Football news

Australia's players will wear black armbands when they play Japan in today's World Cup qualifier to honour the victims of their nation's worst bushfires.

A minute's silence would also be held before the match as a mark of respect, with more than 200 people feared dead after the fierce blazes swept through Victoria state at the weekend.

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by this terrible tragedy," Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek said yesterday.

"We are thinking of them."

Australia midfielder Tim Cahill said: "It puts the football into perspective. It's very difficult. I've got children too and lots of respect goes out to the victims."

Walcott making steady progress

Theo Walcott is likely to return for Arsenal by the end of the month. The Arsenal winger has been out of the game since November after suffering a shoulder injury while on international duty.

The 19-year-old has been sorely missed by Arsenal, currently six points outside the top four of the Premier League.

Walcott said: "I am nearly there, and hopefully will be back by the end of this month.

"I am doing a lot of rehab work now with the shoulder, landing on it, and also in the gym with a lot of weights to build the muscle strength back."

If he makes it, Walcott could feature in the Champions League last-16 clash against Roma (Feb. 24 and March 11).

Tommasi joins China's Tianjin

Former Italy international Damiano Tommasi has joined Tianjin Teda of the Chinese Super League, the club announced yesterday.

The 34-year-old midfielder reached an agreement with Tianjin during a half-day talk in Beijing on Monday, and would be formally introduced to the fans tomorrow.

Tommasi, who spent 10 years with Roma and played for Italy between 1998 and 2003, was a free agent since his one-year contract with English championship club Queens Park Rangers had been terminated.

City lower prices for next season

With the credit crunch hitting badly in the UK, Manchester City decided to cut season-ticket prices by seven per cent for next season.

In addition, fans have been given an extra three months to find the cash, by which time City will know whether they have qualified for Europe next season.

Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: "Our season-card holders are the cornerstone of this club. By pushing back the date for renewals we hope to make some small difference to the supporters.

"We have also sought to respond to concerns on pricing and hope that the price freezes in some areas and discounts in most areas of the ground will be welcomed."

Balotelli misses flight

It seems that Mario Balotelli can't stay out of controversy. The Inter striker had a flight to catch on Monday with the Italy U-21 team but he missed the appointment, having overslept after a late night out with his friends, including Christian Vieri.

Balotelli, unsettled at Inter, was selected by coach Pierluigi Casiraghi for today's friendly in Trieste against Sweden. He failed to make it for the 7.30 a.m. flight and had to do the trip by car, arriving late for the first training session.

Casiraghi said: "Balotelli is part of the group because he has done very well with us. This is the ideal environment for him to do well."

Dossena settled at Liverpool

Andrea Dossena said he is now settled at Liverpool after a difficult start to life in England. The Italian defender has struggled to make an impact at Anfield following his move from Udinese last year.

Dossena said: "In the first six months it was not easy for me because Italian football is very different from here. Now I know what the boss wants from me."

Dossena reckons Liverpool will fight until the end for the Premier League title.

"United are a strong team, but we are Liverpool. We want to win and we will try to win until the finish of the season."

Frings on good terms with Loew

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings, whose public spat with coach Joachim Loew last year led to him being sidelined, said ties had been fully restored ahead of today's friendly against Norway.

"It was certainly a mistake to have done it in public. We could have settled it in a different way," Frings said.

"We have since talked things over and for us this matter is closed," added Frings.

"I have been with the team eight or nine years and have never done anything negative to the team. Quite the opposite, I have always represented it with pride."

Frings had said in October he was considering retiring from the national team after starting on the bench against Russia and Wales, but later retracted his statement.

He was then dropped altogether from the squad ahead of their friendly match against England in November.