successful spell at Fiorentina in his four-year spell with the Tuscan club.

He guided the Viola to gain promotion to Italy's top flight in his first season in charge.

Under Ranieri, Fiorentina won the Coppa Italia and the Italian Supercup titles in 1996.

"I am as motivated now as I was the day I took over the responsibility of guiding Fiorentina back to Serie A," Ranieri said.

"I am very motivated.

"I'm just looking for an opportunity to prove it, perhaps in Florence, a city that loves football.

"I do have several offers from other clubs and I will evaluate them, although Florence remains in my heart."

The Netherlands international signed a one-year contract with the Dutch side after joining from AC Milan.

The 35-year-old spent six years at PSV earlier in his career, winning four Eredivisie titles, and the club's technical director Marcel Brands says he remains a fans' favourite.

"This is a special moment in particular for the fans who have been waiting for his return for such a long time," Brands said.

"Van Bommel told me only recently that he would leave Milan to rejoin PSV. We have agreed Mark will take up a coaching role with PSV when he hangs up his boots."

Van Bommel insists he can help PSV win the league title next year for the first time since 2008.

PSV finished third last season, seven points behind champion Ajax.

"I believe I can still be of value to this team and help PSV win back the title after a number of years," the former Bayern Munich midfielder said.

"It's my ambition to write a new chapter in the club's history. In Italy, they don't look at whether you are young or old. You are good or bad and in Italy they still think I'm good."

Mancini, who led City to its first English Premier League title since 1968, has one year left on his current deal.

Reports in England claim Mancini will soon be offered a new lucrative four-year contract extension, but he has not heard anything, despite having contact with the club's owner in the wake of the title success.

"He (owner Sheikh Mansour) sent me a message of congratulations," Mancini said in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. "He was happy.

"We haven't spoken about a new contract but I am very happy to work here.

"The basis is here to start a cycle."

The Italian tactician admits that Sunday's events have yet to sink in.

With his team trailing 10-man Queens Park Rangers 2-1 in time-added-on, City scored two late goals that handed it the three points it needed to win the title on goal difference ahead of city rival Manchester United.

"It was a miracle," Mancini said.

"God looked at our game and gave us a helping hand.

"Football is mad and it's extraordinary because of that. Games end on the final whistle and you cannot give up.

"On Sunday we won the title by scoring two goals in injury time.

"I have never experienced that before and I don't know when it will happen again."

Mancini claims that Sunday's season finale was further evidence that the Premier League is the best league in the world.

"I truly believe it is," he said.

"Our game, that of United in Sunderland and the draw between Stoke and Bolton prove that it is a loyal battle here, always and anywhere."

And the 47-year-old believes there is no question his side was a worthy winner.

"We truly deserve this title," he said. "We have taken 89 points. We have scored more goals than any other team.

"We have played the best football and we have beaten United twice.

"I must compliment United because they fought until the last second.

"To beat a rival like United after a league like this one increases our merit."

According to Mancini, the key to the season for City was its 3-3 draw at home to Sunderland on March 31.

"We were down 3-1 but thanks to (Mario) Balotelli and (Aleksandar) Kolarov we are able to equalise," he said.

"That result was important because it was a lesson of character.

"I thank Balotelli and Kolarov for those two goals."

Mancini is no newcomer to winning titles as a player and coach.

He led Inter Milan to three consecutive Scudetti during his four-year spell in charge of the Serie A giant.

However, he rates Sunday's triumph very highly in his achievements, as he became the second Italian manager to win the Premier League after Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea in 2010.

"I have won in England, in the home of football masters," he said. "For an Italian this is an immense joy.

"I am proud to be Italian and to represent my nation in the best way.

"Our country is going through a delicate time but I am convinced we will come out of it. Italy is a great country, we just need to learn to love it more.

"I dedicate this title to those who love me, to those that have worked to achieve it, but especially to the City fans. I saw a fan in tears in Swansea after losing 1-0 and I realised just how much this team is loved."

Mancini, who joined City in 2009, knows his next challenge is to guide City to achieve European success.

City was eliminated from the UEFA Champions League in the group stages this season.

"We have started a new cycle but in order to win the Champions League you need more," he said.

"The lessons of this year will be good for us. We need time, patience and experience."

The pair took over for the final six games of the season after the dismissal of Robin Dutt and, with 14 points out of a possible 18, they have done enough to convince club bosses to appoint them on permanent deals.

"Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypia proved in their six games this season that they could lead this team with a blend of competence, charisma, hard work and relaxation," said Leverkusen's general manager Wolfgang Holzhauser.

"This refreshing combination gives us reason to look into the future optimistically.

"With the duo of Lewandowski ad Hyypia, we want to further cement our place in the top third of the Bundesliga with the aim of qualifying for European competition."

Hyypia, who raised doubts about whether coaching was for him during his six-game interim spell in charge, is now fully convinced that the Leverkusen hot seat is perfect for him and Lewandowski.

"Although we did not know each other beforehand and only had little time to develop a concept, the last weeks for Sascha, the club and I were successful," he said on the club's website.

"For Bayer to now give us a chance to carry on together is a great show of faith.

"We are convinced that, with this team and with these colleagues, we will be able to play a good role both at home and abroad in future."

With Leverkusen looking to make a challenge in the Europa League next season, Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller believes the former Liverpool defender's experience could come in useful.

"Sami has played at the highest level in Europe for 10 years and, in his last two years as a player with Leverkusen, he left a very good impression," he said.

"He was made to coach a team and he will certainly take Bayer forwards in his new role together with Sascha."

Lewandowski, who was in charge of the youth team last season, is also looking forward to his new role at the helm of the first-team squad.

He said: "Sami and I took over the side in a difficult phase for the club and we quickly harmonised," he said.

"Our collaboration was always based on faith and it was very productive, and I am looking forward to intensifying it."

Effenberg captained Bayern the last time it won the competition in 2001 and he called on Schweinsteiger to rise to the occasion at the Allianz Arena.

"There is a lot of hope resting on his shoulders and he cannot buy any more time - he has got to work now," Effenberg told the Bild newspaper.

"Sooner or later, he has got to be there to lead this team.

"I am keen to see whether he can cope with the pace - he has got to play intelligently."

Effenberg claimed Jupp Heynckes' side, who was beaten to the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal by Borussia Dortmund, is too reliant on wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben and are "too predictable".

"It is not good when you are always hoping that Ribery and Robben won't get stopped," he added.

"Given the quality Bayern have, they have got to be able to play other systems too. They are too predictable.

"A win in this game would save their season."

The striker has been linked with a move away from the newly-crowned English Premier League champion, Mancini admitting after his sending-off in last month's defeat at Arsenal he would "probably" sell him.

Reports in Italy have suggested Balotelli could head to AC Milan in a swap deal which would bring Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Etihad, but Mancini insisted he was going nowhere.

"Ibra is a great player but I don't think Milan want to sell him," Mancini told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I'm going to be honest, we haven't looked at the market yet.

"In the last five weeks our only focus has been the league.

"Mario has been very clear and I reiterate: Balotelli will remain at Manchester 101%."

Balotelli, who set up Sergio Aguero for the 94th-minute winner against Queens Park Rangers which earned City its first league title since 1968, has been included in Italy's preliminary squad for Euro 2012.

"I am confident he will have a great European championship," Mancini said. "I hope Mario will be the leader of the national team because he is the best Italian striker.

"He just needs to make his brain work. That is his only problem."

Balotelli joined City from Inter Milan in August 2010 and is under contract until June 2015.

The countries have told UEFA that they would be interested in bidding to host the European championships on a three-way basis.

So far Turkey is the only other nation to inform UEFA that it wants to host the tournament.

A source close to UEFA has confirmed to the Press Association that a written expression of interest from the three 'Celtic' countries has been submitted to the European governing body.

UEFA has a deadline of midnight Wednesday for any other declarations of interest.

Bidders would need to put forward up to 10 stadiums to host matches in the European championships, which is being expanded from 16 teams to 24 from 2016.

Scotland and Wales would struggle to provide that number of stadiums to satisfy UEFA requirements but Ireland's involvement would cover the shortfall.

The formal declaration of interest does not commit the Celtic countries to proceeding with a bid however - a decision is not due to be taken by UEFA for 18 months.

The countries have not fared well in the past in bidding for the tournament. Scotland and the Republic of Ireland bid jointly for Euro 2008 but were one of the first to be eliminated, and Scotland and Wales considered bidding jointly for Euro 2016 but decided against it.

Turkey's bid is in some disarray already because its FA has been engulfed by allegations of corruption and match-fixing in Turkish football, and it also conflicts with Istanbul's bid to land the Olympics in the same year.

UEFA president Michel Platini had signalled he would support's Turkey bid but only if Istanbul fails in its Olympic bid.

Scottish Football Association chief executive Stewart Regan said the idea of bidding for Euro 2020 had been discussed but would not confirm or deny whether an expression of interest had been made.

Regan told www.insidethegames.biz: "I'm not able to comment publicly at this stage because it has not gone to our board but there will be an exchange of correspondence before the deadline.

"It's obviously something that has been discussed."

Asked if Scotland and Wales would be able to meet the UEFA criteria for stadiums, Regan replied: "There are other ways of skinning a cat and alternative ways of being considered for a major tournament."

Osieck has named a 26-member squad for a trial match against Denmark in Copenhagen on 3 June (AEST) and the qualifiers against Oman in Muscat on 9 June and Japan in Brisbane on 12 June.

Kewell, whose last game was for Victory in the last round of the A-League on 24 March, is one of only two locally-based players picked. The other is his clubmate Archie Thompson.

"It is no secret that there are question marks over some players like Kewell and Thompson who have already terminated their season," Osieck said.

"This is not good for match fitness. They may be healthy, in good spirit and okay but when it comes to international demands it is a different story.

"So I need to see if they are ready to do the job for us.

"But you have to look at the positives. Everybody, Harry included, is very committed to the national team and wants to be involved and play.

"Harry had a decent game against Saudi Arabia and whenever he played since I've been in charge he did the job so why should I not give him the opportunity to show what he can do.

"Whether it's for 90 minutes or not remains to be seen.

"Harry still has a lot of potential, we can't argue about that.

"I have had a very intense chat with him and he is aware of my position.

"He has been training privately with a personal trainer and we will give him every opportunity to show if he's up for it or not.

"But the fact that he's on the list does not mean he will be included. I will trim the squad by three after the Denmark match."

Osieck also rewarded midfielder Mark Bresciano for his positive comeback to the Socceroos team against Saudi Arabia after taking a sabbatical at the end of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to sort out his club future.

Osieck hinted that Bresciano, who now plays for Al Nasr in the United Arab Emirates, could even become a permanent playmaker if all goes well for the former Parma and Lazio man.

"The Saudi game was the first opportunity for me to work with him,” Osieck said.

"My only impression of Mark came from watching him in the World Cup.

"I think he has all the tools and the quality to play in that central (playmaking) role.

"He can impact our attacking game and, yes, I consider him as a major part of our team for our forthcoming games."

If Bresciano manages to cement a starting spot in the team's quest to reach the World Cup finals in Brazil, the future of the playing formation featuring two holding midfielders might come under serious consideration.

However Osieck said this was not necessarily the case.

"Our set-up will always be the same because even if you play with two holding midfielders one is the motor and worker in midfield and the other the more creative player who feeds the attacking guys," he explained.

"Mile Jedinak and Neil Kilkenny did it (attacking job) in the past but I think Mark has the best potential of everybody."

Osieck said he was deeply concerned with the 5pm kickoff for the Oman match in Muscat.

Football Federation Australia has voiced its concern over the prospect of playing in searing temperatures that could reach 40 degrees and has asked FIFA for a later kick-off.

"We are working on it but unfortunately we have had no news yet," Osieck said.

"I think it is unacceptable to play at 5pm at that time of the year.

"You see, bureaucrats make these decisions behind a desk and don't consider the actual situation outside.

"It is a very questionable decision."

When asked if he was confident of a positive outcome to FFA's request Osieck said ruefully: "I've been with FIFA for quite a while and I know how flexible they are."

The Japan international still has a year left to run on his current deal with the Bundesliga champion, but he is a player in demand - he has been heavily linked with Manchester United - and Dortmund is unlikely to want to run the risk of losing him for nothing next year.

"I had a meeting with his agent yesterday morning and Shinji Kagawa has informed us that he will definitely not be extending his contract," Dortmund director of sport Michael Zorc told the Bild newspaper.

"Should we now receive offers for Kagawa, then we will consider and negotiate them."

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and assistant Mike Phelan were present at the DFB-Pokal final at the weekend as 23-year-old Kagawa scored in Dortmund's 5-2 win over Bayern Munich.

Kagawa will command a significantly higher fee than the 350,000 euros Dortmund paid Cerezo Osaka for him in 2010.

He has scored 21 goals in 49 Bundesliga matches, playing a key role in the club's back-to-back league titles.

Versatile midfielder Herd, who has been a feature of Aston Villa's push for survival in the English Premier League, is making his debut in a Socceroos squad, having been ruled out of the last round of qualifiers with injury.

While Rukavytsya, who hasn't featured in a squad since the friendly against Germany in March 2011, returns after cementing a starting position in an attacking midfield role at Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin.

Also returning to the national set-up are Tim Cahill, Nathan Coe, Adam Federici, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Josh Kennedy, Neil Kilkenny, Robbie Kruse, Carl Valeri, Rhys Williams and Michael Zullo, after sitting out the match against Saudi Arabia in February.

Harry Kewell and Archie Thompson are the only A-League representatives to be picked in the squad.

The 26-man squad will play Denmark in an international friendly match on 2 June, before being trimmed to 23 for the 2014 World Cup qualifying matches against Oman on 8 June and Japan on 12 June.

After the Denmark match, the Socceroos will travel to Muscat to prepare for the Oman game.

Socceroos 26-man squad:

Mark BRESCIANO (Al Nasr - UAE), Alex BROSQUE (Shimizu S-Pulse - Japan), Tim CAHILL (Everton - England), David CARNEY (Bunyodkor - Uzbekistan), Nathan COE (Sonderjysk Elitesport - Denmark), Adam FEDERICI (Reading - ENGLAND), Chris HERD (Aston Villa - England), Brett Holman (AZ - The Netherlands), Mile JEDINAK (Crystal Palace - England), Josh KENNEDY (Nagoya Grampus - Japan), Harry KEWELL (Melbourne Victory), Neil KILKENNY (Bristol City - England), Robbie KRUSE (Fortuna Dusseldorf - Germany), Matt MCKAY (Busan I Park - Korea Republic), Mark MILLIGAN (JEF United Ichihara Chiba, Japan), Lucas NEILL (Al Jazira - UAE), Jade NORTH (Consadole Sapporo - Japan), Sasa OGNENOVSKI (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma - Korea Republic), Nikita RUKAVYTSYA (Hertha Berlin - Germany), Mark SCHWARZER (Fulham - England), Matthew SPIRANOVIC (Urawa Red Diamonds - Japan), Archie THOMPSON (Melbourne Victory), Carl VALERI (U.S Sassuolo - Italy), Luke WILKSHIRE (Dinamo Moscow - Russia), Rhys WILLIAMS (Middlesbrough - England), Michael ZULLO (FC Utrecht - The Netherlands)

Crystal Palace co-chairman Steve Parish confirmed to local newspaper The South London Press that the ex-Australia defender has decided to leave the club, where he is the assistant coach, to head up the new Sydney team.

"I've had a conversation with him last night and they have offered him a five-year deal to go," Parish said.

"We're trying to sort out the details."

A five-year deal would be the longest offered to a coach in the A-League.

Football Federation Australia will hold a press conference at noon on Thursday confirming Popovic's appointment at western Sydney with former Melbourne Heart assistant Ante Milicic also likely to be confirmed as deputy coach at the new club.

The team's name, colours and home ground are also expected to be announced.

Popovic, who was seen talking to A-League boss Lyall Gorman at The Star on Wednesday, was reportedly also courted by Sydney FC, which yesterday promoted its youth league coach Ian Crook to the head coaching role.

The western Sydney franchise is also set to announce a team name with a series of public forums settling on Athletic, Wanderers, Strikers, Wolves and Rangers as the leading contenders with the team colours tipped to be red, black and white.

Despite that, The World Game can reveal the nickname "Pride" is a preferred option for FFA, which 'Wanderers' also mentioned. Fans also stated United as a favourite at some of the forums, but that also doesn't appear to have made the short list.

The Omanis, seeking to gain a significant strategic edge, have slated a 5pm local start to the clash, which is likely to see Australia’s players subjected to 38-degree heat for the start of the game.

Day time temperatures can reach upwards of 46 degrees in Muscat in June. With humidity around 90 percent there are concerns within Australia ranks that FIFA should urgently address what has become a contentious issue between FFA and Oman’s Football Association.

FFA's head of medical services Dr Jeff Steinweg believes the game should be put back to 8 or 9pm, the time when fixtures in Oman’s Mobile League typically kick off. The league itself concludes at the end of May to beat the encroaching heat.

"It's definitely a player safety issue which is why we’re talking to FIFA," Steinweg told The World Game ahead of the announcement of Australia’s squad today for the 2 June friendly against Denmark in Copenhagen and the matches against Oman and Japan in Brisbane four days later.

"It's likely to be exceptionally hot and it would be better for all concerned if that game was put back several hours where you might see a temperature drop off maybe six to eight degrees," Steinweg said.

"It's about protecting players and lowering the risk of potential harm.

"These are high level athletes but they will not be fully acclimatized because we are only there a few days ahead of time.

"If the conditions are what we fear they might be that could place major stresses on the body.

"It's a matter of hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. We are concerned that the heat could push some players towards and possibly past their limits."

By FIFA’s health and safety guidelines the likely kick off temperature in Muscat is likely to considered hazardous to player well being.

It spells out its heat stipulations on its website (Fifa.com).

"FIFA measures not only the air temperature but what is called the 'Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)'," it says.

"Risk is considered high with WBGT above 29.4°C and extreme above 32.2°C. At FIFA matches, additional cooling breaks are considered when WBGT is above 31°C."

FFA is also seeking mandatory drinks breaks during the game and players will be equipped with ice vests and a strict rehydration regime will be imposed by medical staff.

The Socceroos will stage a preliminary camp in London from 21 May to gauge the fitness of several players coming off injury or inactivity after the end of the A-League season.

Nichols will train with the Randers squad during what is expected to be a five or six day stay with a view to signing a four-year deal, as the club seeks promotion to the Danish Super League.

Nichols, who is seeking to push his Socceroos claims, sees the looming switch as the opportunity to place himself in a bigger shop window after helping Roar win back-to-back A-League grand finals and emerging as one of the competition’s most compelling talents.

With over a season left on Nichols's existing deal, the club will demand a transfer fee for one of its most creative players and the scorer of 11 goals last season.

Roar coach Rado Vidosic made it plain the club will not seek to stand in Nichols's way should he opt to make the switch.

"Mitch has been excellent for us over a number of seasons now and we would rather he stayed than went but there is an opportunity for him there to play regular first team football in a good league, assuming that Randers gets promoted, which is looking very likely," Vidosic said.

"He will go over there in the next few days have a look at the town, the team and talk with the coach and take it from there.

"He certainly has the quality to play in Europe and I see him as a future Socceroo. He was a main part of Australia’s under-23 set-up and that is traditionally a stepping stone to higher things.

"This chance has probably the right time for him, especially going to a club where he can play week-in week-out. That’s what is most important.

"It's no use for him at the age 23 to go and sit on the bench somewhere.

"Mitch has been very loyal to us and while there would be a transfer fee we are not inclined to stand in his way.

"I am sure he will achieve the same status for Randers as he has with us if he does go ahead and sign for them. If he opts not to join them then we are more than happy for him to stay with us."

Nichols’ Sydney-based representative Buddy Farah said: "It’s a good to place to kick his European career.

"He will be by playing every week. That’s the strategy and Socceroos boss Holger Osieck wants to see those hoping to get selected playing regularly for their clubs.

"Mitch has one cap for his country and is of course hungry for more. There has been a lot of interest in from places like Turkey, Germany and Spain but the Danes have been patient, they came out to watch him in Australia and they liked what they saw.

"It’s now just a matter of him going over there and seeing if everything gels."

Randers won the 2006 Danish Cup and competed in the qualifying phase of two of the last three Europe Leagues.

Bojic, a favourite among Mariners' fans, has signed on to stay at the club until the end of the 2013/14 A-League season.

Anderson, coach Graham Arnold's first recruit of the off-season, has also committed to a two-season deal.

Bojic, a 100-game veteran, said: "It’s satisfying to know that I’ve got my contract sorted and that I am staying at the club that I have been at for so long.

"I’m looking to take my game to another level next season. Extra hard work is going to be put in place, and I’ll be looking at polishing off areas of my game where there needs to be more consistency."

Anderson expressed his delight to be joining last season's top-placed A-League club.

“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Anderson said. “I’m very lucky that the Central Coast Mariners and Arnie (coach Arnold) have given me the opportunity to go down south and work under their guidance."

Describing himself as “extremely ambitious”, Anderson also noted he is keen to learn from two of the best central defenders in the league in Patrick Zwaanswijk and Alex Wilkinson.

“Alex is the club captain, and Patrick is one of the best defenders – if not the best defender – in the league,” he said.

“I can learn a lot of Alex and Patrick by following them closely and step into one of their shoes one day.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do to get into the team. But when an opportunity comes down the track I’ll take it,” he concluded.

Kennedy will miss the group game in Japan due to a persistent back injury.

Kennedy, who was last season’s J.League top scorer after sharing the honour in 2010, started on Saturday as Nagoya returned to winning ways after a three-match winless run with a 1-0 victory at Vissel Kobe, a match Mariners coach Graham Arnold watched in the stands.

However Kennedy will not feature against Central Coast, which needs to win to reach the knockout phase of the competition.

"Tomorrow is an important and interesting game because both teams have a chance,” Nagoya coach Dragan Stojkovic was quoted by the AFC.

“Winning the game is the most important thing for tomorrow but Kennedy will not be in the team.

”There is some problem with his condition. I respect his decision so he will be out.”

A draw would be enough for Nagoya to qualify.

The attacking midfielder will link up with Germany’s league and cup double winner Borussia Dortmund at the end of May, making him ineligible to see out the AFC Champions League campaign if Graham Arnold’s side qualifies for the round of 16 and a potential clash against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium on 28 May.

The clash against Nagoya has been billed as Amini’s farewell and while Mariners officials were hopeful of an extension to the deadline on his return to parent club Dortmund, where his contract runs until 2015, it was confirmed on Monday that will not be the case.

“Musti is due in Germany for pre-season training at the end of the month and will not be eligible for the round of 16 if the Mariners progress,” Amini's agent Buddy Farah said.

Central Coast is a point behind Nagoya in group G, with the onus on Arnold’s men to upset the team placed eighth in the J-League after its 1-0 win over Vissel Kobe on Saturday – a match watched in person by the Mariners coach.

"We just can't wait to get out there against them," Amini said. "We're coming off the back of a 5-1 win over Tianjin Teda and we believe we can get the win.

“We know we’ll have to keep it tight and it's a huge game for the club.

"I’m bringing a lot of belief into the game myself having scored against Tiajin and we’ll give it everything to try and keep going in the competition.

"I’ll miss the club because it’s been a great learning experience under Graham Arnold and the coaching staff."

Amini is excited by his move to Germany.

"Dortmund is such a massive club and the excitement is growing all the time over the prospect of getting over there," he said. "I will have so much to learn and it’s a huge opportunity for me.

"It’s great they have shown faith in me by handing me a long-term deal and I just want to repay them and continue to grow as a player.

"It's been a difficult season for me in some ways. I had a few injury setbacks and it's been tough nailing down a starting place. But I’m feeling good now and I’d love to get some more great memories by beating Nagoya.

"I feel with Arnie staying at the club they will get even stronger, win more premierships and continue to grow in the ACL. I’ll always keep in touch with the boys and I’ll continue to follow the A-League whenever I can."

Amini is expected to start from bench against Nagoya along with striker Bernie Abinbi, while injured Oliver Bozanic (knee) and Troy Hearfield (back) missed the trip to Japan.

Right-back Pedj Bojic is supended while Sam Gallagher – who signed with Melbourne Victory earlier this season – was granted an early contract release in order to appear for his new Club in its forthcoming international friendly clash against Olympiacos.

Arnold is expected to give rookie striker Mitchell Duke a chance to impress off the bench, with the plan to contain Nagoya for the first 60 minutes before seeking to advantage of tiring legs in the latter stages of the match.

Reds boss Dalglish left the 31-year-old on the bench for large periods of the season, but Kuyt feels he is good enough to start every week.

He told The Sun: "Under this manager I don't have the feeling any more that he will put me in the side every week.

"I'm under no illusion about playing every week. But I believe I am still good enough to play for Liverpool every week."

Kuyt seems certain to leave Anfield, though he is keen to remain with the Reds.

"Deep in my heart I'd love to stay at Liverpool," he said.

Last month, Kuyt was seen having talks with Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel, sparking reports he would sign for the Rotterdam club.

However, although the player admits he considered a move back to his former club, he believes he still has much to offer a top European side.

"The fact I held talks with Feyenoord indicates I wanted to give it a serious chance," he told AD Sportwereld.

"But in many ways the gap is too great at this moment in time.

"If I returned to Holland, I would have to take an 80% cut in my Liverpool wages."

The four-minute clip, which appeared on YouTube and on the website of a Rovers fan group named BRFC Action Group, was apparently filmed during a tour of the far east last northern summer.

As well as the remarks about Allardyce, the video also appears to show Kean predicting Rovers will finish in the top half of the English Premier League table and win the Carling Cup.

Rovers finished second-bottom and the team was relegated to the Championship.

Attempts made by Press Association Sport to contact Rovers were unsuccessful.

Kean and Blackburn owners Venky's were this season the targets of sustained protests from the Rovers fans unhappy at the running of the club.

Kean was appointed manager as a replacement for Allardyce, who was sacked in December 2010.

Allardyce has since led West Ham to the final of the Championship play-offs.

Rovers officials are expected to hold talks with Kean in the coming days, but have so far shown no signs that their loyalty to their manager is running out.

England-based Cameron Howieson and Tim Payne have both been included in the 22-man squad, while there is no place for 32-year-old Brazil-born midfielder Daniel Cortes.

Midfielder Howieson, 17, recently signed a professional contract with Burnley while 18-year-old Payne is on Blackburn Rovers' books.

There are recalls for Michael Boxall, Aaron Clapham and Rory Fallon after the trio missed the 3-2 defeat at home to Jamaica in February.

Goalkeeper Glen Moss is also back after missing the Eden Park match with injury.

The All Whites side faces El Salvador and Honduras in Texas later this month before travelling to the Nations Cup in the Solomon Islands, with the winner playing in next year's Confederations Cup in Brazil.

Three of the squad - captain Ryan Nelsen, fullback Tony Lochhead and Fallon - will miss the games in the United States.

The Solomons tournament doubles as the second stage of a four-stage Oceania qualifying process for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.

The final stage is a home-and-away tie against the fourth best team from the North and Central America and Caribbean region.

Squad: Ryan Nelsen (capt), Jake Gleeson, Glen Moss, Mark Paston, Michael Boxall, Tony Lochhead, Winston Reid, Ben Sigmund, Tommy Smith, Ivan Vicelich, Leo Bertos, Jeremy Brockie, Aaron Clapham, Cameron Howieson, Dan Keat, Michael McGlinchey, Tim Payne, Marco Rojas, Kosta Barbarouses, Rory Fallon, Chris Killen, Shane Smeltz, Chris Wood.

UEFA's deadline for formal expressions of interest is midnight tomorrow and so far only Turkey has come forward to confirm it is bidding.

Officials at the Scottish and Welsh FAs have refused to confirm or deny that a bid will be submitted but sources have confirmed that talks about bidding have taken place.

The expansion of the tournament to 24 teams however means that they would need a third country involved to provide the necessary number of top-class stadiums which is where the Republic of Ireland would come in.

A source told the Press Association: "Discussions have taken place about bidding but we would not be able to bid alone. It may need to be three countries involved."

A final decision is expected to be taken by the boards of the FAs involved this week.

UEFA president Michel Platini had signalled he would support Turkey's bid but only if Istanbul failed in its bid to land the Olympics in the same year.

Arsenal beat West Brom 3-2 at the Hawthorns to end the English Premier League campaign one point ahead of Tottenhan, which recorded what was in the end a hollow victory over Fulham at White Hart Lane, although fourth place could yet be good enough for a place in next season's Champions League qualifiers.

It completed a remarkable turnaround for Arsenal, which slumped to 17th after losing four of its opening seven league games and at one time trailed Spurs by 10 points.

Van Persie told Arsenal Player: "It was double important to finish third and also above Spurs. We knew what was at stake.

"It is just a fantastic feeling again to be ahead of Spurs. We heard that they won, but it doesn't really matter because we won our game.

"We are definitely in the Champions League again, and that was the main target from the match.

"We just had to qualify and everyone is very pleased, everyone is enjoying this moment."

Van Persie praised the battling efforts of Arsene Wenger's squad during what has been a testing season.

"It is incredible. We had to dig deep and come back on a couple of occasions where we were having a hard time," the Dutchman said.

"At the start of the season, we had a very difficult period, but we bounced back very well from that.

"After that we had the games against AC Milan (in the Champions League) and Sunderland (in the FA Cup) which were quite a hard blow, but we did bounce back."

Van Persie netted 30 Premier League goals to help fire the Gunners back into the top four.

The Netherlands forward spent plenty of time applauding travelling supporters after the final whistle at The Hawthorns, and is set for talks with Arsenal over his future this week.

Should he remain at Arsenal and see out his contract next season, Van Persie could well be paired with Lukas Podolski, who is set to arrive from Cologne.

The German striker believes the switch to England has come just at the right time.

Podolski said: "For me it does not really matter when you take such a step in your career, whether it is now or a few years earlier.

"It is difficult to say when the time is right, but I am now 26, and nearly 27, so this step in my career might just be the right time to do it.

"I had a very good season with Cologne, I played well and as a result I am now going to Euro 2012 in the summer with lots of confidence.

"After that, I will be joining up with my new team-mates at Arsenal and it is my goal just to do my best and be successful there."

Podolski is ready to slot into the Arsenal side.

"In Cologne, I played as a centre-forward and also as a playmaker. In the national team I play wide on the left, I honestly don't mind where I play, as long as it is in a forward position," he said.

"But it is always the coach who decides where you play and I will do my best wherever I play."

Tevez has also expressed his regret after he was pictured with a sign which read 'RIP Fergie' during City's celebratory title-winning parade in Manchester.

The 28-year-old is thought to have been passed or thrown the banner by a fan as City's open-top bus made its way through the city centre with the squad and the English Premier League trophy.

Ferguson was frustrated 12 months ago when he thought he had agreed a deal to sign Samir Nasri from Arsenal, only for the France midfielder to join City instead.

Nasri was the latest in a long line of star names to join the Blues revolution, and more followed, including Sergio Aguero, whose injury-time goal at the Etihad Stadium yesterday ensured the Premier League trophy was transferred from Old Trafford to the other side of town, just as it did when City last won it in 1968.

City's parade was taking place a couple of miles away from Old Trafford, just as United was beginning its Player of the Year awards dinner.

And it was from there that Ferguson launched his stinging barb as he assessed his own plans for the northern summer and insisted there would be no deviation from his stated policy of buying younger players.

"We know City are going to spend fortunes, pay stupid money and silly salaries. We know that happens. We can't do anything about that," the Scot told MUTV.

"We are not like other clubs who can spend fortunes on proven goods. We invest in players who will be with the club for a long time, who will create the character of the club and the excitement for our fans.

"We are good at that and we are going to continue that way."

Ferguson confirmed he already had some targets in mind, which are believed to include Borussia Dortmund duo Shinji Kagawa and Robert Lewandowski.

However, he insisted there was no requirement for a rebuilding job, as so many have suggested.

"We have set out our stall for certain players and we want to make sure the evolution continues at United," said Ferguson.

"I have been at the club for 25 years and I have to maintain a certain standard that keeps us there all the time.

"We don't always win it because we are always there, which is great credit to how we view things.

"But there is nothing materially wrong with us. I know there are some critics but we got 89 points."

Earlier chief executive David Gill had insisted cash was available for Ferguson to invest in his squad.

"Funds are available without a doubt," he said.

"We can still pay very well in terms of wages and transfer fees.

"Clearly City have raised the bar again. We have seen that with what they are prepared to pay for players and to them.

"But we need to move on. Financial Fair Play is just around the corner.

"It is a flagship programme for Michel Platini and how that is implemented and the sanctions that are imposed are going to be interesting.

"But we are a very successful club. Our turnover is amongst the top three in world football - over £300million a year.

"That generates income to invest in players and we will continue to do that."

Ferguson admitted his side suffered at the Stadium of Light in the final game, initially believing it had won the title with its victory, only to have the glory taken off them.

However, the celebrations of the Sunderland fans clearly left a bitter taste.

"I am a winner," said Ferguson.

"When we lost the league to Leeds in 1992, the young players - Neville, Scholes, Giggs - came out that day and the Liverpool supporters were asking for their autographs. Then they (the supporters) were tearing the autographs up - I told the players to remember that.

"Yesterday I said those Sunderland fans who were cheering for City: 'Remember the day. We won't forget that. I am telling you'."

For a few precious seconds following the final whistle at Sunderland, United thought it had retained its crown and secured a 20th league championship, only for its dreams to be dashed by Sergio Aguero's stoppage-time winner for Manchester City.

It left United on 89 points, but condemned to the runner-up spot on goal difference. Already Rooney is looking ahead to next season and the chance to reclaim the title.

"Yesterday (Monday AEST) was a difficult day for everyone. One minute you think we have won the title, then we haven't, which was heartbreaking," the 26-year-old told MUTV at the annual Manchester United Player of the Year awards.

"That is how it goes sometimes. We have to believe in ourselves.

"We have to look forward to next season and hopefully we can win some trophies next season. I am sure we will be back. We all believe in ourselves."

Rooney has no doubt where it all went wrong for the Red Devils as they tossed away an eight-point lead with just six games remaining.

"The biggest disappointment was the Everton game," he said.

"To be 4-2 up, with 10 minutes to go and to lose that lead is disappointing.

"But there are a lot of young players in the team. That is only going to benefit them. They will learn from that."

That view was shared by central defender Rio Ferdinand.

"Yesterday was a crazy day of emotions," he said.

"I thought we had almost bagged it but then the impossible happened.

"We have to dust ourselves down and make sure we are in the right frame of mind.

"We have experienced players in the squad. We all have to learn and be stronger. You have to be together during the good times and the bad."

Scholes initially retired last year after United won the Premier League title, but returned to the team in January after a number of other players were injured.

Ferguson said on Monday at the team's end-of-season banquet that the midfielder will return for one final season to help United try to unseat crosstown rival Manchester City, which won the league title on Sunday (Monday AEST) after a dramatic last-gasp comeback against Queens Park Rangers.

Ferguson reiterated his stance that Scholes made a mistake when he announced his retirement last year.

Cech topped the poll of sports journalists on Monday to win the award for the third consecutive year, and seventh time overall.

Cech has helped Chelsea win the FA Cup this season and reach Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich. With Cech in goal, the Czech national team has qualified for the 2012 European Championship.

Arsenal midfielder and national team captain Tomas Rosicky placed second and Wolfsburg midfielder Petr Jiracek was third.

The Benfica player was the main surprise in the 23-man squad announced by coach Paulo Bento.

Portugal has struggled to find a top-class centre-forward, with most goals in the qualifying campaign coming from attacking midfielders Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani.

Oliveira has played mostly as a substitute for his club and came on late for Portugal in a friendly against Poland in February for his debut. He faces competition for a place in the line-up from Hugo Almeida and Helder Postiga.

Oliveira "is a young player with a lot of skill and a lot of potential," Bento told a news conference. "He's got different characteristics from the other strikers. We believe in him."

Defender Miguel Lopes and midfielder Custodio Castro, both uncapped players from Portuguese club Braga, were other surprises though they are unlikely to be first choices for Bento.

Portugal, which is still chasing its first international title, is in Group B against former champion Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark at Euro 2012.

The squad gathers this week for its pre-tournament training camp.

Portugal plays exhibition games against Macedonia on May 26 and against Turkey on June 2, two days before travelling to Poland.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon), Eduardo (Benfica), Beto (Cluj).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (Zenit St. Petersburg), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid), Joao Pereira (Sporting Lisbon), Pepe (Real Madrid), Rolando (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Valencia), Miguel Lopes (Braga).

Midfielders: Carlos Martins (Granada), Joao Moutinho (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Genoa), Raul Meireles (Chelsea), Ruben Micael (Zaragoza), Custodio Castro (Braga).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Helder Postiga (Zaragoza), Nani (Manchester United), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Silvestre Varela (FC Porto), Nelson Oliveira (Benfica).

"I wish to benefit Al Sadd and the Qatari football with my experience especially that Qatar is on the verge of (hosting) an important event, which is the 2022 World Cup," Raul said on Monday.

After the signing, he showed his new shirt with his legendary number 7 shirt he held at Real Madrid and the Germany's Schalke.

"Negotiations began three months ago," Jassim al-Rumaihi, Secretary-General of Al Sadd, told a news conference. "We are very proud to have a great player as Raul with us."

Raul, 34, said he discussed his move with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, who previously played for Qatar's Al Ahly club from 2003 until 2005.

"He told me that football in Qatar is on the move... I think I can give my experience to this club," he added.

He denied that he left Real Madrid due to any disagreements but because he felt that time has come for a new experience.

Asked if he was going to turn to coaching after his contract ends, Raul said: "The important thing for me is to continue playing, training is out of the question at present."

Raul spent his playing career at Real until he was no longer wanted there.

He joined Schalke in what was then seen as a surprise, but scored 28 Bundesliga goals in 66 games and took his all-time Champions League record tally to 71 as Schalke reached the semi-finals last year.

The 35-year-old midfielder is leaving AC Milan after 18 months to return to the club where he won four Dutch league titles in six years from 1999-2005.

"This feels a bit like coming home," Van Bommel told reporters in Eindhoven.

He said the move back to the club where he first made his name was not a case of easing into retirement.

"I believe I can still be of value to this team and help PSV win the title back after a number of years," said Van Bommel.

"In Italy, they don't look at whether you are young or old - you are good or bad and in Italy they still think I'm good."

The hard-tackling midfielder announced his departure from the Serie A on AC Milan's website over the weekend.

After leaving PSV, he joined Barcelona, before transferring to Bayern Munich and then Milan. He won league titles with each club.

Van Bommel, who has made 74 international appearances, is expected to captain the Netherlands at the European Championship next month. The World Cup runner-up is in a tough group, with Germany, Portugal and Denmark.

Marseille's top scorer with 12 league goals, Remy had to go off in the 50th minute of his side's 3-0 win at home to Auxerre after abruptly pulling up in the centre of the pitch.

"Tests have confirmed a lesion in Loic Remy's left quadriceps (the right femoral)," a statement published on the Marseille website read on Monday.

"He is likely to be unavailable for between three and four weeks."

The club added that its medical staff were "in contact with those of the France team".

The news is a heavy blow for Remy, who would face a race against time to be fit for France's opening game at Euro 2012, against England in Donetsk on June 11.

He had been expected to be named in Blanc's squad alongside Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Montpellier's Olivier Giroud.

Blanc will reveal which Ligue 1 players have been included in his preliminary squad for the tournament.

"I don't think it's too serious," Remy had said on Sunday evening (local time).

"We'll do some tests tomorrow (Monday) and we'll see. I hope to be in the squad."

The 25-year-old, who began his career at Lyon before spells at Lens and Nice, is reportedly being tracked by English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

Once dubbed Bling FC, Sydney FC lost its lustre and Crook thinks it's time for the Sky Blues to reclaim the title as 'glamour club'.

Sydney FC on Monday ended its long search for a head coach with Crook's elevation from youth coach to the senior job on a two-year deal.

This now allows the focus to shift to the much-needed recruitment of up to seven players with chairman Scott Barlow saying there was enough money at the club, now owned by his father-in-law, Russian billionaire David Traktovenko.

With three spots available for overseas players, Crook feels the addition of some star quality to attract fans is vital, especially with imminent cross-town rival West Sydney also vying for supporters.

He says his priority would be to bolster the forward pack particularly with the loss of Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine.

"This club has been blessed in times with some real crowd pleasers - Dwight (Yorke) was a crowd pleaser, even David Carney and then we had Juninho." Crook said.

"So I think it's important that who we bring in needs to fit into a culture that we want to develop, but they need to have a little bit of flair where it will actually get people in here.

"We definitely need to have something that's going to bring back a bit of excitement."

When asked if he wanted to bring the 'bling' back to the club he said:

"Yeah I have no problem with that and if I live to regret that then not an issue at all.

"This club had this cocky kind of mentality from day one where everybody else wanted to knock it off and Sydney, just by having that name, should have that character."

Crook's promotion comes after Sydney pursued and missed out on top coaching targets Graham Arnold and Tony Popovic.

But Crook, who admitted he only considered going for the job when it appeared Arnold was out of the running, said he had no problem being further down the list of candidates.

"You start hearing little things that it's (Arnold's signing) going to happen, it's not going to happen.

"I just sat there thinking to myself 'I wonder if I could do this?'

"Then you just have to have the guts to put your hand up and thankfully for me they've decided to go that way.

"I know Arnie was first choice, and that's alright, I'll give him that one."

After two disappointing seasons the heat will be on Crook to restore the two-time championship winning club to the top of the league with Barlow saying the benchmark was to secure an Asian Champions League spot, which requires a top-three finish.

Crook confirmed Steve Corica will remain assistant coach with Zeljko Kalac staying on as goalkeeping coach.

Barton was sent off for elbowing Carlos Tevez and then kicked Sergio Aguero before attempting to headbutt Vincent Kompany.

The FA said in a statement: "The FA has today charged Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton in relation to two acts of alleged violent conduct during Sunday's (Monday AEST) match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

"Following the player's dismissal in the 54th minute of the fixture, there followed two incidents involving Manchester City's Sergio Aguero and Vincent Kompany.

"As Barton had already been dismissed, both of these incidents fell outside of the jurisdiction of the referee."

Barton has until 6pm local time on Tuesday to respond to the charges.

Earlier, QPR's Malaysian owner Tony Fernandes said manager Mark Hughes would decide what punishment, if any, the club would impose on Barton following the player's latest red card.

The incident came in a match where victory gave City the Premier League title and Rangers avoided relegation despite the final-day defeat.

Barton is now set to be banned for QPR's first four games next season but he could end up with a longer suspension - possibly up to nine matches - from the FA, while nothing the governing body do would prohibit the London club from taking internal disciplinary action.

Fernandes, who bought QPR before the start of the season, was adamant he would play no role in deciding any in-house punishment for the 29-year-old Barton.

"I will leave that to the manager and the chief executive (Phil Beard)," Fernandes told Sky Sports on Monday. "Now we just want to focus on the positives. It's a little bit early to talk about that.

"I will not step in. My goal at the club is to bring in the right infrastructure and the right people. I leave the manager to manage the players.

"Of course the board will be involved, but we will let him come to us and say: 'This is what I would like to do.'"

After the match, Barton pointed the finger at Tevez in a series of posts on Twitter.

"Can do nothing but apologise to the players and the fans. Still don't think its a sending off," he wrote.

"The head was never gone at any stage, once I'd been sent off, one of our players suggested I should try to take 1 of theirs with me...Never worked but god loves a trier.

"Think a few people are forgetting Tevez started the fracas by throwing a punch to the head...?

"Right am off for a bit. Gonna enjoy QPR still being a Premiership club with all my team-mates. Cheerio people."

But Barton again used the social networking site to launch an expletive-laden attack against his former Newcastle United manager, Alan Shearer, who had criticised the player's conduct in his role as a pundit on the BBC's Match of the Day television program.

The veteran Australian was shown a straight red card for grabbing Newcastle's Yohan Cabaye by the throat just seconds after the full-time whistle.

If the appeal is unsuccessful, Cahill could miss the opening three matches of next season.

The Frenchman apologised for baiting the Socceroo.

"I would like to apologise for the cross words I exchanged with Tim Cahill which resulted in his red card and my booking on the final whistle," he said on his club's website.

"It was unnecessary and, regrettably, the result of frustration and disappointment, all in the heat of the moment.

"It is out of character and for that I am sorry."

The SV Hamburg goalkeeper is not fully fit and Bilek has until the final nomination on May 29 to decide whether to pick him or Tomas Grigar from Telice, picked alongside Chelsea's Petr Cech and Dnepopetrovsk's Jan Lastuvka.

The Czech team is drawn into group A with Poland, Greece and Russia at the June 8-July 1 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

Beliek's team will tune up on June 26 against Israel and on June 1 against Hungary.

Nominees: Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaroslav Drobny (SV Hamburg), Tomas Grigar (FK Teplice), Jan Lastuvka (Dnero Dneropetrovsk);

Defenders: Theodor Gebre Selassie (Slovan Liberec), Roman Hubnik (Hertha Berlin), Michal Kadlec (Bayer Leverkusen), David Limbersky (Viktoria Plzen), Daniel Pudil (Cesena), Frantisek Rajtoral (Viktoria Plzen), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas Istanbul), Marek Suchy (Spartak Moscow);

Midfielders: Tomas Huebschman (Schakhtar Donetskn), Petr Jiracek (Wolfsburg), Daniel Kolar (Viktoria Plzen), Milan Petrzela (Viktoria Plzen), Vaclav Pilar (Viktoria Plzen), Jaroslav Plasil(Girondins Bordeaux), Jan Rezek (Anarthosis Famagusta), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal);

Forwards: Milan Baros (Galatasaray Istanbul), David Lafata (Baumit Jablonec), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moskow), Tomas Pekhart (Nuremberg).

The 22-year-old defender was reported missing on Saturday (local time).

He was believed to have died from a fall at a building site in central Oslo, his club said in a statement on Monday, adding that police did not suspect foul play.

Gromstad did not have his mobile phone, wallet or keys when he left his brother's apartment on Saturday morning, Stabaek team physician Arne Rode was quoted as saying by public broadcaster NRK.

A large group of volunteers, including supporters from his club, took part in a search when he was reported missing.

Due to the death of Gromstad, Wednesday's (Thursday AEST) scheduled tie between Stabaek and Valerenga has been postponed, the club said. Gromstad transferred to Stabaek in 2007.

The Scot was an unpopular appointment with many Villa fans after he oversaw city rival Birmingham's relegation from the Premier League last term.

And he only narrowly avoided a similar fate with Villa this season, the club finishing just two points above the bottom three to stay in English football's top flight.

Villa ended the campaign with a run of nine winless matches and for the club's US-based owner Randy Lerner, never mind fans capable of recalling the Midlands side's 1982 European Cup triumph, that just wasn't good enough.

"We need to be clear and candid with ourselves and with supporters about what we have lacked in recent years," Lerner told the club's website.

"Compelling play and results that instil a sense of confidence that Villa is on the right track have been plainly absent.

"The most immediate action that we can take is to look carefully at our options in terms of bringing in a new manager who sees the club's potential and embraces our collective expectations."

The former full-back has signed a four-year deal with the FA and will join England for this northern summer's European championships, the Football Association said on Monday.

"Roy asking me to be a part of his staff and to work with the national team is not only an honour but a very special moment for me," said Neville, who has been working as a TV pundit.

"I had absolutely no hesitation in accepting this role and I am relishing the opportunity to work alongside Roy and the team at the Euros and through to the next two tournaments."

Hodgson, who took over as England manager earlier this month, said he had no hesitation in calling on Neville.

"Gary has achieved so much in the game as a player with Manchester United and England," he said.

"He has obtained UEFA coaching qualifications and will be tremendously respected by the players because of his vast experience as a player.

"At my first meeting with the FA, I explained that Gary was someone I wanted as part of my staff. I think it is very important we have a younger coach who knows the dressing room and is very experienced at international level.

"That he has represented England as a player at five major finals tournaments will make him an invaluable member of staff."

Only a win in its final group stage match at Nagoya's Mizuho Athletic Stadium on Tuesday night will do for the Mariners if the team is to join A-League counterpart Adelaide United in the round of 16.

"For me, this game is as big as a grand final and to get into the second round of the Asian Champions League would be a fantastic achievement," said Arnold, relishing the challenge after extending his contract with the A-League table-topper last week.

"The players, they know how big this game is and they know what to do so we'll be ready."

Save for last month's 5-0 thrashing away to Korean outfit Seongnam Ilhwa, the Mariners' Asian form has been sound, with one win and three draws from its other Group G fixtures.

Its opponent on Tuesday - one point ahead of the Mariners in the Group G standings - remains favourite to progress to the knockout stage, but has been unconvincing in the early stages of the J-League season.

Indeed, before Saturday's 1-0 triumph over Vissel Kobe - a match attended by Arnold - Nagoya, home of Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy, had gone one month without winning a competitive fixture.

Nevertheless, the host side presents a formidable challenge with so much at stake as the Mariners eye a first appearance in the last 16.

"There's been plenty of big games in the past for myself but for the players I think this is probably one of the biggest games they've ever played in," said Arnold.

"It would be massive (to progress), you've seen Adelaide are in good form and they've done the country proud in what they're doing and we're trying to do the same thing.

"This will be Nagoya's third game in a week and if we go out and play to our normal structure and enjoy the occasion, it's definitely a game we can win."

Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson said a win on Tuesday would not only be a major achievement for the club but for the A-League as a whole.

"We've had a few big games in the club's history, obviously grand finals and playing for premierships, but it definitely ranks up there," Wilkinson said.

"Not a lot of people realise how big the AFC Champions League is, but as a playing group we realise that to make the last 16 in Asia would be a huge achievement for the club.

"To have two Australian teams qualify for the last 16 in Asia would be a massive result for the A-League."

The result means Nordsjaelland is still a point behind stuttering league leader and defending champion FC Copenhagen with only two matches left in the season. FCK has taken just two points from its last three games but Nordsjaelland missed the chance to go top.

At the other end of the table, Odense moved a step closer to safety with the draw as it is now five points above second-bottom Lyngby.

IFK looked set to inflict a third defeat of the campaign on the Allsvenska high-flier after taking a 2-1 lead with 12 minutes to go through Mikael Dyrestam, but Malmo escaped with a draw thanks to Nilsson.

Malmo, which also had to fight back from a goal down in the first half with Simon Thern (44) cancelling out Robin Soder's opener (31) for the host, is now six points behind league leader IF Elfsborg but has played a game more.

Elsewhere, strugglers Gefle IF and GIF Sundsvall played out a goalless draw.

Rangers' administrators took a significant step to securing the club's future this week when they confirmed a deal to sell the club had been signed with a consortium fronted by former Sheffield United chief executive Charles Green.

Green hopes to take the club out of administration through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) but that cannot be completed before early July.

Players took temporary wage cuts in March, which end on June 1, and some negotiated exit clauses allowing them to leave for a specific fee this northern summer.

And if creditors reject the CVA proposal, Green will push through a newco option that could see players leave for nothing under employment law.

However, the likes of Allan McGregor and Steven Naismith have stressed their desire to stay at the club and Edu is the same.

The United States international has a year left on his contract with negotiations on a new deal halted by the club's descent into administration in February. The club rejected an offer from Sochaux for the midfielder in January.

Edu told the club's online Blues News programme: "It has been a difficult situation lately and difficult circumstances too.

"Although there has been an announcement about a new owner maybe coming in, there is still a little bit of uncertainty.

"We've got guys who are eager to stay here though and with the manager and the staff we've got, that definitely bodes well for the future.

"When you see the way we played at the end of the season, we've got something there we can build on."

As is the usual practice following the end of a campaign, which finished with a 14th league defeat at Swansea last start, the Reds boss had been required to prepare a report detailing the past 10 months.

But with all Fenway Sports Group's senior figures based in Boston Dalglish has flown over to speak with principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner, Press Association Sport understands.

The move will no doubt intensify speculation about the 61-year-old's future after a disappointing season, although the significance of his trip has been played down in some quarters as just another part of the review process.

Dalglish's report, which has had input from other backroom staff, will make interesting reading for the club's owners Fenway Sports.

But it remains to be seen how much they are inclined to agree with the Scot's assessment of his reign since January 2011, which three months ago brought a first trophy for six years, as being "not too bad" considering the significant investment the Americans have made during that time.

In the last month FSG's restructuring of the club has led to the departures of director of football Damien Comolli, head of sports science Peter Brukner and, on Friday, director of communications Ian Cotton.

This week, reports suggested Dalglish's future was up in the air with FSG casting admiring glances towards Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, following the relative success the Spaniard has had with one of the smallest squads and budgets in the Premier League.

And while Dalglish is looking forward to some time off over the northern summer he will be hoping he does not get more than he bargained for.

"I think everyone needs a break, no matter what job you do - everyone needs a holiday," he said.

"You look forward to the games when you're working and you look forward to having a bit of respite when you're not working.

"But it's very seldom, even during the summer, you get a day off any way. You're normally on the phone doing something.

"I'll get away but the phone is never switched off and there are very few days when you don't answer some calls - that is a fact of life."

Defeat at Swansea meant Liverpool recorded their lowest total of top-flight league victories (14) and lowest points tally (52) since 1953/54.

They also scored the fewest league goals (47) for 20 years and an eighth-placed finish was their worst for 18 years.

In terms of points Liverpool finished closer to the relegation zone than the top four, which was FSG's supposed minimum requirement at the start of the campaign.

On the plus side February's Carling Cup win ended a six-year trophy drought and they also were runners-up in the FA Cup.

Dalglish believes there is enough encouragement in some of the team's displays, if not necessarily the results, to engender optimism for next season.

"There have been some positive things but there has been the disappointment of performances not being matched by results - but we will just carry on," he added.

"When you consider the season before when we were out of both cups in January and when I came in we were only four points away from relegation it's not been too bad.

"In the league they have not got what they deserved for their performance and in the cup ties we've only lost one so that's not bad."

Apart from a couple of occasions Dalglish has steadfastly stuck by his players and although there will have to be some strengthening in the northern summer he will be relying on the same core group to produce better results.

Throughout he has praised their commitment to the cause and he sees no reason to deviate from that even though the season ended with another defeat.

"We have to keep - and have kept - believing what they are doing is correct and the passing and moving has been excellent at times," he said.

"It's a credit with the way with they have continued to believe that the way we are playing is the right way.

"I don't know what is going to happen next season. We can't take any points from this year to next year so everyone starts afresh.

"Confidence and belief comes with getting results.

"Eventually it will drop for us but we need to wait until August to get it out of our system.

"It's a long time to August but the pleasing thing for us was that they did play really well (during the season) and they are capable of playing well."

Drogba and Torres both came off the bench in the Blues' last English Premier League game of the season, linking up for the final 21 minutes of the 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge.

Caretaker manager Di Matteo has never started the strikers in tandem since taking charge just over two months ago but confirmed he had been looking at potential options for this weekend's showdown with Bayern Munich during the 2-1 win over relegated Rovers.

"I tried a few things to just have a look and see how it could work out," he told Chelsea TV.

"It's always difficult because obviously it's going to be a different opposition.

"But I've been trying to figure out a few things."

Drogba and Torres being in the same XI would have been unthinkable before Chelsea's Champions League semi-final triumph against Barcelona.

The received wisdom is that they do not work as a duo, with neither having found the net in five starts together or on the 19 other occasions they have been on the pitch at the same time.

It is still unlikely Di Matteo would gamble on that changing in what is the biggest game of his life, but with four players suspended and three potential injuries for Saturday's (Sunday AEST) clash at the Allianz Arena, it is not impossible.

Drogba appears certain to start what is looking increasingly like his farewell match for Chelsea, with Juan Mata and Salomon Kalou in support, leaving a vacancy for one of Frank Lampard, Florent Malouda, Daniel Sturridge or Torres.

Lampard may well be earmarked for a holding role alongside John Obi Mikel, Malouda is sweating on a hamstring injury picked up in the Rovers match, while Sturridge has been out of sorts since the turn of the year.

Torres, who has an impressive 18 assists this season, could therefore be a contender to play on the right side of attack, presuming Di Matteo does not also suddenly abandon the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him so well since his appointment.

The Italian's selection will also depend on the availability of injured centre-backs David Luiz and Gary Cahill, with captain John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic both suspended.

The 42-year-old replaces Frank Schafer, who had been in charge of the club on a part-time basis following the dismissal of Stale Solbakken.

Schafer was unable to save the club from relegation and Stanislawski has now been given the task of bringing the club straight back up at the first attempt.

"Cologne are a Bundesliga club with a great tradition," he said. "They have fantastic fans and it is a very lively city.

"I am looking forward to this challenge, even if it is not going to be easy. We are all aware of that."

Stanislawski is set to lose most of the current first-team squad following relegation with a host of players set to follow Lukas Podolski out of the club, but that does not perturb the new coach.

"We have a chance to build up a new squad with character and the right attitude," he added on the 2. Bundesliga club's website.

"I can promise that I will be giving this challenge my full energy."

Vice-president Toni Schumacher said that Stanislawski "is a perfect fit" for his club.

"Whoever can grow up in the football-crazy city of Hamburg with the high media pressure there can also survive in Cologne," he said.

"In addition, Holger Stanislawski has proven with St Pauli that he can successfully build a team for promotion to the Bundesliga, and motivate them.

"We need these qualities now in Cologne. The board and Holger Stanislawski share the same goal of integrating youth players into the first-team squad quickly and ensuring discipline."

Stanislawski will lead his first training session with his new club on June 15.

The Canaries signed off from what has been an impressive return to the English Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Carrow Road, which secured 12th place.

Lambert has masterminded successive promotions since taking over in August 2009 when the Norfolk club was languishing in the lower reaches of League One and facing an uncertain future.

However, it is the 42-year-old's achievements this season with an industrious side packed full of hardworking, unheralded names which have seen the former Celtic midfielder linked with a move away from East Anglia should a suitable vacancy occur.

Indeed, Aston Villa fans chanted Lambert's name and called for the dismissal of manager Alex McLeish, and they got their wish when the Scot was sacked following a disappointing campaign.

Lambert agreed a new deal in May 2011, along with his backroom staff, and chief executive McNally insists the highly-rated Scot is going nowhere.

"We would not welcome any enquiry for our football manager or any of the club's football players," McNally told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"We will do everything we can and fight this as hard as we have ever fought."

McNally added: "If I was at another football club and I was looking for another manager he'd be top of my list.

"In any business you need to look at what might happen - the what ifs.

"But we are focused on keeping our manager and the footballers he wants to retain at the club and to bring in better footballers to complement the club.

"I want other clubs to covet our manager and to want our players, because if they do that means we're doing something right.

"It is almost obvious, isn't it, that clubs would like to have them at their football club."

Lambert accepts whatever happens in the future, Norwich's rise up through the league has been way ahead of schedule.

"It has been unbelievable what has happened here in three seasons - it is never easy to get one year of success, let alone three," he said.

"Every year has been a challenge since I have been here - getting out of League One was with how far we were behind the top two, then there was a challenge to stay in the Championship, let alone get out of it because of everything which had gone wrong, the club was at its lowest ebb.

"To do what they have done in three years has been too quick to do it, but we did and have been brilliant.

"You are always playing catch up because of what has happened - the chairman said we would have to stay in the Premier League again for another year before things start to build.

"Nobody expected this within three years. The club gave itself seven years to get in the Premier League, and that was allowing to be relegated again, so the rise has been huge."

Should Lambert remain in charge for pre-season planning, he accepts there will not be a deep transfer kitty with which to strengthen the squad.

"We can't go out and put the club it was in the position of financial trouble it was in two years ago," he said.

"As long as people realise we won't be able to do that, but that is my job, to try to get people in to try to complement things, the right type of player to try to help the team at the minute."

Emery has already announced he will be leaving Valencia over the northern summer and Fedun is confident the Spaniard is Moscow-bound.

Fedun said: "We'll have a new coach next season, that will be Unai Emery."

Emery will take over from Valery Karpin, who guided Spartak to a second-place finish in the Russian Premier League and a spot in next season's Champions League.

"Valery Karpin has built the basis of the team but we need new coaching solutions," Fedun added.

Emery has struggled to win over the supporters at Valencia in his four-year spell at the Mestalla.

However, he leaves with a good record despite the club's financial problems which have clouded his tenure.

Los Che came sixth in 2009 - his first season in charge, and followed that up with three successive third-place finishes.

Karpin is expected to remain at Spartak as general director.

Manager Martin O'Neill admitted after the team's last start 1-0 home defeat by Manchester United, during which O'Shea limped off before the break, that the 31-year-old could be a doubt for Euro 2012.

However, the Black Cats since confirmed that O'Shea will join up with the rest of Giovanni Trapattoni's English Premier League-based players to start preparations in Malahide on Sunday.

Guardiola decided to end his four-year spell in charge after being eliminated by Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, with his assistant Tito Vilanova named as the new coach for next season.

However, Laporta, who promoted Guardiola to first-team boss in 2008, told Canal Plus that Rossell had failed to make the necessary guarantees to try to convince Guardiola to stay.

"One of the consequences of the performance of Sandro Rosell's board is to destroy everything that we did in our era. Therefore, it was inevitable Pep Guardiola would walk away," Laporta said.

"I think they could have done more for him to continue in charge.

"My perception is they didn't do what was necessary because they weren't interested in him staying there."

Zubizarreta says Guardiola's own words prove the current Barca board did everything in its power to keep the man who has so far delivered 13 trophies in his tenure, with the Copa del Rey final still to come later this month.

He told TV3: "I am no-one to answer Laporta, but Pep has already said we did everything possible to try and get him to stay.

"Guardiola informed us of his decision on the Wednesday after the defeat to Chelsea. Afterwards there were many meetings, they were hours that seemed like months, until on the Friday morning Tito told us he would take charge."

Zubizarreta also outlined the club's intention to try and protect Vilanova and indicated the new manager will take on far fewer media responsibilities than his predecessor.

"He will constantly be compared to Guardiola but we have to view things as they are, not how they used to be," he said.

"We will help Tito and protect him as much as we can. He will only be responsible for the footballing side of things because he is different to Pep."

The former Spanish international also denied Dani Alves could be on his way out of the Catalan club and that an agreement had been reached with Valencia for the transfer of Jordi Alba.

"Alves is our player," Zubizarreta said. "We renewed his contract a short time ago, last year he appeared irreplaceable and in principle we have no intention of selling him.

"I can flatly deny that we have reached a preliminary agreement or have met with Jordi Alba.

"If there are two clubs I respect they are Athletic Bilbao and Valencia because that is where I played."

However, Zubizarreta did confirm Martin Montoya, Marc Bartra and Marc Muniesa will all graduate to the first-team squad from the Barca B team for next season.

The 26-year-old Senegal international has been a sensation since his January arrival on Tyneside with a return of 13 goals in just 14 appearances, helping the Magpies to an unexpected fifth-place Barclays Premier League finish.

Alan Pardew's men exceeded expectations so spectacularly that speculation is already mounting they may be vulnerable to bids for the likes of goalkeeper Tim Krul, midfielders Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote and strikers Cisse and compatriot Demba Ba from some of Europe's biggest clubs.

However, with Newcastle last week having firmly denied reports that the former Freiburg frontman had issued a "come and get me" plea to Primera Division winners Real Madrid, he has moved to reassure the club's fans.

Cisse told the Evening Chronicle: "I hope to continue scoring goals for Newcastle next season. I'm looking forward to playing in the Europa League.

"We wanted to play in the Champions League, but we can be very happy with what we have achieved this season."

The Magpies headed into the final day trip to Everton knowing victory could see them finish as high as third and book a Champions League adventure.

In the event, they lost 3-1, but with Arsenal and Tottenham both winning to claim third and fourth places respectively, it would have ended the campaign where it did regardless.

Cisse said: "It's good to be in Europe next season, but I'm sorry for the supporters. We wanted to give them Champions League football. That was our objective.

"We are in the Europa League and I thank God for the season I have had. But we are still a little disappointed."

Even if those dramatic five minutes' of injury-time at the Etihad Stadium had not gone against his team and United had been crowned champions for the 20th time, Ferguson would still have been plotting to improve.

Although many supporters view the enormous wealth available to Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini with a sense of fear, and have brought renewed demands for investment from the Glazer family, Ferguson is merely accepting it as another challenge to be overcome.

The Scot's presence at the German Cup final in Berlin on Saturday evening looks set not only to be the prelude to an offer for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Shinji Kagawa, but also firming up interest in striker Robert Lewandowski.

And no matter who eventually arrives at Old Trafford, Evra is certain Ferguson will get it right.

"I am not crazy," said the France full-back.

"I won't say that we've had a good season or we'll be okay.

"Every player has to be better next season than we were this year, even if we haven't been as poor as a lot of people say.

"Fans will want to see a few new players and I trust totally in the boss. He will do the right thing.

"There aren't many players who can play for Manchester United and I know the boss will make the best decision."

The real question is how good is this current United squad.

Some believe that, after collecting 89 points - the best achieved by any team finishing second in the Premier League era - there is not a lot wrong taking into account significant injuries to Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher.

Others feel a continued reliance on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, whose retirement U-turn triggered the surge in form that, only six games from the end of the season looked certain to secure yet another title, is masking clear deficiencies and that the only surprise about this campaign is that United got so close.

Typically, Evra's glass is half full, accepting that the Red Devils are judged by exacting standards compared to the rest.

"Every year people criticise United. People say we've had the worst season ever if we don't win the league," he said.

"This is not the truth. The season we've just finished has been a miracle. People were saying it was going to be the worst season but we are nine points better off than last year and we've scored more goals.

"We only think we've failed because we haven't won.

"Winning is the Manchester United spirit, it's the Manchester United way. It doesn't matter if you've only got one leg, you have to win.

"If I played for another team then maybe we'd say well done for coming second."

Yet Evra also noted a problem with attitude at key stages, which is what he puts the most damaging results - against Wigan, Everton and Manchester City - in a four-game April period down to.

"We played those games in the same way we played the group stages of the Champions League," he said.

"We thought everything would be fine. We were eight points clear, then it was five points, then three. All the time we were saying to ourselves, 'It will be okay: we are Manchester United'."

But everything was not OK. When the final whistle sounded on the Premier League, United had finished second, condemned to runners-up spot by the slimmest of margins, triggering a summer of soul-searching amongst its supporters.

And yet again, Evra has been involved more than anyone else, starting every league game other than the first, at West Brom in August.

"I was surprised," he said.

"It's a lot of games and a lot of stress on my body, but the only thing I want to do now is play with more quality.

"I am proud to play a lot of games but I've put myself in trouble.

"If I start to play fewer people will say I am old and should retire - and I am scared to do that."

The 43-year-old will step down as Croatia boss after Euro 2012 to take up the reins at the Russian club on a three-year contract.

Lokomotiv president Olga Smorodskaya told the club's website: "I am very pleased we have managed to hire such a strong and eminent coach.

"Bilic is one of the best coaches in Europe and in trying to get him we had to beat off competition from several clubs, including in the English Premier League."

Bayern go into the final at its Allianz Arena stadium in Munich on the back of a humiliating 5-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final.

It will be missing defensive midfielder Luiz Gustavo and left-sided player David Alaba through suspension against Roberto Di Matteo's men, and Beckenbauer admitted he has concerns over Bayern's probable midfield.

Writing in the Bild newspaper, the club's honorary president said: "I assume that (Thomas) Muller will come into the starting XI. With (Franck) Ribery, Muller, (Arjen) Robben, behind them Schweinsteiger and (Toni) Kroos we would have a crazily attacking midfield. But perhaps also a somewhat unpredictable one."

Schweinsteiger has been hampered by injury over the season, most recently by an ankle problem.

"With Schweinsteiger you sense that he is still not 100% fit after his injury," Beckenbauer said.

He added: "But despite the debacle against Dortmund, the Champions League final is not lost by a long shot. And I would not like to imagine that Bayern will be without a single title at the end."

Ribery has claimed he wants to win the Champions League for the club hierarchy like president Uli Hoeness, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Beckenbauer.

"They (the club hierarchy) are extraordinary people, they love this club above all," the France winger was quoted as saying in an interview with Kicker.

"Their life is Bayern. My dream is to win this title for this club, these people. That would be special."

The former Holland international has suffered a difficult year since arriving in the south of Spain from Hamburg last summer, scoring just five times in 32 appearances.

However, he did help guide Malaga to its first ever top-four finish and thereby ensure Champions League football for the first time in its history.

Van Nistelrooy told a press conference: "Yesterday was my final game as a professional footballer. I wanted to play in the Champions League, but it is the moment to leave.

"I have arrived at my physical limit and I can't play at the maximum level. I couldn't have had a better send-off than this.

"I feel happy that I am the one taking this decision. I would like to thank Malaga, the technical and medical staff for an unforgettable year.

"I am proud to have won collective and individual titles, but my greatest satisfaction was to be able to work day after day, year after year."

Solbakken was reluctant to make any rash predictions about Wolves returning to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt following relegation from the top flight.

But Morgan has no doubts about the 44-year-old being the ideal successor.

Morgan said: "It is only brave in the sense Stale is not known in the United Kingdom. He is legendary in Scandinavia.

"I don't think it is a brave appointment. He is a proven manager, has won countless silverware and his record is outstanding.

"He will be an excellent fit for the club. We needed to bring in someone fresh, a new approach to the club.

"Of course, any appointment in life, let along football, is a gamble, but he is the veteran of the Champions League and is a true professional."

That victory meant the champions broke a league record by reaching 100 points for the season, but Mourinho insists the demands of managing such a big club means there is no time to rest on your laurels.

He told Real Madrid TV: "In this moment I am already thinking about the future, this is the time to finish the celebrations.

"They will end today, the players will think about the Euros, and I will go to work and think about next season because at Real Madrid you can't sleep on what you have achieved. You have to think about the future."

Mourinho was joined by his players and staff as they paraded the trophy at the Madrid Town Hall and club president Florentino Perez also promised to deliver more trophies in the coming years.

He told Marca: "This team has achieved a collective feat that will remain in the memory of all Madrid fans.

"The merit goes to a formidable squad and a great coach who already form part of the history of this club with numbers that will be difficult to forget.

"It is an honour to return here with the work completed. A year ago (after winning the Copa del Rey) we said we would return and here we are. We say the same for next year.

"This club was born to win, we never tire of doing so. We are going to work with tenacity to continue growing the legend of Real Madrid. This is our challenge."