Italian veteran coach

ROME (AFP) - Italian veteran coach Fabio Capello has confirmed he is "very interested" in taking over as England manager following the sacking of Steve McClaren on Thursday.
Capello is currently one of the few candidates keen on the post, made available following England's humiliating failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
"It would be a very interesting challenge, and difficult challenges have always interested me," Capello told Italian television station Rai2 in an interview to be broadcast Friday.
"I was convinced (Jose) Mourinho would have accepted the job. He has another objective but I am not the same age as him," the 61-year-old said of the 44-year-old former Chelsea manager.
The English FA are reportedly trying to find a home-grown replacement but Aston Villa's Northern Irish manager Martin O'Neill and Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce have already distanced themselves from the post.
While Mourinho has yet to officially reject the job, most reports have said the former Chelsea boss is more interested in a top European club position.
Capello would become the second foreign manager of England if he were appointed following the reign of Sweden's Sven-Goran Eriksson who stepped down following England's quarter-final exit at the 2006 World Cup.
McClaren, who was assistant to Eriksson, was then put in the hot seat only to end his brief campaign in disappointment as England crashed out of Euro 2008 with a dire 3-2 home defeat to Croatia on Wednesday.
Capello led Real Madrid to the Spanish title last season but was fired by the club after a tumultuous season and replaced by Germany's Bernd Schuster.
Recognised as a no-nonsense coach and a strict taskmaster, Capello also led AC Milan to four Serie A crowns (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996) and guided AS Roma to only their third ever title in 2001.
He won the Champions League crown in 1994 when AC Milan thrashed Barcelona 4-0 in Athens and in his first stint as Real Madrid coach, helped the Spanish giants lift the 1997 La Liga crown, 10 years before he repeated the achievent only to be controversially fired.
Capello is also a former international player and scored the winning goal when Italy defeated England for the first time at Wembley in a 1973 friendly.

Dainelli eyeing Champions League

FLORENCE, Italy (AFP) - Fiorentina are allowing themselves to dream about finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season's Champions League, according to captain Dario Dainelli on Tuesday.
The Viola have had a fantastic start to the season, sitting second in the table, just two points behind champions Inter Milan, and having gone unbeaten in the first 11 games before their shock home defeat to Udinese 10 days ago.
Dainelli is guarded against premature talk of winning Serie A, but he believes that a top four finish is a realistic posibility.
"Our aim is to stay in the top four until the end of the season, that's what the whole squad wants," he said.
"It can be difficult to recover after a long unbeaten and intense period. We need to get back on track."
Dainelli has twin hopes for this season: leading Fiorentina to the Champions League and forcing his way back into the Italy set-up.
"I would love to take part in Euro 2008 even though the national team is very strong and getting stronger, however, for the moment, I'm concentrating on Fiorentina," he added

David Beckham

Steve McClaren believes David Beckham is on a mission to win over 100 caps for England and prove his critics wrong.
England's head coach insists he has no regrets about sending Beckham into international exile after the 2006 World Cup, before recalling him last season.
LA Galaxy star Beckham, 32, is back in the squad for Friday's friendly in Austria and the crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia at Wembley five days later.
Bckham is chasing 100 caps and is currently three short of his goal.

And McClaren, who checked on Beckham's fitness on a recent visit to the United States, said: "If you know Becks well, he likes proving people wrong - and I think he still has a lot to prove.
"He always has a lot to prove and he has a lot to prove over there. I read a couple of things about him not enjoying the experience over there and I couldn't have found that further from the truth.
"He loves it, he's settled and his kids go to great schools and have a great lifestyle. He's got a quieter lifestyle to before.
"He was disappointed to be injured in his first season there, but also having come back into the England squad and the impact he made in the summer, he was looking forward to capitalising on that.
"He's itching to prove these injuries are behind him and he's fit. I've said to him, 'You're in the squad and we'll see how you are.' That doesn't mean he'll play.
"But I have no regrets about what I did. I wouldn't say he's proved me wrong. I know David Beckham well and I knew what his reaction would be, and he showed that in the summer.

Portsmouth

Hart frustrates

PORTSMOUTH, England (AFP) - Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart frustrated Portsmouth with a series of fine saves in his side's 0-0 draw at Fratton Park on Sunday.
Hart, 20, was making only his ninth appearance for City but he belied his youth with a mature display that consolidated Sven Goran Eriksson's side in third place in the Premier League.
Portsmouth had won five of their previous six league matches but they were unable to find a way past the inspired Hart and had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Hart modestly gave the credit for his cleansheet to City's defenders. "It's a massive result for us but we've done it as a team and I don't take any credit for it," he said.
"We in and defended well. I was happy to make some good saves but I'm just doing my job."
Eriksson added: "Joe is a big talent and has already showed it with the England Under-21s. He will get better and better."
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp admitted Hart was the game's key figure.
"I didn't think we did too much wrong," he said. "We hit the post and I thought the shot from Glen Johnson in the first half was in but the keeper made a fantastic save."
City's success has been built on a superb home record but they have been less impressive away from Eastlands, with their only league win on opposition territory coming on the opening day at West Ham.
Eriksson's team had bounced back from their 6-0 thrashing at Chelsea with two consecutive victories, but they showed a few signs of travel sickness here.
After a tepid opening from both sides, Hart produced the first moment of class when he turned away Benjani's shot. The rookie did even better in the 26th minute to keep his team level.
Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson robbed Didi Hamann on the edge of the penalty area and curled in a left-foot shot that was heading for the top corner until Hart brilliantly tipped it onto the bar.
Hart made another smart save at full-stretch to push away Niko Kranjcar's shot after the Croatian had pushed past Vedran Corluka.
City finally had a sight of goal when Martin Petrov drove a first time effort straight at David James after 40 minutes.
Portsmouth were forcing the pace without the slice of luck needed to make the breakthrough.
Matt Taylor headed wide when well placed. And David Nugent was agonisingly close with 18 minutes to go when his shot deflected off Micah Richards and hit a post before rebounding to safety.
City offered sporadic threats. Darius Vassell missed a good chance when he scuffed wide and Petrov was denied by James again, but it was Portsmouth who finished on top.
Johnson was having a personal duel with Hart and the City goalkeeper won hands down. He foiled the Portsmouth defender again in the 74th minute with a brave save from Johnson's close range effort.