Bosnia-Herzegovina name final lineup

Bosnia-Herzegovina have named a slimmed-down 16-man squad for their final Group C game in Turkey as they look to hold on to fourth place.

Late additions
Fuad Muzurović intends to add two more players – one of them a goalkeeper – to his selection before they meet up in Istanbul on 19 November to prepare for the game two days later. "We want to finish this qualifying campaign with a good game, but also to start preparations for the next qualifying competition," said Muzurović. Bosnia-Herzegovina are fourth in Group C, one point ahead of fifth-placed Hungary.

Bosnia-Herzegovina squad
Goalkeepers: Adnan Gušo (CS Pandurii Lignitul Târgu Jiu).

Defenders: Džemal Berberović (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Branimir Bajić (TuS Koblenz), Safet Nadarević (NK Zagreb), Ivan Radeljić (NK Slaven Koprivnica), Samir Merzić (FK Teplice).

Midfielders: Zvjezdan Misimović (1. FC Nürnberg), Elvir Rahimić (PFC CSKA Moskva), Darko Maletić (FK Partizan), Branislav Krunić (FC Moskva), Dario Damjanović (HNK Hajduk Split), Senijad Ibričić (NK Zagreb).

Forwards: Sejad Salihović (TSG Hoffenheim), Vedad Ibišević (TSG Hoffenheim), Edin Džeko (VfL Wolsfburg), Zlatan Muslimović (Atalanta BC).

Portugal recall Pepe for last tests

Pepe will get a second chance to make his Portugal debut after being named in the squad for the make-or-break UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against Armenia and Finland.

Three-month ban
The Real Madrid CF defender was called up for the last qualifiers and although he was later ruled out with a thigh injury, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has kept faith in him. The Brazilian coach, who is serving a three-month touchline ban following incidents at the end of the home qualifier against Serbia in September, cannot call on Jorge Andrade, Petit and the injured Deco, and has also left out João Moutinho and Paulo Ferreira, with Manuel Fernandes and Jorge Ribeiro taking their places. Second in Group A, Portugal face Armenia in Leiria on 17 November and fourth-placed Finland in Porto four days later. "These two matches are decisive and as we predicted in the beginning of the campaign, we are in a good position to qualify," said Scolari. "We need to do our job at home now."

Portugal squad
Goalkeepers: Ricardo (Real Betis Balompié), Quim (SL Benfica).

Defenders: Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Fernando Meira (VfB Stuttgart), Jorge Ribeiro (Boavista FC), Bosingwa (FC Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid CF), Luis Miguel (Valencia CF), Marco Caneira (Valencia CF), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea FC).

Midfielders: Manuel Fernandes (Valencia CF), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Clube de Portugal), Maniche (Club Atlético de Madrid), Raul Meireles (FC Porto).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United FC), Nani (Manchester United FC), Simão (Club Atlético de Madrid), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto), Ariza Makukula (CS Marítimo), Hugo Almeida (SV Werder Bremen), Nuno Gomes (SL Benfica).

Litmanen returns for Finnish finale

Jari Litmanen has recovered from an achilles tendon problem to take his place in the Finland squad for their crucial final UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers.
'Still recovering'
Coach Roy Hodgson was delighted to welcome the 36-year-old Malmö FF forward back after he made an early recover from injury. "It is great to have him back in the squad," said the Englishman. "He is still recovering, but there is a chance he might be fit to play in time." Midfielders Teemu Tainio and Markus Heikkinen and striker Mikael Forssell all return after missing the qualifier against Belgium through injury. Finland are fourth in Group A but wins in both of their remaining games could still see them qualify for the finals. They play Azerbaijan at home on 17 November and face Portugal in Porto four days later.
Finland squad
Goalkeepers: Jussi Jääskeläinen (Bolton Wanderers FC), Antti Niemi (Fulham FC), Niki Mäenpää (FC Den Bosch).
Defenders: Sami Hyypiä (Liverpool FC), Hannu Tihinen (FC Zürich), Petri Pasanen (Werder Bremen), Toni Kallio (BSC Young Boys), Toni Kuivasto (Djurgårdens IF), Ari Nyman (FC Thun), Veli Lampi (FC Zürich).
Midfielders: Teemu Tainio (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Mika Väyrynen (PSV Eindhoven), Joonas Kolkka (NAC Breda), Markus Heikkinen (SK Rapid Wien), Jari Ilola (IF Elfsborg), Mika Nurmela (HJK Helsinki), Daniel Sjölund (Djurgårdens IF), Roman Eremenko (Udinese Calcio).
Forwards: Jari Litmanen (Malmö FF), Alexei Eremenko Jr (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Mikael Forssell (Birmingham City FC), Jonatan Johansson (Malmö FF), Shefki Kuqi (Fulham FC).

Colts look to fire France to finals

Samir Nasri rejoins fellow youngsters Hatem Ben Arfa and Karim Benzema in the France squad for their all-important final UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Ukraine.
Final permutations
The 20-year-old playmaker has been out for a month after being hospitalised with a virus that had the symptoms of meningitis but has been recalled to the 24-man party for the game in Kiev, along with Jérémy Toulalan and Nicolas Anelka, who are recovering from injuries. France host Morocco in a friendly game on Friday 16 November before facing Ukraine five days later. France currently top Group B and will qualify for the finals without kicking a ball if Italy triumph in Scotland on 17 November. If that does not happen, a point in Kiev will send them to Austria and Switzerland.
France squad
Goalkeepers: Sébastien Frey (ACF Fiorentina), Mickaël Landreau (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Ulrich Ramé (FC Girondins de Bordeaux).
Defenders: Eric Abidal (FC Barcelona), François Clerc (Olympique Lyonnais), Patrice Evra (Manchester United FC), William Gallas (Arsenal FC), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC), Sébastien Squillaci (Olympique Lyonnais), Lilian Thuram (FC Barcelona).
Midfielders: Alou Diarra (FC Girondins de Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Arsenal FC), Mathieu Flamini (Arsenal FC), Claude Makelele (Chelsea FC), Samir Nasri (Olympique de Marseille), Jérôme Rothen (Paris Saint-Germain FC), Jérémy Toulalan (Olympique Lyonnais).
Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Bolton Wanderers FC), Hatem Ben Arfa (Olympique Lyonnais), Karim Benzema (Olympique Lyonnais), Sidney Govou (Olympique Lyonnais), Thierry Henry (FC Barcelona), Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC), Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern München).

Scotland line up for Italy decider

Alex McLeish has named a 25-man squad for next week's qualifier against Italy at Hampden Park where a win would send Scotland to UEFA EURO 2008™.
Victory vital
Darren Fletcher returns after suspension while strikers Kenny Miller and Garry O'Connor have both been named in the squad although the pair are nursing hamstring injuries. Scott Brown has also recovered from the leg knock which saw SL Benfica midfielder Augustin Binya sent off in Celtic FC's 1-0 UEFA Champions League win over SL Benfica on Tuesday. A victory for Scotland in their final Group B fixture would guarantee a place in next year's finals, but anything less than three points would make the Azzurri favourites to qualify with a game still to play against the Faroe Islands.
Scotland squad
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Sunderland AFC), David Marshall (Norwich City FC), Allan McGregor (Rangers FC).
Defenders: Graham Alexander (Burnley FC), Gary Caldwell (Celtic FC), Christian Dailly (West Ham United FC), Alan Hutton (Rangers FC), Jay McEveley (Derby County FC), Stephen McManus (Celtic FC), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United FC), David Weir (Rangers FC).
Midfield: Scott Brown (Celtic FC), Barry Ferguson (Rangers FC), Paul Hartley (Celtic FC), Lee McCulloch (Rangers FC), Stephen Pearson (Derby County FC), Barry Robson (Dundee United FC), Gary Teale (Derby County FC).
Forwards: Craig Beattie (West Bromwich Albion FC), Kris Boyd (Rangers FC), James McFadden (Everton FC), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa FC), Kenny Miller (Derby County FC), Garry O'Connor (Birmingham City FC).

Čech and Jankulovski to miss Czech ties

Injured goalkeeper Petr Čech and left-back Marek Jankulovski miss out as the Czech Republic conclude their qualifying campaign with games against Slovakia and Cyprus.

Czech newcomers
Already sure of a place at next summer's finals, Karel Brückner's side play Slovakia at home on 17 November before concluding their Group D campaign in Nicosia four days later. Jaromír Blažek is likely to cover for Čech, who will miss his first competitive internationals in two years, while 32-year-old custodian Daniel Zítka from RSC Anderlecht receives a first call-up, along with third-choice stopper Michal Daněk. Left-back Michal Kadlec also gets a first call to replace Jankulovski.

Czech Republic squad
Goalkeepers: Jaromír Blažek (1. FC Nürnberg), Daniel Zítka (RSC Anderlecht), Michal Daněk (FC Viktoria Plzeň).

Defenders: Zdeněk Grygera (Juventus), Zdeněk Pospěch (AC Sparta Praha), Radoslav Kováč (FC Spartak Moskva), David Rozehnal (Newcastle United FC), Tomáš Ujfaluši (ACF Fiorentina), Michal Kadlec (AC Sparta Praha).

Midfielders: Tomáš Galásek (1. FC Nürnberg), Marek Matějovský (FK Mladá Boleslav), Jaroslav Plašil (CA Osasuna), Jan Polák (RSC Anderlecht), Tomáš Rosický (Arsenal FC), Libor Sionko (FC København), Daniel Pudil (SK Slavia Praha).

Forwards: Jan Koller (AS Monaco FC), Milan Baroš (Olympique Lyonnais), Marek Kulič (AC Sparta Praha), Martin Fenin (FK Teplice).

EURO2008: SCOZIA-ITALIA, I 25 CONVOCATI DI MCLEISH

Sono 25 i giocatori convocati da Alex McLeish per Scozia-Italia, autentico spareggio-qualificazione per gli Europei del 2008 in programma all'Hampden Park di Glasgow il prossimo 17 novembre.
Questo l'elenco completo. Portieri: Craig Gordon (Sunderland), David Marshall (Norwich), Allan McGregor (Rangers); difensori: Graham Alexander (Burnley), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Christian Dailly (West Ham), Alan Hutton (Rangers), Jay McEveley (Derby County), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United), David Weir (Rangers); centrocampisti: Scott Brown (Celtic), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Darren Fletcher (Manchester United), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Lee McCulloch (Rangers), Stephen Pearson (Derby County), Barry Robson (Dundee United), Gary Teale (Derby County); attaccanti: Craig Beattie (West Bromwich), Kris Boyd (Rangers), James McFadden (Everton), Shaun Maloney (Aston Villa), Kenny Miller (Derby County), Garry O'Connor (Birmingham City).

McClaren won't quit England job

Steve McClaren won't quit as England manager should they fail to qualify for Euro2008.
He has been made aware of overtures from Premier League clubs ready to offer him a way back into club football later this season.
But McClaren is confident he is the best man to lead England through the qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.