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Kranjcar ruled out of England match

There was bad news for Portsmouth but good news for England with the news that Niko Kranjcar, the Croatia midfield player, will miss the World Cup qualifying group six match with England in Zagreb next month after undergoing an operation on an ankle. Kranjcar ruptured ankle ligaments in Croatia’s friendly with Slovenia last week and could be out for up to three months, missing four of Croatia’s qualifying matches for the 2010 World Cup as well as the opening matches of Portsmouth’s maiden Uefa Cup campaign.

Omens are good for United with Uefa Super Cup referee

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Claus Bo Larsen will take charge of Manchester United’s match against Zenit St Petersburg in the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco tomorrow. The Dane officiated United’s defeat of Sporting Lisbon 2-1 at Old Trafford in the group stage of the Champions League last season, on their way to winning the tournament.

Number of the day: 10 - Summer signings made by West Bromwich Albion, the most in the top flight

Ireland may play Georgia in Germany

Ireland are waiting for confirmation from Fifa, the world governing body, that the opening game of their World Cup qualifying group eight campaign, against Georgia on September 6, has been switched from Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, to Karlsruhe in Germany. The Georgian FA had nominated Karlsruhe as an alternative venue for the match, because of security concerns in the country, but Fifa has yet to approve the move. “The board of the World Cup organising committee will decide whether the match should be played in Karlsruhe, Tbilisi or wherever,” Fifa said.

And finally ...

Anton Ferdinand has dismissed claims that his £8 million transfer from West Ham United to Sunderland was motivated by money, rejecting reports that suggested he had rejected improved terms at Upton Park. “I’d been offered a new deal by West Ham but when Sunderland came in with a bid, that offer was withdrawn,” the centre half said.