England coach Fabio Capello suffered a double injury blow as Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe and Arsenal winger Theo Walcott were ruled out for up to six weeks.

FIFA is to consider abolishing extra time at the World Cup and going straight to penalties if knockout matches are drawn, the federation's president Sepp Blatter said.

Training ground sensation Ricardinho will be elevated to the starting line-up as Melbourne Victory search for elusive A-League goals against the competition's most stingy defence on Sunday.

Niggling injuries continue to dog A-League newcomers Melbourne Heart, who have lost two key players for Friday night's clash with Central Coast Mariners in Gosford.

Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli will miss up to six weeks with a knee injury, the English Premier League club confirmed overnight.

Former Liverpool and France boss Gerard Houllier has returned to the Premier League as Aston Villa's new manager.

Adelaide United is feeling the pressure as it prepares to host Newcastle on Saturday night.

England captain Steven Gerrard believes his team have started the long process of rehabilitating their reputation, following an impressive 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying victory in Switzerland.

Liverpool midfielder Dirk Kuyt has been ruled out for next four weeks of English Premier League clashes, because of a shoulder injury.

France legend Zinedine Zidane said his 15-year-old son Enzo, who is already a star of Real Madrid's youth team, may eventually play for Spain.

Carlos Tevez laid on two goals and scored a third as Argentina beat world champions Spain 4-1 in a friendly at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Scandal-hit Wayne Rooney scored as England seized control of its Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over 10-man Switzerland in Basel.

Brett Holman reinforced his status as one of the Socceroos' big guns with a decisive half hour display in Australia's 2-1 friendly win over Poland in Krakow.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler says he and his family are enjoying Perth's lifestyle but has warned his Glory team-mates not to get carried away with their unbeaten start to the A-League season.

If Tommy Oar needed a reality check, he had one dished out to him in his starting debut in the Dutch top-flight.

Wayne Rooney will start against Switzerland in England's Euro 2012 qualifier despite the problems engulfing his private life, manager Fabio Capello has confirmed.

Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill has implored his younger team-mates to seize their chance to impress new coach Holger Osieck in Wednesday's (AEST) friendly against Poland in Krakow.

Football Federation Australia averted a Newcastle Jets player boycott on Monday, providing a short-term deal to help prop up the beleaguered club.

Former Socceroos forward Mile Sterjovski is confident his strike partnership with fellow marquee player Robbie Fowler will continue to flourish as Perth Glory look to extend their unbeaten A-League run.

Fringe Socceroos striker Nathan Burns has an ideal opportunity to climb his way up the pecking order in Tuesday's friendly against Poland at the Wisla Krakow Stadium.

England is among a number of fancied sides which began its Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with handsome wins, but its trip to Switzerland on Tuesday comes amid a tabloid storm surrounding Wayne Rooney.

Newcastle Jets chief executive John Tsatsimas has painted a bleak picture for the troubled A-League club, admitting it could be forced to fold unless financial assistance is forthcoming from Football Federation Australia (FFA).

Perth's marquee men did the job as the Glory maintained their unbeaten start to the A-League season with a 2-1 victory over Wellington at nib Stadium on Sunday.

Financially troubled Newcastle fell short of victory, but its professionalism was not in question after a scoreless A-League draw with Brisbane at EnergyAustralia Stadium on Sunday.