Football news

Rodrigo Taddei's contract at Roma expires next year and with the Brazilian still undecided on his future, Fiorentina continued to monitor his progress, keeping alive the prospects of signing the 29-year-old in summer.

Roma are currently on a hot streak of 20 matches without defeat and Taddei has been in fine form for the Giallorossi. His existing deal expires in June 2011, but he has already hinted he may finish his career in the capital.

However, Fiorentina are still said to be confident that they can exploit Roma's poor financial situation and make Taddei a better offer.

La Nazione reported Fiorentina are prepared to make a straight swap with Mario Santana and pay the difference in value between the two players.

Beckham backing to captain Rio

David Beckham believes Rio Ferdinand has all the qualities required to be a top England captain.

Ferdinand skippered Manchester United to victory over Milan on Tuesday, his first appearance since John Terry was sacked from the job he loved by Fabio Capello.

Capello will now elevate Ferdinand to the job, although he has not spoken to the defender yet.

But as someone who did the job with such distinction for five years, Beckham has no doubt Ferdinand will be a success.

"Rio is a great captain," he said.

"He has proved he has been a great captain when he has captained United in the past. He is a leader."

Taylor named Bradford manager

Bradford have confirmed former England U-21 boss Peter Taylor as their new manager until the end of the season.

The 57-year-old takes over from Stuart McCall, who stepped down last week with the Bantams disappointingly placed in the bottom half of the League Two table.

Taylor, whose former clubs include Leicester, Hull and Crystal Palace as well as a match in charge of the senior England side in which he made David Beckham the national captain, takes control for Saturday's trip to Accrington.

It will be his first game since being dismissed as manager of Wycombe in October.

Gers finances a worry for McCoist

Ally McCoist has admitted Rangers' financial situation could hamper the club's future.

The club are reportedly more than £30m in debt and some supporters fear an asset-stripping exercise could leave the team unable to compete for years to come. David Murray has been seeking a buyer for his 90% stake for Rangers.

And former Ibrox striker McCoist admits the possibility of a rundown operation cannot be dismissed, as he said: "It is not something we would wish for, of course, but it is a distinct possibility.

"It is only a worry for me because it has been my football club since I was a boy. As a supporter, you would not want to see the club's assets being stripped."

Samuel recalled by Argentina

Inter defender Walter Samuel could win his first Argentina cap since 2006 after being called up for their World Cup warm-up against Germany next month.

Samuel, 31, was named for only the second time in coach Diego Maradona's squad for Argentina's last scheduled friendly before the World Cup.

Maradona, who named a 20-man squad for the friendly in Munich on March 3, said he has settled on half of the 23 players he will take to South Africa.

"Fifty per cent of the players who will be at the World Cup, I've already told them," Maradona said.

"For many this is the definitive test because there is no more time," he added.

Ronaldo confident of comeback

Cristiano Ronaldo is confident Real Madrid can turn around their Champions League tie with Lyon and avoid tumbling out of the competition at the last-16 stage for the sixth successive year.

Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat in the first leg in France but Ronaldo is adamant this is not the end of the line for the big-spending Spanish giants.

"In football anything is possible. We've lost here but we have a game at home coming up," said the Portugal international.

"I'm calm. In this competition you have to suffer. I'm sure that we will give a good answer in the return game and that we will win."

Peace is the word for 2022 bids

Qatar and South Korea's bids to host the 2022 World Cup are good campaigns based on bringing peace to their regions, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Mohamed Bin Hammam said.

He was speaking in Seoul where he met high officials to discuss the bids from the two nations.

"I understand the reason behind the Korean bid, it is a noble reason. The concept is one of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula through football," Bin Hammam said.

South Korea finished fourth when they jointly hosted the 2002 tournament with Japan, the only time Asia has hosted a World Cup.

"There are also so many advantages if Qatar gets to host the World Cup. And the Middle East also has the legitimate right to seek peace through football."