SCOTLAND v LUTHUANIA(3.0): Scotland manager Alex McLeish admits he is spoilt for choice as he attempts to whittle his squad down to the 11 players for today's Group B game at Hampden. Competition up front is particularly fierce following the enforced withdrawal of talismanic striker Kenny Miller through injury. Starting roles are expected to go to Kris Boyd and Garry O'Connor but West Brom's Craig Beattie and Aston Villa's Shaun Maloney will point to recent goalscoring exploits for their respective clubs, while James McFadden will be hoping to be involved having made his long awaited Scotland comeback against South Africa last month.
ICELAND v SPAIN:Scoring first away to Iceland should be good enough to guarantee three points for Spain in Group F, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres said yesterday. "The hardest thing is to get the first goal. If we can do that we shouldn't have any problems getting the right result," Torres said. In-form Torres, who has netted three goals in four league appearances for his new club, is set to lead the line with Valencia striker David Villa. His Liverpool team-mate Xabi Alonso is expected to start in Spain's midfield alongside Xavi, Joaquin and David Silva.
ENGLISH LEAGUE: Three-times English champions Leeds United have been stripped of their full membership of the Football Association because non-football creditors have not been satisfied, the FA said yesterday. Leeds will still be able to play in all FA competitions, including the FA Cup, but they will lose their right to vote on constitutional changes and other privileges.
"Membership was withdrawn as the new company running the club had not satisfied non-football creditors in accordance with FA Rules," the FA said in a statement.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP: Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has signed a three-year extension to his contract, the Premier League club confirmed yesterday, ending months of speculation about his future. The Frenchman's current deal was due to expire at the end of the season and fans feared the 57-year-old could leave the club.
"My heart is tied to this football club so signing a new deal was always my intention," Wenger, who will become the club's longest serving manager, said on Arsenal's Web site (www.arsenal.com). "Arsenal is the club of my life." Wenger said he had been given complete freedom to implement and execute his plans to make the team successful and acknowledged that he had a responsibility to Arsenal fans to deliver trophies.
