Soccer Capsules: Mexico edges Colombia 1-0 with late goal
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) — Elias Hernandez scored in the 89th minute Tuesday to lift Mexico to a 1-0 victory over Colombia in what was otherwise a lackluster match for both teams.
Hernandez, who came on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Pablo Barrera, fired the ball in from 15 meters (yards), the most exciting play of a match that lacked much clarity. It was Mexico's first victory in three friendlies since the World Cup.
Mexico is sure to come under criticism for its performance. The Aztecs played a 1-1 draw last month with World Cup champion Spain under Enrique Meza serving as interim coach. Efrain Flores coached Saturday's 2-1 loss to Ecuador and Tuesday's victory. Neither is a candidate to replace Javier Aguirre, who resigned a few days after Mexico was knocked out of the World Cup in the round of 16 by Argentina.
Colombia, which did not qualify for the World Cup, defeated Venezuela 2-0 Saturday.
"The important thing was winning," Mexico midfielder Andres Guardado said. "We scored at the last minute and we have a lot to improve."
Flores, a director at Guadalajara club Chivas, said goodbye to the team and wished Mexican officials luck in finding a new coach.
"The (Mexican) federation is working on it and I am sure they will choose the best," he said.
Colombia had its best scoring chance in the 77th when Juan Valencia's shot was stopped by Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. Hugo Rodallega hit the post in second-half injury time.
U.S. Soccer
FIFA inspectors to visit White House
NEW YORK (AP) — FIFA's World Cup inspectors will have breakfast at the White House on Wednesday, a highlight of their three-day tour of potential stadiums and facilities for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
FIFA's executive committee votes on both hosts Dec. 2, and the U.S. is the eighth of nine stops on the tour. Europe is expected to be awarded the 2018 tournament, with England, Russia, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands competing.
The U.S. is up against Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea for 2022. The American bid is likely to be boosted by China's interest in hosting in 2026 — FIFA rules specify consecutive World Cups can't be on the same continent, meaning an Asian host in 2022 would eliminate China as a 2026 site. Australia is part of soccer's Asian confederation.
"China has extraordinary growth and would be in an inviting host," U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati said at a news conference Tuesday that began the tour. "They put on a spectacular Olympic games. And I think there's a lot of people in the world who think China is an important player, certainly in the world economy, in the world of sports and would be a great host at some time in the future. Whether that's 2026 or beyond is up to FIFA."
Delegates were greeted Monday night by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
It was unclear whether President Barack Obama will attend Wednesday's breakfast with the six-man FIFA delegation, headed by Chilean soccer federation president Harold Mayne-Nicholls. Obama hosted the U.S. team in May, and former President Bill Clinton is chairman of the U.S. bid. Clinton attended World Cup matches in South Africa, as did Vice President Joe Biden, and Clinton met with 13 of the 24 voters.
"We're not sure of all the guests, but there certainly will be a couple of cabinet members and a couple senior members of the president's staff," Gulati said.
Mayne-Nicholls, whose group finishes in Qatar next week, said it will submit its technical report to FIFA by November. Stadiums, transportation and communication are not an issue in the U.S., although some teams during the 1994 World Cup were critical of the hot June weather in some parts of the country and the large travel distances.
FIFA's delegation was to visit just five of the 18 cities because of time constraints: New York/New Jersey, Washington, Miami, Dallas and Houston. Gulati said U.S. officials wanted to show off their two newest venues, the New Meadowlands Stadium and Cowboys Stadium, possible sites for the opener and the final. Among the sites to be visited were possibilities for the International Broadcast Center, the draws and the FIFA congress.
"We are here to get as much information as possible," said Mayne-Nicholls, who didn't take questions.
Architects were to be on hand to show how fields in NFL stadiums could be widened to FIFA's 75-yard (68-meter) preference. During the 1994, FIFA agreed to play on several slightly narrow fields.
Gulati said that while the U.S. remained in the bidding for 2018, it would consider withdrawing if asked to by FIFA president Sepp Blatter or Union of European Football Associations president Michel Platini.
Gulati said a second World Cup in the U.S. — and up to 11½ years of buildup — would accelerate soccer's growth. FIFA has devoted increasing resources to the U.S. market since large crowds attended soccer matches at the Los Angeles Olympics.
"We look at this as a 50-year time horizon. What we've done since '84 ... we're roughly at halftime. Just 25 years in, look at what we've done in he first half," Gulati said. "Imagine what we can do in the second half if American television and commercial partnerships treat the World Cup the same way they might treat the Olympics, for examples, and more Americans start treating World Cup viewing the way they treat the NFL."
-- Ronald Blum
Feds: Former Ohio soccer exec facing tax charges
CLEVELAND (AP) — Federal authorities say the former general manager and president of a Cleveland indoor soccer team has been charged with filing false personal income tax returns.
U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach says 51-year-old Paul Garofolo of South Russell is accused of underreporting his adjusted gross income by about $217,000 over tax years 2003 through 2005.
The government says Garofolo worked for North Coast Professional Sports Ltd. from 1999 to 2005 as head of the Cleveland Crunch — later renamed the Cleveland Force — and that he was co-owner of Sports & Marketing, Inc.
Garofolo also has been president and CEO of Wolstein Sports & Entertainment Group LLC, which once owned the Force and worked to attract a Major League Soccer team to northeast Ohio.
A woman who returned a phone message left at a listing for Garofolo said there would be no comment.
MLS suspends Segares for additional game
NEW YORK (AP) — Chicago Fire defender Gonzalo Segares of Costa Rica has had a suspension doubled to two games by Major League Soccer. Segares struck Los Angeles defender Leonardo during an off-the-ball incident in Saturday's 1-1 draw.
Segares was sent off, and the MLS disciplinary committee decided Tuesday to double his penalty from an automatic one-game suspension and $250 fine. In addition to the suspension, he will be fined $500. Segares will miss matches against Toronto on Wednesday and Philadelphia on Saturday.
United D Burch has season-ending foot surgery
WASHINGTON (AP) — D.C. United defender Marc Burch has undergone season-ending surgery on his right foot.
Burch was hurt last week in United's U.S. Open Cup semifinal loss to the Columbus Crew. He reaggravated an injury suffered in February that kept him out for most of the season and also required surgery. Burch played in only four games this season.
The surgery was performed Tuesday in Baltimore.
Two college forwards on US women's roster
CHICAGO (AP) — California forward Alex Morgan and UCLA forward Sydney Leroux are among 30 soccer players on the preliminary roster for the U.S. women's exhibitions against China next month.
The teams meet Oct. 2 in Kennesaw, Ga., and four days later at Chester, Pa. Coach Pia Sunhage will choose 18 players for the matches, then select a 20-woman roster for Women's World Cup qualifying, scheduled for Oct. 28 to Nov. 9 in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Midfielders Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath (ankle injuries) and Lindsay Tarpley (torn ACL) return to the team, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Tuesday.
League/International News
Argentina upsets Spain 4-1
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Spain hardly resembled a World Cup champion against Argentina, allowing their most goals in a decade in a 4-1 exhibition defeat on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez scored first-half goals, assisted by shaky goalkeeping from Spanish backup Pepe Reina. The Spanish lost for the first time since winning the title in July.
Starting instead of No. 1 Iker Casillas, Reina played a part in each goal. Messi lobbed him in the 10th minute and Higuain beat him from a sharp angle in the 13th. Tevez scored in the 34th after Reina slipped trying to clear a ball.
Fernando Llorente scored in the 84th for Spain, and Sergio Aguero made it 4-1 for Argentina seconds into second-half injury time.
"Argentina was the reason that Spain was not the Spain we are used to seeing," said Albiceleste interim coach Sergio Batista, who replaced Diego Maradona after the World Cup. "We beat a great team, and things went like we had hoped."
Spain had not allowed four goals since a 4-1 exhibition defeat at Germany in August 2000.
"It did not surprise me that Argentina was better than us, particularly in the first half," La Furia Roja coach Vicente Del Bosque said. "We lost with dignity, and we are not looking for excuses to devalue Argentina's victory."
It was the second victory for Batista, who took over from Maradona following a 4-0 loss to Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals. Argentina defeated Ireland 1-0 in an exhibition last month.
Spain started just five of the 11 players from its lineup against the Netherlands in the World Cup final: defender Gerard Pique; midfielders Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso; and forward David Villa. Xavi Hernandez entered as a 57th-minute sub for Cesc Fabregas.
Before a sellout crowd of 55,000 at River Plate's Monumental Stadium, the game was played under a light rain. Villa hit a post and the crossbar in the first half.
Spain came to Argentina after opening European Championship qualifying Friday with a 4-0 win at Liechtenstein. In a busy stretch, Messi and his Barcelona teammates on the Spanish national team play their La Liga home opener Saturday against Hercules, then begin the Champions League on Tuesday at home against Panathinaikos.
-- Vicente L. Panetta
World Cup flop France finally wins in Euro qualifying
France's recovery from a humiliating World Cup finally began with a first win in European Championship qualifying on Tuesday night, while Germany and the Netherlands earned their second straight victories.
The French had begun with a surprising loss in Group D to Belarus on Friday, but Karim Benzema and Florent Malouda led them to a 2-0 victory at Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Italy and England also put miserable World Cup campaigns behind them by making it two wins out of two on the path to Euro 2012.
Following Sunday tabloid stories alleging he cheated on his pregnant wife last year with a prostitute, Wayne Rooney ended his yearlong goal drought for England in a 3-1 victory over Switzerland.
Italy cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Faeroe Islands, Miroslav Klose's two goals helped Germany beat Azerbaijan 6-1, and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar scored twice for the Netherlands in a 2-1 victory over Finland.
Spain was beaten for the first time since winning the World Cup, allowing its most goals in a decade it a 4-1 exhibition loss at Argentina.
Having lost its previous four games, France had little margin for error in Bosnia. But it took until the 72nd minute for Benzema, who had recovered from a sore ankle, to put the visitors ahead with a left-footed shot after turning a defender.
Malouda doubled the lead six minutes later to give Laurent Blanc his first win since taking over from coach Raymond Domenech after the first-round exit in South Africa.
"This match summarized all the good things I saw during our preparations but that we failed to put in place against Belarus," Blanc said. "It could be the start of something good."
France is third in Group D behind Albania and Belarus, which both have four points. Hamdi Salihi's goal led Albania to a 1-0 win over Luxembourg, while Belarus was held 0-0 by Romania.
Italy looked a shadow of the side that struggled to beat Estonia 2-1 on Friday.
At his home ground, Fiorentina's Alberto Gilardino headed Italy ahead after 11 minutes against the Faeroe Islands after 11 minutes.
Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Cassano added further goals before halftime, while substitute Fabio Quagliarella scored from close range in the 81st and Pirlo completed the rout in the 90th.
Italy has a two-point lead in Group C over Serbia, which was held to a 1-1 draw by Slovenia.
New Jersey-born Giuseppi Rossi at forward started for Italy, while Neven Subotic, a defender from Salt Lake City, started for Serbia in a 1-1 tie against Slovenia.
Former Real Salt Lake forward Yura Movsisyan scored his first international goal, helping Armenia gain a 2-2 tie at Macedonia. A 23-year-old who holds a U.S green card, Movsisyan potentially was eligible to play for the U.S. national team but made his debut for Armenia last month.
Playing his third international match, he opened the scoring after cutting through Macedonia's defense in the 40th minute.
Mario Gjurovski tied the score a minute later. Edgar Manucharyan put Armenia ahead in second-half stoppage time, but Ilco Naumovski retied it moments later.
The buildup to England's match had been overshadowed by tabloid allegations against Rooney.
But the Manchester United forward shrugged off his personal crisis to score his first England goal since last September, slotting home in the 10th minute after meeting Glen Johnson's cross unmarked.
Adam Johnson added another in the 69th, four minutes after Swiss right back Stephan Lichtsteiner was ejected for fouling James Milner.
Xherdan Shaqiri scored for Switzerland, but Darren Bent sealed England's win with his first international goal.
England tops Group G on goal difference ahead of Montenegro, which beat Bulgaria 1-0 thanks to Elsad Zverotic's long-range shot. Stanimir Stoilov quit as Bulgaria's coach after the game.
"This was my last game as coach of Bulgaria," Stoilov was quoted as saying on UEFA's website. "We lost, and our chances of progressing are disappearing. Losing to Montenegro was too much."
Unlike their European rivals, the Portuguese are still not over their World Cup woes. With coach Carlos Queiroz suspended for six months for insulting anti-doping officials, the team lost 1-0 to Norway, having only managed a 4-4 draw with Cyprus last week.
Norway tops Group H, while Denmark moved up to second by beating Iceland 1-0 in its first qualifier on Thomas Kahlenberg's injury-time goal.
Germany's 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan keeps it ahead of Turkey in Group A on goal difference. Turkey beat Belgium 3-2 after defender Vincent Kompany was ejected.
Olof Mellberg's 34th-minute sending off made no difference to Sweden, which was already leading 3-0 and went on to rout San Marino 6-0 for the Group E lead.
Ireland moved into the Group B by beating Andorra 3-1. Slovakia behind Ireland on goal difference after stunning Russia 1-0 to earn its second straight qualifying win.
In Group I, Stephen McManus headed in a dramatic winner seven minutes into second-half stoppage time as Scotland came from behind to beat Liechtenstein 2-1. Scotland has four points and is even with Lithuania, which won 1-0 in the Czech Republic.
At Monterrey, Elias Hernandez scored in the 89th minute to lift Mexico over Colombia 1-0 in an otherwise a lackluster exhibition.
-- Rob Harris
European clubs ask FIFA to insure players
GENEVA (AP) — Europe's top clubs want FIFA to use some of its billion-dollar World Cup revenues to insure players who are injured during international games.
European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said Tuesday that FIFA's World Cup income is increasing "thanks to our players," and the governing body can afford to fund insurance that would pay the wages of those who returned injured to their club.
"It is no longer acceptable to give up our players taking risk in cases of injuries," Rummenigge said after being re-elected to lead the umbrella group of Europe's best and wealthiest clubs.
Rummenigge said European soccer's ruling body has agreed to work with clubs on a plan but talks with FIFA have not gone well.
"(FIFA's) cake is always getting bigger," he said. "We don't speak about millions, we speak about billions. It is a fact that they don't suffer financial problems so they could, I believe, finance that kind of insurance policy," he said.
European clubs also want FIFA to end international exhibition games played each August because the matches take players away when clubs are preparing to start their seasons.
Rummenigge's club, Bayern Munich, has lost Dutch forward Arjen Robben until next year because of a thigh injury he aggravated during the World Cup.
"He came back in worse condition and now we have to pay the bill," Rummenigge said.
FIFA's dispute with clubs over compensation for injured international players helped lead to the creation of the ECA in 2008.
Rummenigge said he hoped Europe's clubs and FIFA could repeat their successful talks of 2008, which brought international match dates forward by one day to a Friday-Tuesday double-header. That allowed players to returned to their clubs earlier.
"That is a good example of how things can go in the right direction," Rummenigge said.
-- Graham Dunbar
Elsewhere
Ex-leaders of Nigerian football federation charged
ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Four former leaders of Nigeria's football federation face corruption charges after allegedly embezzling money from its team's World Cup funds, authorities said Tuesday.
Anti-graft investigators accuse former president Sani Lulu, former vice president Amanze Ugbulam, former technical committee member Taiwo Ogunjobi and former general secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba of using the more than $6 million in tournament funding for their own advantage.
The charges claim the four bought inferior buses for the team and pocketed the remaining money. The ex-leaders also paid out $800,000 in supposed travel costs for 220 delegates to the World Cup in South Africa. Of those, only 47 were federation officials, while the rest were the men's "friends, associates, girlfriends and relations," said Femi Babafemi, a spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
During a court hearing Tuesday in Nigeria's capital Abuja, Judge Donatus Okorowo ordered the men to surrender their passports and pay a $666,000 bond for their release pending trial.
Lawyers representing the men could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.
The corruption charges come after a disappointing World Cup performance by the Super Eagles and a threat by President Goodluck Jonathan to suspend the federation. Jonathan backed down from the threat after FIFA warned it would sanction the country.
Nigeria left the World Cup with just one point, earned in a 2-2 draw with South Korea in its last game. Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 in its Group B opener and fell to Greece 2-1 in a game turned by the first-half ejection of midfielder Sani Kaita.
Controversy followed the team during its brief appearance in South Africa. Corruption allegations against the federation's management arose after officials fired coach Shaibu Amodu in February and hired Swedish coach Lars Lagerback only about four months before the World Cup.
The football federation also had to pay a reported $125,000 contract to cancel its reservations at the Hampshire Hotel north of Durban in South Africa. Nigerian officials apparently complained the three-star hotel was noisy, mosquito-infested and unsafe.
Oil-rich Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, is often considered by analysts and watchdog groups to have one of the world's most corrupt governments.
Nigeria, which sends many of its best players off to European football clubs, hasn't won a World Cup match since 1998. The Nigerians went out with two losses and a draw in 2002 and did not qualify for the 2006 World Cup.
-- Bashir Adigun
Spain national football team honored at home
MADRID (AP) — The World Cup-winning football team from Spain won the Prince of Asturias prize for sports on Tuesday, with the jury of the foundation named for Spain's Crown Prince Felipe lavishing praise on the squad and calling it a model for the world's most popular sport.
"The team has the virtue of creating a technique and a playing style that are admired around the world and held up in many countries as the standard to seek," the jury said.
It also noted the ecstatic outpouring of flag-waving national pride leading up to and after the team's 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the World Cup final in South Africa on July 11.
"From a social standpoint, the team managed to make the whole country vibrate with its victories and embrace them as if they were its own," the jury said of the national team, which also won the European Championship in 2008.
It named each and every player, from goalkeeper Iker Casillas to midfielder Andres Iniesta, who scored Spain's goal in the World Cup final.
The sports award is one of eight Asturias prizes granted each year in categories including arts, literature, communications and scientific research. The prizes are among Spain's most prestigious and are presented by Crown Prince Felipe each fall in the northern city of Oviedo, capital of the Asturias region.
Last year's winner in the sports category was Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.
The sports award is defined as going to the person, persons or organization which "besides being exemplary in their life and work, has achieved new goals in humanity's struggle to excel and with their effort has contributed in an extraordinary way to the perfecting, nurturing, promotion and spread of sports."
One last Asturias prize remains to be handed out this year: in a category known as concord, which honors those who work for peace and fight poverty and injustice.
-- Daniel Woolls
Bulgaria coach quits after 2nd Euro qualifier loss
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Stanimir Stoilov quit as Bulgaria coach Tuesday after Montenegro inflicted the country's second straight loss in early European Championship qualifying.
Elsad Zverotic clinched a 1-0 victory for Montenegro with a long-range strike in the 35th minute, four days after Bulgaria was thrashed 4-0 by England.
"This was my last game as coach of Bulgaria," Stoilov was quoted as saying on UEFA's website. "We lost and our chances of progressing are disappearing. Losing to Montenegro was too much."
Bulgaria is at the bottom of Group G and plays Wales on Oct. 8 in its next Euro 2012 qualifier.
The 43-year-old Stoilov, who had been in charge of Bulgaria since January 2009, complained last week that the international retirement of Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov had left a big void up front.
Bulgaria missed several good chances to equalize from Ivelin Nikolov's header and Martin Petrov saw several long-range strikes thwarted by goalkeeper Mladen Bozovic.
Stoilov introduced Hertha Berlin striker Valeri Domovchiyski and Parma's Valeri Bojinov in the second half to boost the attack, but they couldn't produce a goal.
Montenegro could have doubled the lead in the final minutes when Simon Vukcevic's two strong shots narrowly missed the target.
Montenegro, which is embarking on its first European qualification campaign as an independent nation, has six points in Group G after beating Wales in its first game.
Walcott injury adds to Arsenal problems
LONDON (AP) — Theo Walcott was taken to hospital with an ankle injury sustained in the first half of England's 3-1 win against Switzerland, dealing Arsenal a second injury blow on Tuesday.
The in-form winger turned his right ankle in the buildup to Wayne Rooney's opening goal for England and was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Walcott was taken to hospital for an X-ray but England manager Fabio Capello said the injury was not as bad as first feared.
"It's a little problem, or not so big problem," Capello said. "He said (he'll be back) in two weeks."
Earlier Tuesday, Arsenal said Netherlands striker Robin van Persie would be out for at least another month as he recovered from an ankle injury he picked up against Blackburn on Aug. 28.
"Van Persie is likely to be out of action until mid-October," Arsenal said in a statement.
As well as missing Arsenal's first two Champions League group-stage matches, Van Persie is also likely to miss the Netherlands' European Championship qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden next month.
Van Persie missed five months last season after injuring ankle ligaments in November while on international duty.
Arsenal striker Van Persie out until mid-October
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal striker Robin van Persie will be out for at least another month as he recovers from an ankle injury.
The Premier League club said Tuesday that Van Persie "will be sidelined for longer than first anticipated."
The Netherlands forward injured his left ankle against Blackburn on Aug. 28 and Arsenal says that he "is likely to be out of action until mid-October."
As well as missing Arsenal's first two Champions League group stage matches, Van Persie is also likely to miss the Netherlands' European Championship qualifiers against Moldova and Sweden next month.
Van Persie missed five months last season after injuring ankle ligaments in November while on international duty.
Liverpool says Dirk Kuyt will be out for 4 weeks
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Dirk Kuyt will be out of action for four weeks because of the left shoulder injury he sustained training with the Netherlands.
The midfielder is likely to miss six matches, including meetings with Manchester United and former club FC Utrecht.
Liverpool doctor Peter Brukner says Kuyt damaged the joint "between the collarbone and the shoulder."
Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk said Kuyt fell awkwardly while attempting to reach a cross in training at ADO The Hague's stadium.
Kuyt scored in the Netherlands' opening European Championship qualifier at San Marino on Saturday but will miss Tuesday's game against Finland at Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium.
He could be back for the Oct. 8 qualifier at Moldova.
Italian tax police still after Maradona
ROME (AP) — First it was his watches. Then his earrings. Now, Diego Maradona's 50th birthday presents might end up in the hands of Italy's tax collection agency.
Maradona is hoping to play a birthday game at his old stadium in Naples next month, but collection agency Equitalia issued a statement Tuesday noting that "the fact that Maradona was a great footballer and is still loved by fans doesn't make his situation different from other tax payers."
Maradona's Italian debts stem from unpaid taxes during the time he played for Napoli from 1984-91, when he helped the club win its only two Serie A titles.
In previous visits to Italy in recent years, tax police have confiscated two Rolex watches and a diamond earring from Maradona. Maradona turns 50 on Oct. 30.
Denmark great Brian Laudrup diagnosed with cancer
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Former Denmark international Brian Laudrup is being treated for a mild case of lymphoma.
The 41-year-old former striker says he was "shocked by the diagnosis" and is facing "a tough fight," but he had received "optimistic" news from doctors because the cancer discovered last week was at a very early stage.
In a statement released on Tuesday by his employer, TV3, Laudrup said he would continue as football commentator for the channel's Champions League matches.
Laudrup played for several European clubs including Bayern Munich, Italian powerhouses Fiorentina and Milan, Glasgow Rangers and Ajax.
He quit the Danish side in 1987 after 82 games and 21 goals.
Wales coach Toshack to clarify future this week
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — The Football Association of Wales says it will clarify the future of national team coach John Toshack at a news conference in Cardiff on Thursday.
The 61-year-old Toshack is widely expected to announce he is resigning from a post he has held since 2004. Several British media outlets say the former Liverpool striker, who is in his second spell in charge of Wales, is ready to quit as he feels he has taken the team as far as he can.
Wales lost 1-0 away to Montenegro on Friday in its opening Euro 2012 qualifier. Toshack, who has a contract until 2012, has won 21 of the 53 matches he has taken charge of in his second spell.
Wales last reached the finals of a major tournament in 1958, when it qualified for the World Cup.
Report: Houllier to sign 2-year deal with Villa
PARIS (AP) — Gerard Houllier has reportedly agreed a two-year contract to become manager of Aston Villa.
L'Equipe newspaper reported Tuesday on its website that the former Liverpool manager will replace Martin O'Neill after spending the weekend in England to work out a deal.
The 63-year-old Houllier, who is currently working for the French Football Federation as its technical director, didn't answer a message left on his mobile phone.
Houllier left Liverpool in 2004 after a six-year spell in charge, and then coached Lyon from 2005-07. He is reportedly set to meet French federation president Fernand Duchaussoy on Wednesday to discuss taking over at Villa.
Reserve-team coach Kevin MacDonald has been taking temporary charge of Villa.
Zimbabwe protests about treatment in Liberia
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Zimbabwe sports officials say they have protested to the continent's football governing body over the ill-treatment of the national team in Liberia on the eve of an African Cup of Nations qualifying match.
In a letter to the Confederation of African Football released on Tuesday, Zimbabwe accused its Liberian hosts of harassment it called "psychological frustration" ahead of Sunday's qualifier that ended in a 1-1 draw. It demanded "appropriate sanctions" against Liberia.
The Zimbabweans were taken from one hotel without electricity or water to another where some players only got to sleep after midnight on mattresses on the floor.
Earlier, they were delayed for three hours after a tire on the team bus was deliberately punctured.
