England claim victory over Germany

Football

Association officials flew back to England last night convinced that they had emerged victorious from the latest round of their World Cup conflict with Germany and Uefa, European football's governing body.

The FA's five-strong delegation met Uefa executives in Geneva to put their case for being given the right to bid against Germany for the 2006 World Cup. After the discussions it was clear that Uefa was backtracking from its February assertions that it had already committed itself to the German bid.

Two months ago, Uefa's general secretary, Gerhard Aigner, sent the FA a fax informing it of official Uefa backing for Germany's bid, which is headed by Franz Beckenbauer.

That brought a furious response from the FA, backed by both major political party leaders, with the FA pledging to fight for the right to stage the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.

While Uefa reaffirmed yesterday that it did want to support only one candidate, its executive committee admitted that England did have every right to submit a bid. That was seen as a success by the FA, whose director of public affairs, David Davies, said: "We're flying home with a very positive attitude because we feel our position has been vindicated." Uefa is now unlikely to back either bid until late next year.

Chelsea have announced a four-year multi-million pound sponsorship deal with the car windscreen company, Autoglass. Barry Horne has stepped sown as the captain of Wales, but will still be available for selection to the national side.

Gary McAllister, the Coventry midfielder, is in line to win his 50th cap for Scotland in the World Cup qualifier against Sweden in Gothenburg later this month, while the Hibernian goalkeeper Jim Leighton is due make his 78th appearance for his country, becoming the second most-capped Scot after Kenny Dalglish.

SCOTLAND SQUAD (World Cup qualifier v Sweden, Gothenburg, 30 April): Leighton (Hibernian), Howie (Motherwell), Sullivan (Wimbledon); Boyd (Celtic), Burley (Chelsea), Calderwood (Tottenham), Collins (Monaco), Ferguson (Everton), Gallacher (Blackburn), Gemmill (Nottigham Forest), Hendry (Blackburn), D Jackson (Hibernian), Lambert (Borussia Dortmund), B McAllister (Wimbledon), G McAllister (Coventry), McCoist (Rangers), McGinlay (Bolton), T McKinlay (Celtic), B McKinlay (Blackburn), McLaren (Rangers), McStay (Celtic).

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