Brazil qualify for World Cup

Brazil qualified for its 19th consecutive World Cup, leaving Argentina to join Portugal and France with difficult paths to reach next year's tournament.

Defending champion Italy and European champion Spain maintained their leads in Europe, while England and Germany won friendlies ahead of qualifiers on Wed-nesday. And in Africa, Cameroon boosted their chances with their first victory in the final round of qualifying.

Luisao put Brazil ahead in the 24th minute at Rosario, Argentina, and Luis Fabiano scored in the 30th and 67th. Jesus Datolo scored in the 65th for Argentina, which will be under pressure to remove coach Diego Maradona.

Brazil lead South American qualifying with 30 points, three ahead of Chile and Paraguay and eight in front of Argentina with three matches remaining. The top-four teams advance to the World Cup while the No. 5 nation goes to a play-off against the No. 4 nation in North and Central America and the Caribbean.

Brazil became the seventh nation to join host South Africa in next year's 32-nation field, following Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea and the Netherlands.

Argentina lost a home qualifier for the first time since a 5-0 defeat to Colombia in 1993.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the FIFA player of the year, is in danger of missing the World Cup after Portugal needed a last-minute goal by Liedson for a 1-1 draw against Denmark. Nicklas Bendtner gave the Danes the lead in the 41st minute.

Group One

Denmark lead Group One with 17 points, four ahead of Hungary, which lost 2-1 at home to Sweden when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored in injury time. Sweden are third with 12 points and Portugal have 10 heading into Wednesday's game against Hungary. The top team qualifies from each of the nine European groups and the best eight second-place teams go to play-offs.

France likely will have to win a play-off for a World Cup berth after a disappointing 1-1 tie with Romania at Saint-Denis.

France looked in control after Thierry Henry's 48th-minute goal, but defender Julien Escude turned the ball past his goalkeeper Hugo Llorisslid while attempting to intercept a cross seven minutes later.

"The objective is to qualify, no matter how we get there. I'm not in the habit of giving up," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "There's still everything to play for, nothing is finished yet. It will go down to the last game."

Les Bleus are second in Group Seven with 14 points, four behind Serbia heading into their meeting at Belgrade on Wednesday.

The Czech Republic played to a 2-2 draw at Slovakia, which could qualify for their first major tournament. Substitute forward Milan Baros headed in his 34th international goal in the 84th minute for the Czechs.

Slovakia heads Group Three with 16 points, two ahead of Northern Ireland. The Czechs are fifth with nine.

At Tblisi, Georgia captain Kakha Kaladze - who plays for AC Milan - headed two own goals in the 57th and 67th, giving Italy a 2-0 victory over Georgia.

Nemanja Vidic vows to prove his commitment to Man United

Star defender Nemanja Vidic has vowed that he will prove his commitment to Manchester United with his performances in the coming weeks.

Vidic's advisor Paolo Fabbri was quoted last week as saying that the centre-back would welcome a switch to Barcelona.

It set alarm bells ringing at Old Trafford, as Vidic has become one of Europe's top defenders since joining three years ago. His wife was also reported as being unhappy in Manchester.

But Vidic insists he is focused only on United's title defence and Fabbri denied making the comments.

"I've never said anything about Barcelona, or Real Madrid or AC Milan - or any club. I never speak about my future so I don't know why someone else does. I showed at Wigan on the pitch how happy I am at this club. Any fan of United only has to see how I played to know how committed I am," The Sun quoted Vidic, as saying.

The 5-0 win at Wigan on Saturday was Vidic's first game back after an ankle injury.

He spoke to Fabbri about the story to voice his concern at the timing of it, after United lost Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez.

"I don't want it to have an impact. I'm here and committed. I'll show that with how I play. It's not true that my wife is not happy. I don't know how that rumour came out; she's not what you'd call a famous wife. She's never spoken to a newspaper," he added.

Beckham worth a place - Ancelotti

David Beckham will play a significant role for AC Milan during his loan spell, says coach Carlo Ancelotti.

The Los Angeles Galaxy player joins the Italian side until March as he attempts to stay fit in the US close season.

And after the Englishman was paraded in front of the San Siro crowd on Sunday, Ancelotti made it clear that the move was more than a publicity exercise.

"Certainly there is a place for him because he is a great player," said the Milan coach.

"He is very well-prepared tactically and he can give a contribution to this team.

"He is in good condition and if he is one of the 11 names on the team sheet, then it is because he deserves to be there.

"I met with him this morning and he has been welcomed very well. We are all delighted to have him here.

"We are all happy because what we have got is a great professional."

Speaking on Saturday, Beckham said a key reason behind the loan was the relatively short length of the football season in the United States.

"I've always said I would miss playing at the highest level," said the 33-year-old.

"I'm not saying that in America they won't get to the highest level - it will take time and it will happen - but with five months off during the season I personally can't do that."

Beckham, who has 107 England caps, needs to remain fit to keep his place in England squad as he bids to surpass Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps.

"I know how (England coach) Fabio Capello works," said Beckham. "If you're good enough and working hard enough, you'll be in the team no matter where you are or where you're playing.

"You should not be given England caps lightly, they're very precious. People have questioned that in the last few games I've played in which is quite unbelievable considering I'm on 107 caps.

"To be up there with Bobby Moore is an incredible thing. If I end up equalling the record, I'd be even more honoured but at the moment I take each game as it comes."

Capello - a former coach of AC Milan - said on Saturday: "I put [Beckham] in the squad when he played with LA and if he plays for AC Milan it is possible he will be in the squad.

"Beckham's record is not important for me - I decide the squad to win a game, not for the record."

And Beckham, who began Saturday's news conference by addressing the assembled media with a few words in Italian, admitted: "I needed to be able to be playing top-flight football to keep myself fit, to keep myself in contention for other things that are going on."

The first game Beckham could potentially play for Milan is their away match against Roma on 11 January.

"I wouldn't have taken this opportunity if I didn't think I could help the team," said Beckham.

"It's not about anything else apart from the football. I've come here to play with some of the best players in the world.

"To be able to step on to the training field with Kaka, (Andrea) Pirlo, (Paolo) Maldini, Ronaldinho - there's so many players that I've always watched and played against but never played with.

"There's some great players out there and I don't expect to walk in on the first day and be starting in the team, it doesn't happen like that.

"I'm going to work hard in training, I'm going to get my fitness - because I need to - and then once I'm fit, hopefully I can get some time in the team, and hopefully help.

"I know there's quite a few injuries at the moment," he added, referring to a lengthy injury list that includes the likes of Kaka, Pirlo, Gennaro Gattuso and Mathieu Flamini.

Beckham, who will wear the number 32 shirt, is especially keen to line up alongside 40-year-old defender Maldini.

"What is great about AC Milan is the history of the club, that's what makes great clubs," said the Englishman. "Who better to represent the club than Maldini?

"He's still playing at top level. That just shows the club's amazing structure, amazing beliefs in players whether they're young or old. As long as they're talented it doesn't matter.

"I've played against him and know how good he is. Now to play with him, well it's a huge honour.

"I love the history behind great teams, I've said it before. I loved playing for Manchester United. They will always be the team that gave me my start, gave me the chance to win so many trophies.

"I fell in love with Real Madrid too and now that I've seen AC Milan, I'm already falling in love.

"It's going to be hard to leave but I'm going to have a great time here I hope."

Earlier on Saturday Milan suggested they would consider signing Beckham on loan again in 2010 if his two-month spell goes well.

"We hope Beckham leaves an indelible mark," said chief executive Adriano Galliani. "Next year we could repeat the experience, maybe for longer."

Galliani had previously hinted that Beckham may want to spend more than two months in Serie A but the chief executive played down the speculation.

"David Beckham will stay with Milan up to 9 March. The last match is Milan v Atalanta on 8 March. I don't want to delude anyone," he said.

Prior to his official unveiling Beckham had a medical at a private clinic.

Garforth agree deal to sign Cafu

Former AC Milan and Brazil right-back Cafu has been lined up to play for Unibond Northern League team Garforth Town next year.

The club's manager, Simon Clifford, has played down talk of a move in January but has persuaded the 38-year-old to join before the end of the season.

"He's likely to be coming in April to just play a few games," said Clifford.

"It's an honour to have someone like him lining up in our shirt and I think he'll add something on the field."

Clifford runs the Brazilian Soccer Schools coaching organisation and has built up a number of contacts in the game.

In 2004 he attracted Brazil legends Socrates and Careca to play for the club and the addition of Cafu is another major coup for the West Yorkshire town.

Just last season the World Cup winner was plying his trade with AC Milan but was without a club having being released in the summer after five years at the San Siro.

He is Brazil's most capped player of all time having played 142 times for his country and has won the World Cup twice - in 1994 and 2002.

Late goals send Milan through in UEFA Cup

Late goals from Ronaldinho and Filippo Inzaghi salvaged a 2-2 draw for AC Milan against English FA Cup winners Portsmouth and took the seven times European champions into the last 32 of the UEFA Cup on Thursday.

Milan were trailing 2-0 until Brazilian Ronaldinho curled in a superb freekick after 84 minutes and then Inzaghi, who had hit the woodwork three times, showed fine control to slot home the equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time.

Carlo Ancelotti's side top Group E with seven points from three matches and are guaranteed a place in the knockout phase with a game to spare.

Former winners CSKA Moscow, Manchester City and Ligue 1 strugglers St Etienne joined Milan as the first four teams to qualify for the last 32.

Portsmouth, roared on by the majority of a fervent 20,000 crowd shoehorned into the south coast club's Fratton Park home, had stunned Milan with second-half goals from Younes Kaboul and Nwankwo Kanu.

Kaboul powerfully headed home Glenn Johnson's inviting cross after 62 minutes and 11 minutes later Nigeria striker Kanu, whose FA Cup final winner in May secured Portsmouth's place in Europe, hooked in another Johnson cross from close range.

Ancelotti sent on Ronaldinho and Pato for Kaka and Andriy Shevchenko and it was the former who got Milan back into the game with an unstoppable swirling freekick past David James.

With time running out, a hopeful ball into the danger area was taken down with aplomb by Inzaghi who then found the bottom corner of the net.

Kaka targets English switch amid Man City link

AC Milan playmaker Kaka wants to play in the English Premier League and has been speaking to fellow Brazilians Robinho and Elano about Manchester City.

City's wealthy Abu Dhabi owners have been linked with a move for 26-year-old Kaka.

"I like very much the Premier League," the world player of the year said ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup match at Portsmouth. "It's a very tough championship, but there are a lot of big players and a lot of big teams, so now I think it's the best championship in the world."

"So, one day maybe, I don't know when, but it would be great to play in England."

Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan broke the British transfer record to sign Robinho in September when the member of the United Arab Emirates' royal family led the Abu Dhabi United Group's purchase of City.

When asked about a move to City, Kaka said: "I have a lot of friends that are playing there, so I watch some games. I speak with Robinho and Elano sometimes about Manchester City."

Inter Milan meets Napoli in Serie A after midweek loss in Europe

Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho has publicly accepted the blame for his team's home loss to Panathinaikos. Now, he must motivate his players for Sunday's Serie A match against Napoli or risk increasing his culpability.

"I accept the blame for this defeat and now we have to look forward," Mourinho said Wednesday after his team lost 1-0 to Panathinaikos in the Champions League group stage.

After a slow start, Inter has opened a three-point lead over city rival AC Milan in the Serie A, but the team has won only its first of five games in the Champions League. Despite Wednesday's loss, Inter qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Mourinho will be looking to make sure his team's lackluster Champions League performances aren't transferred to the Serie A.

Napoli, four points behind Inter to be tied for third, has been one of the biggest surprises after finishing eighth last season, 35 points back from Inter. Napoli has seen several games slip away this year in the last minutes otherwise it could be even higher.

Last week, Cagliari scored in the final minute of injury time to draw a game that Napoli had controlled almost from the start. Coach Edoardo Reja berated his players, saying their youth was also partly to blame for a similar result against AC Milan earlier.

Mourinho, for his part, is likely to continue experimenting until he finds a winning combination. He has had a different starting lineup in each of Inter's 13 league games this year. On Wednesday, he started with two wingers and then later fielded three strikers.

Also Sunday, AS Roma hosts Fiorentina. Roma started slowly, dropping to just one point clear of relegation, but the team has played well lately including a 3-1 Champions League win at CFR Cluj and a 3-0 victory at Lecce last weekend in the Serie A.

Captain Francesco Totti scored in both games and appears to be finding form after injuries hampered his start to the season.

"I said this was a quality team and I have been proven correct," Roma coach Luciano Spalletti said. "The crisis is over. In the game against Cluj, I saw some things in the team that give me reason to hope. We can still improve very much."

Roma is 16 points behind Inter with a game in hand, but Totti and teammates are expected to find a demoralized Fiorentina after it was eliminated from the Champions League on Tuesday.

AC Milan, which travels to Palermo, plays Portsmouth later Thursday in the UEFA Cup.

Juventus hosts Reggina on Saturday looking to rebound from last week's loss to Inter and an uninspired 0-0 draw with Zenit St. Petersburg in the Champions League. Juventus had already qualified for the last 16 with two games to spare.

Also, it's: Atalanta vs. Lazio; Cagliari vs. Sampdoria; Genoa vs. Bologna; Siena vs. Torino; Udinese vs. Chievo Verona; and Lecce vs. Catania.

Portsmouth 2-2 AC Milan

Filippo Inzaghi struck a late equaliser to break Portsmouth's hearts and send AC Milan into the Uefa Cup's last 32.

Inzaghi hit the post and the bar early on, while Peter Crouch was guilty of missing three excellent chances.

Younes Kaboul headed in Glen Johnson's pin-point cross to put Pompey ahead and Kanu doubled the lead from close range.

Inzaghi hit the woodwork again with a diving header, before Ronaldinho scored with a superb free-kick and Inzaghi's toe-poke snatched a draw.

Talk before the game had been that Milan were not relishing the prospect of a wintry evening at Fratton Park.

And it looked like Portsmouth were going to pull off a famous victory until Inzaghi's late, late intervention.

Not that anyone could really begrudge the striker his reward for a performance of real menace.

The former Italy international almost opened the scoring when he latched on to Andriy Shevchenko's free-kick, sending a left-footed shot against the foot of the post.

Inzaghi hit the woodwork again when he raced on to Gennaro Gattuso's pass and lofted the ball over David James and against the top of the bar.

In between those chances for Milan, Crouch should have done better when volleying horribly off target after being picked out by Kanu's cross into the box.

It was to be the story of the night for Crouch, who later headed back into the box with the goal gaping, sent a diving header wide and mistimed an overhead kick.

Pompey, though, were at least creating chances and certainly did not look overawed.

Following a slick passing move, they fashioned another opening, but the angle proved too tight for Glen Little to get his volley on target.

Aside from a couple of long-range efforts from world player of the year Kaka, Milan were unable to threaten.

And it was no great surprise when Pompey broke the deadlock though Kaboul, who rose between two Milan defenders to thump home a header.

Nine minutes later, the home side doubled their lead - and again it was Johnson who was the provider, this time sending in a cross for Kanu to convert.

But rather than folding, Milan came back strongly, with Inzaghi denied once again by the frame of the goal from a diving header.

On came Ronaldinho, who quickly made an impression when he curled in an exquisite 25-yard free-kick to give Milan a lifeline.

Luca Antonini went close with a low, skidding shot as the visitors searched for an equaliser, which they got when Inzaghi struck after his sublime first touch set him up to earn his side a vital point.

It was a hugely disappointing end for Pompey and their fans, but the club still has hopes of making the last 32.

They need to pick up points from their remaining games against Germany's Wolfsburg - away next Thursday - and Holland's Heerenveen to join Milan in the group's top three.


Portsmouth manager Tony Adams:

"The boys are feeling flat in there. They thought they had won it. But I'm proud of them tonight.

"This was the best performance I've seen from us in a long time. And we can still say we are four games unbeaten now, including against Milan.

"We are struggling to put teams to bed, but they (Milan) have some excellent players. If you switch off, they punish you.

"We can work on picking teams up from set plays but it was a fantastic free-kick. But I was very entertained by my players tonight.

"We've given ourselves a chance but we will still have to get over this. The boys are really upset they didn't hang on to win."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti:

"Ronaldinho's free-kick changed the face of the game but we almost lost hope. The reaction had to be good and it was, but you don't often get the opportunity from 2-0 down.

"We were a little lucky. We played quite well in the first half but it became a bit more difficult in the second half after they took the lead.

"Inzaghi deserved his goal. He was unlucky to twice hit a post but we still had to get the break to recover.

"(Portsmouth's) performance did not surprise me. I think they can still go through to the third round in the UEFA Cup with us."


Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Kaboul, Distin, Belhadj, Little (Mvuemba 66), Diop, Hughes, Traore, Crouch, Kanu (Davis 81).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Hreidarsson, Pamarot, Wilson.

Booked: Hughes.

Goals: Kaboul 62, Kanu 73.

AC Milan: Dida, Zambrotta, Favalli, Senderos, Antonini, Gattuso (Seedorf 65), Emerson, Flamini, Kaka (Alexandre Pato 74), Inzaghi, Shevchenko (Ronaldinho 74).
Subs Not Used: Kalac, Kaladze, Pirlo, Bonera.

Booked: Antonini.

Goals: Ronaldinho 84, Inzaghi 90+2.

Att: 20,403

Ref: Serge Gumienny.

Brazil's Ronaldo considering retirement

Brazilian striker Ronaldo may retire from soccer following his latest serious knee injury, the 32-year-old said on Wednesday.

Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee playing for AC Milan in February and made his return earlier this week when he appeared for just 22 minutes in a charity match in Morocco.

His Milan contract ran out in the close season and offers from big clubs have failed to materialise for the Brazilian, who has turned down an approach from Serie A midtable side Siena.

"I thank them but I really don't know what the future holds for me," Ronaldo told Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I don't know if I will continue playing or retire. I still haven't taken a decision. There is no rush. I want to complete my recuperation. I could decide tomorrow or in a month. I really don't know."

England's Manchester City have been linked with a move for the 1997 and 2002 Ballon d'Or winner, along with Brazil's Flamengo.

However, the former Real Madrid player is still nowhere near ready for action after struggling and looking overweight in Morocco.

"I am tired because my rehabilitation work has been hard and my legs are heavy," added Ronaldo, who suffered serious injuries to his right knee while playing for Inter Milan in 1999 and 2000 but recovered to help Brazil win the 2002 World Cup.

Capello denies fixing David Beckham Milan move

England coach Fabio Capello has denied fixing up David Beckham's three-month loan move to AC Milan.

Speculation in Italy has been rife that the former Milan coach had asked Rossoneri chief executive Adriano Galliani to take the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder so he could stay fit and in contention for England during the U.S. close season.

Asked what part he had played in the loan, Capello told Sunday's Gazzetta Sportiva: "None. Galliani asked me my opinion on Beckham. I told him that he is a good player and a good person.

"Galliani spoke to me after having decided to take Beckham, not before."

However, Capello thinks the January move will be positive for the 33-year-old, who was omitted for this Wednesday's friendly in Germany because he has not played since last month.

"I don't change my methods. Those who aren't playing don't join the national team," the Italian said. "If Galaxy had reached the playoffs, he would have been called up. He is a good player, I am sure he will play at Milan."

England failed to reach Euro 2008 but have won four World Cup qualifiers out of four since Capello took over. He thinks his side are well-prepared for another crack at Germany, having famously won 5-1 in Munich in 2001.

"I believe my players are ready for a match of this level after the successes in qualification for South Africa 2010. Now the players have faith in their ability and potential," he said.

"We have worked a lot at removing insecurity and fear. The improvement has been consistent, game after game. There are no limits for this England."

Steven Gerrard ruled out of Germany game

Steven Gerrard has been ruled out of England's friendly with Germany on Wednesday because of a torn leg muscle.

The Liverpool midfielder picked up the injury in Saturday's 2-0 win at Bolton and will be out for seven to 10 days.

Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are are also missing with calf and back injuries, respectively.

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne was a surprise inclusion in Fabio Capello's squad, which also excluded LA Galaxy midfielder David Beckham.

Liverpool spokesman Ian Cotton confirmed the extent of Gerrard's injury: "Steven picked up an injury in yesterday's game at Bolton.

"A scan this morning has confirmed a tear in the adductor magnus muscle in his right leg, and he is expected to be out between seven to 10 days."

Beckham, who has not played since the Major League Soccer season finished on 26 October, misses the chance to equal Bobby Moore's tally of 108 caps with Capello making it clear he will only pick players who are playing regularly.

Beckham will be inactive until he joins Italian side AC Milan on loan in January.

Mancienne, who joined Wolves on a three-month loan deal in October, said the call-up had been unexpected.

"It's a great honour," he told Wolves's website: "I was expecting to join up with the under-21s and my head was focused on that but this is obviously great news.

"It's a great game to be picked for and just to be in and around the squad will be superb."

Mancienne, who is yet to play for the Chelsea first team, joins uncapped Aston Villa duo Curtis Davies, 23 and Gabriel Agbonlahor, 22, in a youthful England setup.

Martin O'Neill's team have four representatives in all, with Ashley Young and Gareth Barry completing the Villa quartet.

Ferdinand, who is suffering with a bad back, and Rooney, who has a chest infection and calf strain, both missed Manchester United's 5-0 drubbing of Stoke and leave Capello with shortages in defence and attack.

Ferdinand's England centre-back partner John Terry is included despite picking up an injury during the Blues' 3-0 win at West Brom on Saturday.

Should the captain's injury worsen in the coming days, Capello will go to Berlin without his entire first-choice defence and strikeforce.

Chelsea team-mates Ashley and Joe Cole are missing with hamstring injuries, and Manchester United defender Wes Brown is also missing with an injury.

Terry will have a scan on Sunday and Chelsea boss Luiz Felipe Scolari said: "The doctor told me that John needs to go to the hospital tomorrow (Sunday) for a scan.

"If he has a condition then he should not play but if he does not have a condition he must play."

Despite the injuries to Emile Heskey and Rooney, Capello has opted not to recall striker Michael Owen, who scored for Newcastle in their draw with Wigan on Saturday.

However, Spurs striker Bent, revitalised under new boss Harry Redknapp, earns a recall, while Manchester City's Joe Hart and Micah Richards also return.

The Manchester City pair, team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips, plus Joleon Lescott and Stewart Downing must all come through Premier League fixtures for their clubs on Sunday first.

Capello said he will take a careful look at the youngsters in his new-look England squad in the international friendly at the Olympic Stadium, home of Hertha Berlin.

"Our opponents Germany are always a very strong team, and when they play at home even more so," he said.

"Everyone has told me that it is not a friendly game against Germany, but I think this will be a friendly game. We will do some experiments and after this game I will know better some different players."

David Beckham awaits England squad call

Beckham awaits England squad call

David Beckham will find out on Saturday whether he will get the chance to equal Bobby Moore's tally of 108 caps in Wednesday's friendly with Germany.

England coach Fabio Capello will name his squad at around 1900 GMT - and there is speculation Beckham will be left out as he lacks match fitness.

The LA Galaxy midfielder, 33, has not played since the Major League Soccer season finished on 26 October.

But if Beckham is left out it would not signal the end of his England career.

Beckham was a member of the England team that defeated Germany 5-1 in their famous win in Munich under coach Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2001.

But his participation this time is in doubt because Capello has made it clear he will only pick players who are playing regularly and Beckham will be inactive until he joins Italian side AC Milan on loan in January.

"The door will still be open for him. It will be interesting to see how he gets on at AC Milan and he could be back in the England squad for their next friendly against Spain in February.

"But he will be picked on merit, as a squad player, not as a star who is adding to his collection of caps."

Beckham needs one more cap to equal Moore's record as England's most-capped outfield player, although he is still some way short of goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who won 125 caps.

If the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder is not included, it will be the first time that Capello has not selected him since he recalled him to the squad to face France in March.

The England coach must also decide whether to recall Michael Owen, who has played a part in Newcastle's last two games after missing three matches with a groin injury.

Capello is definitely without Chelsea pair Ashley and Joe Cole, who are both sidelined with hamstring problems.

And Wigan striker Emile Heskey is also out of action with a calf strain.

But Joe Hart and Gabriel Agbonlahor are set to be included as Capello is keen to give them more senior experience.

Manchester City goalkeeper Hart, 21, and Aston Villa striker Agbonlaor, 22, were both left out of Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad to face the Czech Republic on Tuesday.

Premier League talent line from Arsenal to Wigan Athletic

Guide to the Premier League academies

Arsenal

Opened in 1998, the Arsenal Academy is now in its 11th season, having been one of the first tier of English clubs to gain academy status.
Star pupil: David Bentley.

Aston Villa

Established in 1997, it replaced the former Centre of Excellence system in an attempt to introduce a more organised approach to youth development.
Star pupil: Gareth Barry.

Blackburn Rovers

Rovers are reviewing their academy in an attempt to develop a greater number of successful senior squad members at Ewood.
Star pupil: Matt Derbyshire.

Bolton Wanderers

The club replaced the older, more informal youth system in 1998.
Star pupil: Kevin Nolan.

Chelsea

The mission statement is "to produce home-grown professional footballers capable of competing with Europe's elite players with long-term loyalty to the club."
Star pupil: John Terry.

Everton

Academy has more than 20 full-time staff.Players from age six to 16 are coached three times a week.
Star pupil: Wayne Rooney.

Fulham

The Fulham Academy takes on players as young as nine years old.
Star pupil: Sean Davis.

Liverpool

Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard, Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman and Jamie Carragher all trained at the state-of-the-art Youth Academy, opened in Kirkby in 1998. It has enabled the club to employ new techniques and FA standards.
Star pupil: Steven Gerrard.

Manchester City

The Academy was set up in 1998. By the end of last season no fewer than 26 players had passed through the Platt Lane gates and into the first team.
Star pupil: Micah Richards.

Manchester United

Academy players won the Champions Youth Cup last year. Recent alumni include Frazier Campbell and Johnny Evans.
Star pupil: Ryan Giggs.

Middlesbrough

One of the most productive academies in the country. Since 2003, Boro have produced the most graduates of all the academies to play in at least five first-team games a season. Star pupil: Stewart Downing

Newcastle United

Newly appointed director Richard Money presides over the Newcastle academy.
Star pupil: Stephen Taylor.

Portsmouth

The club were granted academy status at
the beginning of last season. Finished fourth in the Premier League Academy Group A last year.
Star pupil: Darren Anderton.

Stoke City

This academy, which costs £500,000 per year to run, trains more than 150 young players.
Star pupil: Martin Paterson.

Sunderland

The 'Academy of Light' cost over £10 million to build, and was the subject of protests from local residents angered at such a development on a green belt.
Star pupil: Martyn Waghorn.

Tottenham Hotspur

The Spurs academy coaches footballers from age eight to 18. The operation involves approximately 30 full-time and part-time staff.
Star pupil: Ledley King.

West Bromwich Albion

Run by former Manchester United midfielder Michael Appleton, the academy's home games are normally played at Albion's Great Barr Training Ground.

West Ham United
West Ham's academy has been highly successful in producing a number of players who have gone on to play at international level, including Frank Lampard.
Star pupil: Joe Cole.

Premier League clubs without academies:

Hull City (Centre of Excellence status) and Wigan Athletic (Centre of Excellence status).

Fabio Capello may leave out David Beckham of England squad to face Germany

The England coach has a policy of omitting those who are not playing, and the Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder falls into that category.

Although Beckham has worked hard to retain Capello's faith, making a series of substitute appearances for England to close in on Bobby Moore's outfield record of 108 caps, he is already two weeks into the Galaxy's long winter break.

Beckham has agreed to join AC Milan on loan in January to maintain his fitness, before rejoining the Galaxy in March for the Major League Soccer season.

For the Germany game, Capello is more interested in studying the form of other England contenders, such as David Bentley and his Tottenham team-mate Bent.

Capello will be at White Hart Lane tomorrow to watch Bent, among others, play for Tottenham against Liverpool in the Carling Cup. Bent could replace Emile Heskey in next week's England squad after the Wigan striker was injured at the weekend.

Whether Bent starts against Liverpool remains to be seen, but having already staked a claim for this season's 'golden boot' with 11 goals, he is being backed by Tottenham captain Ledley King for an England call-up.

Bent has scored seven in the Premier League, adding two more in Sunday's 2-1 win over Manchester City to steer Tottenham out of the bottom three. The £16.5 million striker has not featured for his country since playing in the dying moments of the defeat to Croatia a year ago. But King urged Capello to consider giving Bent, who has three senior England caps, another opportunity.

"We're delighted with him at the moment," the centre-back said. "His finishing is superb and he deserves his chance to play for England. He is the top English scorer and that speaks for itself."