France face striking problem

Juventus's French striker David Trezeguet is extremely doubtful for Saturday's World Cup qualifier with the Republic of Ireland after further aggravating a shoulder injury during yesterday's 1-0 win at Udinese.

Trezeguet, could face a four-month lay-off, Juventus coach Fabio Capello revealed after the game.

Meanwhile, UEFA has threatened to take the Euro 2008 championships away from hosts Austria and Switzerland over the failure to erect a stadium in Zurich. The move could pave the way for defeated candidates - including a joint bid from Ireland and Scotland - to relaunch their efforts to host the tournament.

Legal challenges against the replacement of Zurich's Hardturm Stadium have made it impossible for a ground to be built in time for the tournament, leaving Switzerland and Austria with seven arenas capable of hosting games.

In a letter to the joint hosts, UEFA said defeated candidates could "be given the opportunity to contest the decision to award Euro 2008 to Austria and Switzerland".

Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell returned to the England fold as Sven-Goran Eriksson named his squad yesterday for World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan.

Ferdinand, who recently returned to the United team following an eight-month suspension for failing to attend a drugs test, was joined in the squad by striker Rooney, who last featured in the Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat by Portugal when he broke a bone in his foot.

Eriksson was also boosted by the return of Arsenal defender Campbell who missed the early part of the season with an Achilles tendon injury.

Manchester United's Phil Neville was included along with Real Madrid striker Michael Owen, who started against Deportivo La Coruna last night.

England face Wales at Old Trafford this Saturday before travelling away to play Azerbaijan four days later.

Meanwhile, Steve Wigley hopes to hear later this week that he has been given special dispensation by UEFA to carry on as Southampton's head coach instead of having to quit the job in mid-December. Wigley needs UEFA's Pro-Licence to remain in charge of the team but cannot complete a course to attain the badge until July.

It was confirmed yesterday that Wigley's most prolific striker James Beattie will be out for six weeks with a broken toe sustained during Southampton's goalless home draw with Manchester City on Saturday.

ENGLAND SQUAD: James (Man City), Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), Terry (Chelsea, Ferdinand (Man Utd), King (Tottenham), Campbell (Arsenal), A Cole (Arsenal), G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Butt (Newcastle), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Beckham (Real Madrid), Wright-Phillips (Man City), Rooney (Man Utd), Smith (Man Utd), Owen (Real Madrid), Defoe (Tottenham), Vassell (Aston Villa).