Owen Out Of Croatia Clash

Michael Owen will miss England's potentially decisive final Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday after limping out of a 1-0 friendly win over Austria here.

A Peter Crouch header just before half-time ensured a subdued display by Steve McClaren's side ended in a victory marred by the gravity of the thigh injury which forced Owen off after half an hour."

Michael won't be fit for Wednesday, he has pulled his thigh" McClaren confirmed. The early prognosis was that the Newcastle striker could be out for as much as a month.As result England will go into the Croatia game -- which may be meaningless in any case -- without four first-choice players.

Wayne Rooney and captain John Terry are both injured while Rio Ferdinand is suspended."That is football but we seem to be plagued by injuries at the moment," McClaren complained. "We will be going into what could biggest game for England for a long while without two centre halves and two centre forwards we would pick. But I still believe that, if we have to beat Croatia, we have enough courage to win it and we will do it."

Austria coach Josef Hickersberger admitted he would be keeping his fingers crossed that results go England's way, in the interests of Euro 2008 as a tournament."I hope for England and for (joint hosts) Austria and Switzerland that England will be playing a real match against Croatia next Wednesday, not just trying to get some reputation back."

We would really like to welcome England to Austria next year."A friendly in the stadium that will host the final of Euro 2008 was never likely to offer balm for the wounds of a squad whose own hopes of reaching next year's tournament could be extinguished by Saturday evening.

If Russia win in Israel and Croatia manage to get a point in Macedonia, the Croatians visit to Wembley will be rendered as irrelevant as this encounter was always likely to be. On a freezing night in the Austrian capital, there were individual landmarks in the form of a clean sheet on his international debut for goalkeeper Scott Carson, a 98th (and possibly final) cap for David Beckham and Frank Lampard's restoration to the starting line-up.

Collectively, though, there was little McClaren's men could achieve beyond adding to the general astonishment over the position they find themselves in and perhaps bolstering their beleaguered manager's chances of survival a little.

Against a team of Austria's modest quality, meeting those limited objectives necessitated more than England threatened to deliver in an insipid opening half hour in which the nearest they came to hitting the target was when a drive from Lampard thumped painfully into the groin of unfortunate centreback Franz Schiemer.

A collision with Crouch resulted in Austria's goalkeeper, Jurgen Macho, departing on a stretcher, ensuring it was Alex Manninger who was called into action when England finally managed to muster a shot on goal. Teed-up by Crouch's deft flick, Owen struck powerfully but straight at the substitute goalkeeper, who acrobatically tipped the ball over the crossbar.

The failure to convert such a clear-cut chance will have hurt Owen's pride and the effort also appeared to have been the cause of the pain in his thigh which resulted in England's most reliable source of goals heading for the dressing room immediately afterwards.

Manninger did well again to thwart Joe Cole with a brave dive at the feet of the Chelsea midfielder two minutes before the break. Crouch's attempt to convert the loose ball was blocked by Rene Aufhauser but the striker was to make a better job of finishing off Beckham's delivery from the resulting corner.

Having climbed high above his marker, Martin Stranzl, Crouch claimed his 13th goal in 24 England appearances with a textbook downward header but it would never have found the net had Austria taken the elementary precaution of positioning a man on the back post.

Steven Gerrard, Sol Campbell and Joe Cole were all withdrawn at half-time, the latter's departure allowing Ashley Young to make his England debut. The Aston Villa midfielder's first significant contribution to international football was to curl a cross on to the head of Crouch, who forced Manninger into another smart save.

Moments earlier, Danish referee Nicolai Vollquartz had waved away Austria's appeals for a penalty over an apparent tug by Wes Brown on their captain Andreas Ivanschitz as he attempted to get on the end of a cross from the right.

That was to be the closest the hosts came to an equaliser but the injury to Owen ensured England finished the night as the bigger losers.

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Goal-line technology to be tested in Japan

Football governing body FIFA may introduce goal-line technology at the 2010 World Cup if it proves effective at the world club championship in Japan next month, a FIFA executive said Friday.

In the experimental system, a microchip in the ball relays an electronic signal to the referee's watch when it crosses the goal line."FIFA is very much interested in the test results," FIFA executive Viacheslav Koloskov, head of the Club World Cup organising committee, told a news conference here.

"If everything is perceived well enough, this goal-line technology will be widely used in the World Cup in 2010," he said.FIFA has decided to use the high-tech system at the 2007 Club World Cup, to be contested by continental club champions in Japan between December 7 and 16.

Italian Serie-A side AC Milan and Boca Juniors of Argentina are favourites to win it.The world body had dropped plans to use the system at the 2006 World Cup in Germany after trials proved inconclusive."

Players are always concerned about difficult judgements," said Nobuhisa Yamada, captain of the J-League side Urawa Reds, who will represent Asia at the club championship."So if the technology improves the accuracy of goal-line calls, that will be great for players," he said.

Italy, France and England In Euro 08 Crisis

Israel's hosting of Russia and Italy's visit to Scotland will have implications for all four of those teams - with a place at next summer's European Championships at stake for three of them.

But the results of those matches could also go a long way in deciding whether England, France and Italy get to travel to next summer's footballing extravaganza in Switzerland and Austria.

Russia, third in group E, could leave Steve McClaren's under-achieving England deeper in the mire by becoming one of the few teams to beat Israel at home. A victory in Tel Aviv would leave Russia one point ahead of England in group E.

As Russia's final group match is against lowly Andorra, most observers would see them as virtually qualified.If Russia lose in Israel, England need just a draw or victory against Croatia at Wembley on Wednesday to secure their last-minute ticket.

Under-fire McClaren has been given support from most of his players this weeek, and insisted Thursday: "I believe Israel or even Macedonia (against Croatia) will get a result on Saturday which leaves us needing a win to go through.

That's what we are training for."Scotland have not featured at a major championships since their first round exit from the 1998 World Cup, won by the hosts France. But after stunning Raymond Domenech's 'Bleus' twice in group B, the final group fixture for Alex McLeish's men - against world champions Italy at Hampden - leaves them on the cusp of causing one of the biggest upsets of the year.

A Scotland win would see them through but a draw would leave McLeish still in with a chance of qualifying his men - if Ukraine shock France next Wednesday.Despite Italy's pedigree, the Scots' swagger is back - and McLeish believes they can stun the reigning world champions, and thus leave 1998 world champions France with a major headache.

"The players are refreshingly confident and have great self belief in their abilities. They have a swagger and there's a cutting edge about them," said McLeish. Italy need only a draw to ensure they qualify, before their final match at home to the Faroe Islands next Wednesday. And Italy striker Luca Toni played down claims by France's outspoken manager Raymond Domenech that both teams would play for a draw.

"It would be better if Domenech concentrated on getting his own house in order. There's no way we're going to try and play for a draw so his words mean nothing to us," said Toni."We know it's going to be tough in Glasgow and the crowd will be against us, but it's winner takes all and we're very confident in our abilities."

While Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany and reigning European champions Greece have already qualified, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden have yet to book their tickets. Spain host an injury-hit Sweden, the group F leaders, in Madrid looking for the win that would qualify them and make up for their 2-0 defeat in Solna and shock 3-2 defeat to Northern Ireland.

A draw between Northern Ireland and Denmark in another crucial group F game would send both Spain and Sweden through regardless of the outcome of their respective last games next week.

Surprise group A leaders Poland will secure qualification with victory over Belgium, although a slip-up by Leo Beenhakker's side could open the door to second placed Portugal, Serbia or Finland.While Romania have qualified from group G, the Netherlands, in second place, are second in group G, and odds-on to beat Luxembourg.

A win, coupled with a Romania victory over third placed Bulgaria would give the Dutch - who famously missed qualification for the 1964 European Championships after a 2-1 defeat in 1963 by the Duchy - a ticket to their fifth successive Euro.

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Competition is fierce up front for Germany

Striker Mario Gomez insists there is no room for error in the intense competition for Germany's two forward positions ahead of Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifier against Cyprus.

Alongside Gomez, Germany's player of the year, there are four strikers competing for just two places with World Cup forwards Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski up against outsiders Mike Hanke and Oliver Neuville.

"There is a lot of competition for places in attack, everyone is pushing themselves forward. No one can afford a mistake," said Gomez.

Stars Michael Ballack, Torsten Frings, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Bernd Schneider are missing with injury giving the German management limited options in midfield, but there are tough choices to make up front says assistant coach Hans-Dieter Flick.

Germany have already qualified for Euro 2008, but want strong performances in their last two games against Cyrpus in Hanover and Wales in Frankfurt next Wednesday to finish with a flourish.

"It is important we have a large selection of strikers to choose from, it is something we have been looking to improve on in the last few years," said Flick.

Experienced goal-scorer Kevin Kuranyi has been left out of Loew's squad to give Hanover's Mike Hanke and Borussia Moenchengladbach veteran Oliver Neuville a chance to prove themselves.

"We have the feeling that both give everything in training and we are hoping to give them some game time," Flick added.

With eight Bundesliga goals to his name for league leaders Bayern Munich, Klose, top scorer at last year's World Cup, is Loew's first-choice, but Gomez is hard on his heels with seven league goals for struggling Stuttgart.

Podolski, voted young player of the tournament at last year's World Cup, is also in a rich-vein of form having scored twice in Bayern's 2-2 UEFA Cup draw ten days ago. So for 24-year-old Hanke, who won the first of his 11 caps in 2005, the pressure is on to break into such world-class company.

"The situation is pretty tough, the competition is really fierce," said Hanke who has scored four goals in 13 Bundesliga games for Hanover. "My aim is to get into the Euro 2008 squad, but I will have to work hard just to achieve that."

Italian Policeman Faces Homicide Charge

An Italian policeman who shot dead a football fan, sparking nationwide riots, now faces a charge of voluntary homicide, his lawyer said Thursday.

Police had initially said the officer was under investigation for manslaughter after the killing of Gabriele Sandri, 28, at a motorway rest area near the central city of Arezzo on Sunday.

But on Thursday, a judge in Arezzo elevated the investigation to voluntary homicide, the lawyer told reporters. According to official accounts, the policeman, who has not been named, had opened fire in a bid to intervene between rival fans who were fighting in the rest area.

Sandri had been sat in a car and the policeman fired two shots, one of which struck him in the neck.The death sparked violent clashes between football supporters and security forces in several cities.

Thousands attended Sandri's funeral this week and many demanded justice. Italian football authorities have ordered the suspension of second and third division football matches this weekend.

The Italian watchdog for public safety at sporting events on Thursday barred the supporters of six first division clubs from traveling to matches on November 24 and 25, the first weekend when the championship resumes.

Followers of Atalanta, Catania, AC Milan, AS Rome, Sampdoria and Turin were all barred from travelling, the agency said on its website. Five third division clubs are also barred.Authorities also plan new restrictions on fans with a record of violence from traveling in groups.

Man City to sign three Thai players

Manchester City, now belonging to ex-Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, plan to sign three Thai players.

Sven-Goran Eriksson, who took the helm after Thaksin bought the club in July, is due to arrive in Thailand on Friday to make the signings, said Vittaya Khunpleum, chairman of Thai side Chonburi FC.

Two of the players -- Suree Sukha and Kietprawut Sai-aeo -- come from his club, while the other player is Theerasil Daengda from Bangkok's Muangthong-Nongchok United FC, Vittaya said.

He said the chairman of the Football Association of Thailand told him about Eriksson's visit and the signings, and hailed it as a chance to showcase Asian and Thai football."Our players are qualified. If they can play in the (Man City) first team, football will become more interesting and it will help professional football in Thailand," Vittaya said.

"It is lucky that the chairman of the club is Thai," he added.Thaksin, who was deposed in a coup in September 2006, now lives in England and is wanted in Thailand on charges of corruption. He has refused to return to the kingdom and says the charges are politically motivated.

Since buying Man City for 162.6 million dollars, the Thai billionaire has said he wants to bring players from his homeland to the club.His team is currently third in the Premier League.

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Barcelona's senior players believe coach Frank Rijkaard needs to start selecting his team on form - and not reputation.

DiarioSport says even before Saturday night's defeat at Getafe, several heavyweights of the Barca dressing room had complained about Rijkaard's loyalty to some players and also his 'softly, softly' approach to man-management.

Some players believe Rijkaard needs to be harder on his charges and also begin treating everyone the same, not putting some of the club's bigger names ahead of others.

Barca's senior group, including Xavi and Carles Puyol, believed a new broom was being put through the dressing room with the introduction of the controversial 'internal code', but have been left disappointed with Rijkaard's 'diplomatic' approach.

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Berbatov's Mom Speaks Out

Dimitar Berbatov's mum joined the bizarre row over the Spurs striker's commitment to White Hart Lane.

Margarita Berbatov hit out at claims that her son wants to join Manchester United. She also backed him to prove his insistence that he will fulfil all his expectations in north London.

Mrs Berbatov told the Mirror: "Mitko, my son, will stay at Tottenham until the end of his contract. He will not be leaving and he has already said this. Anything else is not true."

The blast, however, flew in the face of comments from her husband Ivan and son Asen, who both insist the Tottenham striker is unhappy and regrets not moving to United in the summer. Berbatov himself has hit out at the involvement of his family in the situation.

But his cause is also not helped back in his native Bulgaria by TV chiefs who repeatedly invite members of the Berbatov clan on air every time the striker plays.