Brazil to rethink

Soccer Shorts: Brazil's 3-1 defeat away to Argentina on Wednesday could spell trouble for coach Carlos Alberto Parreira's bold experiment with an ultra-offensive line-up.The result ensured Argentina a place at next year's World Cup finals.

Parreira has thrown caution to the wind in the world champions' last four games with new tactics which allowed him to field more of their world-class forwards.

Brazil played with four forwards in Buenos Aires where they took the field with Robinho and Adriano in attack and Ronaldinho and Kaka behind them.

The system had worked superbly when Brazil thumped Paraguay 4-1 on Sunday but backfired badly in Buenos Aires.

Argentina raced to a 3-0 lead in 40 minutes with two goals from Hernan Crespo and a world-class strike from Juan Roman Riquelme. Brazil pulled one back with a Roberto Carlos free kick and Adriano hit the post in the 84th minute.

"We have to reflect for the future," said Parreira. "It was good to have tested this system against a high-level team such as Argentina but we have to continue looking for variations."

All go for Liverpool

Uefa are expected to give Liverpool a place in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League today. The 14 men who make up Uefa's executive committee will vote on the matter during a telephone conference and, although there is a block of members who believe the rules should not be changed, president Lennart Johansson is likely to persuade the majority to agree that the champions should be allowed to defend their crown.

The title-holders are usually guaranteed an automatic place in the group stage but that scenario is highly unlikely and Liverpool themselves would be content with a place in the final qualifying round.

Liverpool's failure to qualify through their Premiership fifth finish has allowed Turkish champions Fenerbahce to take up the automatic group spot.

Uefa sources say it is likely the Slovakian champions - their league is not yet over - would play an extra qualifying round and be compensated by the country being given an extra Uefa Cup place.

Meanwhile, midfielder Dietmar Hamann says he has agreed a new deal that will keep him at the European champions for at least another year.

Former Liverpool manger Gerard Houllier has admitted he is interested in signing Czech Republic striker Milan Baros. "We are interested in Milan Baros who is among the top European players in his position," the Lyon manager was quoted as saying.

Henry too costly

Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano has denied Arsenal's Thierry Henry is on his shopping list and claims the club have no plans to sign a world star this summer.

"Henry is obviously a great player but is not a target for us at the moment," Soriano said. "We are probably not going to buy expensively now."

Arsenal are in talks to buy VfB Stuttgart midfielder Alexander Hleb. If he signs, it would end the club's interest in Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips.

No joy for Mourinho

Jose Mourinho's appeal against a fine for improper conduct was dismissed yesterday.

The Chelsea manager unsuccessfully appealed against a £5,000 punishment imposed by the English FA following "cheat" comments he made after the League Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United.

There was more bad news for the Mourinho as Inter Milan striker Adriano has rubbished suggestions he could leave the Serie A giants this summer after being linked with Chelsea.

Forssell for City

Birmingham City have scheduled a press conference for today, apparently in the expectation that Mikael Forssell will join them. The deal has not been completed but Birmingham's confidence is justified after Everton, their main rivals for the Finland international, indicated to Chelsea their interest in a £4.5 million transfer had cooled. This is believed to be due to the long-term knee injury that kept Forssell out of competitive action between September and April.

In brief . . .

Newcastle United expect to complete the £6.5 million signing of Scott Parker from Chelsea within the next 48 hours. . . Stephane Henchoz's agent yesterday confirmed the Swiss defender has joined the list of players leaving Celtic . . . Rangers have signed midfielder Ian Murray from Hibernian . . . Fulham have signed Australian international midfielder Ahmad Elrich . . . . Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan has reiterated his determination to keep striker Andrew Johnson . . . Samuel Kuffour has signed for Roma on a free from Bayern Munich.