I´m not coming back, says Totti

ROME (AFP) - Roma captain and talisman Francesco Totti has ruled out a return to the Italian national team, despite the world champions' qualification for Euro 2008.

Totti's international retirement has been one of the major talking points in Italy ever since Roberto Donadoni's team got off to a dreadful start in their qualification campaign.

And even after a 2-1 victory in Scotland on Saturday secured the Azzurri's passage to Austria and Switzerland, Donadoni has come under fire for not doing more to hold onto Totti and Alessandro Nesta, who also retired from international football.

But Totti told the Gazzetta dello Sport that he has no intention of coming back into the international fold.

"I know the rules of the group and out of respect for that I would never think of returning to the Azzurri squad," said the 31-year-old.

"I made my decision to retire from international football straight after the World Cup Final in Berlin.

"The (Italian) Federation asked me to take some time and I did, but at the start of last season I told them that I wanted to quit and I have never reconsidered since, whether we qualified for Euro 2008 or not.

"My relationship with Donadoni and the Federation is clear and civil. I wish my former teammates all the best for the European Championship."

Under-fire Donadoni had insisted that both Totti and Nesta could be welcomed back into the squad, but claimed that decision was out of his hands.

"I did everything possible," said Donadoni. "How can I force them to return to the national side if they aren't motivated? It would be counterproductive.

"If they change their minds I would listen to them, but certain choices deserve to be respected."

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid plan to give their international defender Sergio Ramos, who has reportedly sparked interest from AC Milan, a salary hike in

LONDON (AFP) - Joe Cole and Croatia boss Slaven Bilic are both West Ham old boys but the England midfielder is expecting no favours from Bilic at Wembley on Wednesday.

Cole was just breaking through at West Ham when Bilic was a mainstay of the first team and, while he remembers him fondly, he can also recall the Croatian's competitive instincts.

"Slaven was a big player for West Ham when I was very young and he'll get his team going on Wednesday," Cole said ahead of a match in which England need a draw to secure their place in next year's Euro 2008 finals.

"He's a professional and there'll certainly be no favours from him. He'll put a side out there to win the game. Frank (Lampard) knew him more than me and played with him for a few years at West Ham.

"Slaven was well liked and well appreciated at West Ham. He was a really top player and he's proving himself as a manager as well."

Croatia will go into Wednesday's match with nothing to play for having already qualified.

But with their pride having taken a knock after a shock 2-0 defeat in Macedonia at the weekend, Bilic's men will be looking to restore the sheen to their reputations by completing a double over England, whom they comfortably beat 2-0 in Zagreb last year.

Cole added: "I didn't play in the game in Croatia but (Arsenal forward) Eduardo da Silva up front is a threat and they keep the ball well. They're a very good technical team and very good at home.

"They'll come to Wembley and maybe relax and try to knock the ball around. But it's all about us, really. We have to perform as we know we can."

England were left facing the prospect of missing out on the finals after they surrendered a lead to lose 2-1 to Russia in Moscow last month.

But they were handed a reprieve at the weekend when the Russians went down by the same scoreline in Israel.

Cole voiced confidence that England could put the Moscow setback behind them, and dismissed suggestions that he and his team-mates were extremely fortunate to be handed a second bite at the cherry.

"Apart from 10 minutes in Russia, we've done very well for the last six months or so since the summer draw with Brazil at Wembley," he said.

"We've found a style of play that has suited us. There's a belief there. We've performed for the last 10 games and we want to keep that going.

"I know it can be a cruel game at times but you get what you deserve.

England have been notoriously unlucky at times in the past in major tournaments so maybe we're getting a little bit back now.

"If we qualify, we will have deserved to qualify."

Real Madrid ´want to hold on to Ramos´

MADRID (AFP) - Real Madrid plan to give their international defender Sergio Ramos, who has reportedly sparked interest from AC Milan, a salary hike in order to hold on to him, sports daily Marca said Tuesday.

The president of the Spanish champions, Ramon Calderon, is set to offer the 21-year-old, who is under contract with Real until 2011, a new contract before the end of the season that includes higher pay, it said.

"Don't worry, you are not for sale," an unnamed high-ranking club official told Ramos, according to the newspaper.

Real bought Ramos out of his contract with Sevilla for 27 million euros (39.5 million dollars) just before the end of the transfer deadline in August 2005 making him the most expensive defender in the history of Spanish football.

Spanish media have reported that AC Milan are tracking Ramos as the Italain side look to reshape their ageing squad.

The player, who has four goals from 28 international caps, reportedly earns two million euros annually.

Newcastle get 100,000 pounds weekly compensation for Owen injury

LONDON (AFP) - Newcastle are to receive 100,000 pounds (206,000 dollars) per week in compensation for as long as Michael Owen is sidelined by the injury he sustained on England duty last week.

The striker is expected to be out of action for up to a month after suffering a thigh strain in the first half of England's 1-0 friendly win over Austria in Vienna on Friday.

The English Football Association confirmed on Tuesday that Newcastle would be eligible for a payout under the terms of their insurance, which covers clubs for players' wages up to a maximum of 100,000 pounds per week.

Meanwhile Newcastle have sent Owen to Germany for treatment by high-profile specialist Dr Hans-Wilhelm Muller Wohlfahrt.

Magpies manager Sam Allardyce told Tuesday's Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "We have sent Michael to Germany to see Dr Wohlfahrt in a bid to speed up his recovery from his thigh injury.

"But at this moment in time, we do no see the point in changing our view that we will be without Michael for between four and six weeks.

"If we start talking about him coming back earlier there will be disappointment if he does not.

"However if we can get him back quicker after Dr Wohlfahrt's treatment, then it will be a huge bonus for us."

Injuries have restricted Owen to just 25 games for Newcastle in nearly 28 months, with the former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker scoring 10 goals for the north-east club.

Owen, 27, was operated on by another German doctor, Ulrike Muschaweck, who carried out a double hernia operation on the forward.

Muschaweck had the striker back in action within eight days as he scored on his return in a 3-2 Premier League victory over Everton, and he was able to play in the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Estonia and Russia last month.

Beckham can make me England´s hero says Crouch

LONDON (AFP) - Peter Crouch believes he can fire England to Euro 2008 as long as David Beckham is given the chance to supply the ammunition.

Steve McClaren must decide whether to keep faith with Beckham in England's decisive showdown against Croatia on Wednesday after the midfielder's lethargic display in Austria last week.

Beckham has hardly played for LA Galaxy this season after a series of injuries and McClaren could opt to bring in Shaun Wright-Phillips for the former Manchester United star.

But Beckham can still present a persuasive case to win his 99th cap.

Despite his lack of match fitness, he delivered the corner that led to Crouch's headed winner in Vienna. And he has plenty of experience of this kind of crunch match, with his last-minute free-kick against Greece that booked England's passage to the 2002 World Cup still a vivid memory.

Crouch is convinced his best chance of scoring the goals on Wednesday that would make him an England hero lie with Beckham.

"He's still one of the best at delivering from set-pieces or out wide, so for someone like me who scores the majority of my goals from crosses he certainly a player to have," Crouch said.

"He's a fantastic player for me. The last time I started for England against Estonia he created a goal for me.

"With someone like him, I just know I need to get into the box because, given half a yard, he is going to whip a cross in. An early cross is perfect for me and David always provides that."

Injuries to Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney have left Crouch to shoulder England's attacking responsibilities. It is a challenge he is relishing.

After several years as a figure of fun in the English game, the giant forward's record of 13 goals in 23 internationals has earned him respect but now he wants to be the main man.

"It's exciting for the players who are picked on Wednesday," he said. "They will have a huge chance to be a hero and put England through to the tournament.

"It's something you dream of. It would be nice to be remembered for the sort of goals that Michael Owen scored in the World Cup or David Beckham against Greece.

"Apart from a silly dance there's been a few great moments. But I haven't had a chance to play in a defining match when we can get to the finals. When given the chance I'm sure I'll be capable of doing that."

Under Sven Goran Eriksson England were serial quarter-finalists in major tournaments but, if they do make it to next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland, Crouch has no doubts McClaren's team can win the competition.

"We've got good enough players. It's time to show how good we can be," he said. "We all believe we have the capabilities to win it and there's no reason why we can't."

While Joe Cole hopes to spend next June and July helping England live up to Crouch's boast, the winger is ready to send his Chelsea team-mate Tal Ben Haim for a more low-key holiday.

Cole promised to pay for Israel defender Ben Haim's vacation if his country did England a favour by beating Russia on Saturday.

Ben Haim duly obliged and Cole has lined up a trip to one of England's less glamourous seaside resorts. He said: "Yeah, I've got him a few brochures for Clacton-on-Sea. He'll have a great time.

"Seriously, I'm a man of my word. It started off as a joke, and he'll probably say I don't have to do that, but I'll send him and his wife somewhere nice. I'm sure we can cut a few corners!"

Grygera linked with Italy move

Zdenek Grygera (Football-Stock)

Written by: Chris Nixon
AMSTERDAM, Nov 23 (SW) – Ajax stopper Zdenek Grygera is being closely linked with a move to Italy, with Juventus and Inter leading the race.

"Both these offers would be very tempting and it would be very difficult to choose the better one," explained the player’s agent. "It would depend on the final offer."

A highly influential figure for the Amsterdam giants, manager Henk ten Cate admits that the player’s time with the club is drawing to a close after he rejected the chance to sign a new long-term contract.

"It's clear that he wants a new challenge," said the former Barcelona assistant.

"It's a pity that he will be leaving, because he is a super professional and a great lad."

The Czech Republic international has been quoted in the past saying that he would like to one day play in Italy, and this stance hasn’t changed.

"There is no change in what I have already said - that I would like to play in Italy one day," said Grygera.

With Ajax not participating in this season's UEFA Champions League group stages, it opens up the possibility of a move as early as the winter transfer window in January

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