World Club Championship: European champions Barcelona will have a slight edge at this year's FIFA Club World Cup after being given an extra day's rest yesterday's draw in Tokyo. The Spaniards play either Central American champions Club America of Mexico or the eventual winners of this year's Asian Champions League in their opening game in Yokohama on December 14. South America's Libertadores Cup winners Internacional of Brazil play a day earlier in Tokyo against Oceania champions Auckland City or whoever wins Africa's continental title.

Petrov: Bulgaria coach Hristo Stoichkov said he was shocked by captain Stilian Petrov's announcement that he was quitting the national team. The 27-year-old Aston Villa midfielder revealed his decision yesterday and said he will explain his reasons tomorrow. "I think we'll have to let him express his motives," said Stoichkov. "He needs to shake free from the tension and think it over."

Arsenal injuries: Arsenal will be without Freddie Ljungberg, Emmanuel Eboue and Julio Baptista for their next two games. The trio will miss tomorrow's league game against Watford and Tuesday's Champions League trip to CSKA Moscow. Ljungberg suffered a calf injury playing for Sweden against Iceland. Defender Eboue hurt his knee while on international duty for Ivory Coast while Baptista hurt his hamstring in training.

Maxi: Argentina forward Maxi Rodriguez has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, his club Atletico Madrid said yesterday. The 25-year-old international is expected to be sidelined for a large part of the season after being taken off in the 16th minute of Argentina's 2-1 friendly defeat to Spain in Murcia on Wednesday.

Barbarez retires: Bosnia captain Sergej Barbarez announced his retirement from international soccer yesterday, saying he wanted to concentrate on his club career with Bayer Leverkusen. "At my age, playing for the club and the national team is a big burden," the 35-year-old forward said on his website. Barbarez earned 46 caps and scored 17 goals for his country in eight years. He said he informed national coach Blaz Sliskovic and his team-mates before last week's Euro 2008 qualifier in Moldova which ended in a 2-2 draw. Barbarez picked up a yellow card in that match and was suspended for Bosnia's 4-0 defeat to Greece on Wednesday.

MFA Division Three: Luqa vs Qrendi 2-3; Fgura vs Mgarr 0-1.

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