Soccer Shorts: Italy are the slight favourites to be named as host nation for the 2012 European championship today. It would not be considered a surprise, however, if one of the joint bids from Eastern Europe beat them in the decision to be taken by Uefa.
The other contenders are joint bids from Hungary/Croatia and Poland/Ukraine, with the latter having received the public support of Fifa president Sepp Blatter.
Despite all the recent trouble blighting Italian soccer since their World Cup success last year, the Italians remain confident of hosting the tournament for the third time after staging the event in 1968 and 1980.
Sources close to the Italians claim Uefa regard them as the "safe option" but that the vote cannot be taken for granted.
Green light for clubs
Five League of Ireland clubs were yesterday awarded Uefa licences by the Football Association of Ireland's First Instance Committee.
Derry City will be entered in the Champions League, with St Patrick's Athletic and Drogheda United participating in the Uefa Cup and Cork City in the Intertoto Cup. UCD will take part in the Uefa Cup should Ireland be awarded a place via the Fair Play competition.
Following the decision of Shelbourne not to apply for a Uefa licence, Derry qualified for the Champions League as runner-up in the 2006 Eircom League Premier Division.
St Patrick's Athletic, who lost the FAI Cup final to Derry City, thus qualified for the Uefa Cup.
Bruce ups pressure
Birmingham City returned to the automatic promotion places in the English Championship after beating relegation-threatened Leicester 2-1 at the Walkers Stadium last night.
First half goals from Radhi Jaidi and Sebastian Larsson ensured Steve Bruce's side leapfrogged Derby into second place and moved to within two points of leaders Sunderland with each side having three games to play.
Shaun Newton pulled a goal back but that was too little too late and left Leicester just two points above the drop zone.
Angel off to New York
Aston Villa striker Juan Pablo Angel has joined Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls, the English Premiership confirmed yesterday.
The 31-year-old Colombian, who joined Villa from Argentinian side River Plate in 2001 for £9.5 million, scored 62 goals in 205 appearances for the club but had recently lost his place in the first team. The terms of the deal were undisclosed.
The Red Bulls signed midfielder Claudio Reyna in January from Manchester City.
Meanwhile, Craig Gardner is willing to commit his long-term future to Aston Villa after manager Martin O'Neill revealed he was set to offer the midfielder a new contract.
No scare for Owen
Newcastle United manager Glenn Roeder yesterday insisted England striker Michael Owen has not suffered a setback in his recovery from injury after he was left out of the reserve team.
There had been speculation the 27-year-old would line up for the second string at Middlesbrough last night a week after making his comeback from knee surgery in a behind closed doors friendly.
However, Owen's name, unlike that of fellow long-term absentee Shola Ameobi, was not among the 16 when the squad was announced yesterday, although the club insist his absence was not sinister.
In brief . . .
AC Milan goalkeeper Didasustained a right shoulder injury playing against Messina on Sunday and is likely to miss the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Manchester United next week . . . Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hugheshas dismissed reports that Morten Gamst Pedersen(25) could be on his way to Manchester United as a long-term replacement for veteran winger Ryan Giggs . . . Former Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham(42) has said he was told by manager Alan Curbishley he has played his last game for West Ham United . . . Ipswich Town'sRepublic of Ireland under-21 international defender Alex Brucehas had a claim for wrongful dismissal upheld by the English FA - but was then hit with new charges of improper conduct after squaring up to Derby County goalkeeper Stephen Bywater last Saturday.
