Sporting briefs

Gross: Swiss champions FC Basel have agreed a new two-year contract until 2011 with coach Christian Gross, ending weeks of speculation over his future at the club. Gross, 54, had been linked to several Bundesliga clubs since leading Basel into the Champions League group stage for a second time this season. In July he will mark ten years at Basel, having returned to his native Switzerland following a brief stint in charge of English Premier League Tottenham.

Jonquet dies: Former France defender and captain Robert Jonquet died on Thursday aged 83 after a long illness, his former club Stade Reims said. Jonquet was one of France's greatest players in the 1950s. He won five French titles and played two European Cup finals with Reims, losing both to Real Madrid, in 1956 and 1959. Jonquet won 58 caps for France, reaching the semi-finals of the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, and wore the captain's armband nine times.

Robben: Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben is itching to get back to action against Valencia tonight after serving a one-match suspension that ruled him out of last weekend's 2-0 defeat to leaders Barcelona at the Nou Camp. "I played at a pretty high level in the last two matches and that gave me a boost," the Dutch international said. "I have a lot of confidence now and I want to maintain this level so I can be an important player here."

Robinho: Manchester City forward Robinho is a doubt for his side's trip to bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion tomorrow due to an ankle injury. The Brazilian came off at half-time during City's 3-1 UEFA Cup defeat by Racing Santander on Thursday. City are already without striker Benjani Mwaruwari who is not expected back before the new year.

Siena: Siena coach Marco Giampaolo said his faltering side were fully focused on today's home game with Serie A leaders Inter despite their president Giovanni Lombardi Stronati being investigated for real estate fraud. "This is a personal matter and it has nothing to do with us. We must think about working and playing," Giampaolo told reporters.

Gilardino: Fiorentina striker Alberto Gilardino said it was important for the Florence club, now in fifth, to be in fourth place following tomorrow's trip to Sampdoria. "For Fiorentina the game with Samp is decisive. We want to finish 2008 in fourth spot," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Fred: Brazilian striker Fred, whose contract with Lyon runs until June, will leave the seven-times French champions during the winter break. "I have the chance to move to Brazil in January and I have decided to say yes," Fred said.

Gymnastics: Top Bulgarian gymnast Jordan Jovtchev, who reversed his decision to retire after the Beijing Olympics, has been elected chairman of the Bulgarian gymnastics federation. The 35-year-old has more than a dozen podium finishes in major championships including four Olympic medals although the gold medal has always eluded him.

Basket, NBA: Guard Brandon Roy exploded for a career-high 52 points to inspire the Portland Trail Blazers to a 124-119 shoot-out win over the visiting Phoenix Suns. Roy made a game-tying three-pointer with 1:01 left and tallied 14 in the final quarter as the Blazers improved to 17-10. His scoring burst was the second best single-game output in Blazers' history.

MFA Division Three: Mtarfa vs Żejtun 0-2; Xgħajra vs Qrendi 4-1.