World Cup Update

Fifa orders training sessions to be open to public, mediaPARIS: Teams taking part in the World Cup finals must allow the public and media to...

Fifa orders training sessions to be open to public, mediaPARIS: Teams taking part in the World Cup finals must allow the public and media to attend at least two training sessions before every match during the tournament, Fifa has said.

8220;If a team refuses to leave free access to two training sessions, then the last training session on the eve of the game, which usually is behind closed doors, must be opened to the media,8221; said Fifa official Walter Gagg at a news conference in Paris yesterday.

Yugoslav name squad for friendly
BELGRADE: Yugoslav coach Slobodan Santrac yesterday named a 20-man squad for next week8217;s World Cup warm-up against South Korea, including star mid-fielders Predrag Mijatovic and Dejan Savicevic who are recuperating from injuries.

The team, to play next Wednesday in Belgrade, also includes two young rising stars of Yugoslav soccer 8212; mid-fielder Dejan Stankovic and striker Perica Ognjenovic 8212; both of Red Star Belgrade.Squad: Goalkeepers: Ivica Kralj, DragojeLekovic; Defenders: Zoran Mirkovic, Miroslav Djukic, Sinisa Mihajlovic, Slobodan Komljenovic, Nisa Saveljic, Dejan Govedarica; Midfielders: Albert Nadj, Vladimir Jugovic, Dragan Stojkovic, Dejan Savicevic, Slavisa Jokanovic, Miroslav Stevic, Dejan Stankovic, Predrag Mijatovic; Forwards: Perica Ognjenovic, Anto Drobnjak, Darko Kovacevic, Zoran Rankovic.

Austria make four changes against US
VIENNA: Austrian coach Herbert Prohaska, preparing for next week8217;s tune-up with the United States, yesterday named 18 players for the game with four changes from the team that lost to Hungary last month.

The Austrians were stunned 3-2 by non-qualifier Hungary at Homeand will be looking for redemption against the United States on Wednesday in Vienna.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Michael Konsel, Franz Wohlfahrt; Defenders: Anton Pfeffer, Martin Hiden, Walter Kogler, Peter Schoettel Midfielders: Martin Amerhauser, Andreas Herzog, Dietmar Kuehbauer, Roman Maehlich, Gilbert Prilasnig, Hannes Reinmayr, Markus Schopp, PeterStoeger; Forwards: Harald Cerny, Mario Haas, Ivica Vastic, Anton Polster.

Story continues below this ad

Argentine players send notes to God
JERUSALEM: A day after losing to Israel 2-1, members of Argentina8217;s soccer team yesterday placed small notes with requests into the cracks of the Western Wall, Judaism8217;s holiest shrine.

His head covered by a paper skullcap worn by observant Jews, coach Daniel Passarella reached high to push his paper in between two stone blocks.Jewish tradition says that wishes made at the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Jewish temple, have a better chance of being heard by god. The players were mum when asked what they had wished for. 8220;Not for you to know,8221; one of the players said as he held down a paper skullcap with one hand and leaned against the Wall.

Jacquet8217;s last team before World Cup
PARIS: French coach Aime Jacquet yesterday picked Arsenal8217;s Patrick Vieira and Nicolas Anelka in a squad of 18 players for a friendly against Sweden.Other notable call-ups for the April 22 gamein Stockholm included Bayern Munich full-back Bixente Lizarazu, who has been out for a year with injury.Jacquet will announce his final list of players for the World Cup finals on May 7. Yesterday8217;s squad was his last prior to that date.

Squad: Lionel Charbonnier, Bernard Lama, Laurent Blanc, Martin Djetou, Pierre Laigle, Bixente Lizarazu, Lilian Thuram, Alain Boghossian, Didier Deschamps, Christian Karembeu, Sabri Lamouchi, Patrick Vieira, Zinedine Zidane, Nicolas Anelka, Youri Djorkaeff, Christophe Dugarry, Robert Pires, David Trezeguet.

Story continues below this ad

SA fancy chances against France
JOHANNESBURG: South Africa has a 50-50 chance of defeating host France in their World Cup opener, partly because the French will be under pressure at home, coach Phillipe Troussier said in an interview published yesterday.Troussier, who took over as South African coach last month, told The Star newspaper he has only a little time to put together a side capable of succeeding in the country8217;s first World Cup appearance. Sohe said he has to concentrate on improving the focus of the players.