Guardiola: Wigan have been linked with a move for former Barcelona star Josep Guardiola. The Premier League newcomers can sign the 34-year-old midfielder, capped 43 times by Spain, as he is currently not attached to another club. "I have spoken to Guardiola and I was very impressed that he knew so much about us. His experience would be a help us," Wigan boss Paul Jewell told reporters.

South Africa: South Africa's slim hopes of reaching the 2006 World Cup finals were all but over on Saturday after a 3-1 defeat away to Burkina Faso. South Africa, the hosts for the 2010 tournament, needed to win the Africa zone Group Two qualifier to keep pace with leaders Ghana in the race for a place in Germany but were swept aside by an inspired performance from Burkina Faso.

Rocchi: Tommaso Rocchi has extended his stay with Lazio. The former Empoli man is now committed to the club from Rome until 2009 after he came to the expected agreement with the Serie A side. Rocchi scored 13 league goals last season and became fully owned by Lazio over the summer as they purchased his full registration from Empoli.

Serbs set record: Goals from Mateja Kezman and Sasa Ilic gave Serbia a 2-0 win over Lithuania in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday and lifted them to the top of Group Seven. The Serbs became the first team to play seven successive qualifiers without conceding a goal.

Cicinho: Brazil defender Cicinho is confident of completing a move Real Madrid in January, after the Primera Liga club secured an option to buy him from Sao Paulo. The agreement allows Real to buy the 25-year-old attacking right-back, if they wish, at some point in the future.

Apology: Germany's FA apologised again yesterday after German fans fought police in Slovakia, raising further concerns over security with just nine months to go before the World Cup. Reports from Bratislava said around 500 German fans tried to force their way out of the stands following Germany's 2-0 defeat in a friendly international on Saturday. Six fans were hurt, one of them seriously.