ITALY: Paolo Maldini, the captain of the national side, has announced that he will quit international football after next year's World Cup finals.

Since making his debut as a substitute in a friendly against Yugoslavia in 1988, Maldini has become his country's most capped player with 120 appearances so far. But he will be ready to hang up his blue shirt after next year's finals in Japan and Korea, should the Azzurri make it.

He said: "It is not an easy decision after 15 years wearing the Azzurro shirt. I hope that I can resist it once I leave."

Italy's World Cup qualifying campaign faltered last month when they could only manage a 0-0 draw against Lithuania. The result means the Azzurri need to beat Hungary in Parma on Saturday to secure automatic qualification from Group Eight. A draw ought to be enough, providing second-placed Romania do not beat Georgia by more than nine goals.

SCOTLAND: Coach Craig Brown is hoping that Croatian international Igor Stimac will lose his way and his volatile temper in the Group Six qualifier against Belgium.

The former Derby and West Ham defender recently received a six-game ban for attacking a Real Mallorca official in the tunnel after a game against his club, Hadjuk Split. Stimac was also guilty of an error which lead to Kevin Gallacher scoring for Scotland in a 1-1 draw in Zagreb earlier in the qualification stages.

Now Brown is keeping his fingers crossed that temperament and concentration go walkabout among the Croatians as Scotland chase the slenderest hope of a play-off place, when they play Latvia on Saturday.

"Belgium have to get something from the game but you cannot play for a draw," said Brown. "Neither side wants to be in the play-offs - they want automatic qualification and that could be one of the best games in Europe.

"I suspect that Belgium have a chance with Emile Mpenza back in action for Schalke along with a determined Marc Wilmots. But a lot will depend on the Croatian back three and if Igor Stimac is match-fit and concentrating.

"He could have a concentration lapse as he did against us and can be quite hot-headed. So there is no harm in hoping that Croatia will be reduced to nine or 10 men and a freak happens."

GERMANY: Injury-hit Germany may have to fall back on several ageing stars for their crunch Group Nine qualifier against Finland in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday. Oliver Bierhoff, who has not started an international in half a year, is likely to be in the line-up only because Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker has pulled out with an injured foot.

"The possibility that (Bierhoff) will play is quite large," said coach Rudi Voeller at the team's training camp in Billerbeck. Seven players are nursing injuries.

Voeller, still licking wounds after his team's humiliating 5-1 loss to England in their previous qualifier last month, may also be forced to recall striker Ulf Kirsten. The 35-year old quit the German side after a poor Euro 2000.

Kaiserslautern's Miroslav Klose has been unable to train because of injury and Voeller is expected to decide today whether he can play.

If not, Voeller will pick Kirsten, who is in good form for his club Bayer Leverkusen.

There are also doubts over Freiburg defender Sebastian Kehl's fitness. "Right now it doesn't look good," Kehl said.

Germany, who are equal on points with England but have a far inferior goal difference, face a play-off between group runners-up against Ukraine or Belarus.

AUSTRIA: The national team has drawn a line under the withdrawal of nine key players from the squad for Sunday's World Cup qualifier with Israel and hope to galvanise a younger squad into action, according to the team's management.

The players who refused to travel to the match in Tel Aviv because of security fears, have now been replaced by five others, only one of whom, Markus Schopp of Brescia Calcio, has any international experience.

"We have not got anything else," team manager Otto Baric told reporters. "These are the best that we have."

Spain have already qualified in first place for next year's finals, with Austria currently second in the group on 14 points and Israel third on 11. Austria need at least a draw to go through as Israel have a better goal difference (+4 to +2).

DENMARK: Feyenoord's Danish international Jon Dahl Tomasson is hopeful of recovering from a groin strain in time featuring in the Group Three qualifier against Iceland.

Tomasson, who has scored 13 goals in 33 games, is suffering from a groin strain and has yet to train with the rest of the Danish national squad.