Football: World Cup to expand for 1998 French finals: Havelange presses for 32-team tournament

Joao Havelange's desire to mark his retirement by making this century's last World Cup finals the biggest yet has taken another step towards fulfilment.

The president of football's world governing body, Fifa, wants the 1998 finals in France expanded from 24 to 32 counties, and yesterday he revealed that the sport's five international confederations supported the move.

Havelange, who will be re- elected for a sixth and final four-year term in June, said there would be eight groups of four teams in the finals, with two qualifiers from each group. Eight cities would be used, with the competition lasting - as now - a month.

This year's finals in the United States are two months away, yet Jack Charlton has decided to rest the experienced defenders Kevin Moran, 37, and Ronnie Whelan, 33, from his Republic of Ireland squad to take on the Netherlands in Tilburg on 20 April.

'I know all about the capabilities of Kevin Moran and Ronnie Whelan,' Charlton said. 'I want to try a mixture of some of our younger players with the more established men who missed the game against Russia because of club commitments.'

Gary Kelly, Phil Babb and Jason McAteer, who made their debuts in last month's goalless home draw with Russia, keep their places. The Republic have further warm-up games at home to Bolivia, away to Germany and a home fixture against the Czech Republic before they depart for Orlando on 6 June.

Mike Smith yesterday promised a change of tactical direction when he named his first Wales squad for 15 years. Smith, appointed after John Toshack's one-game reign, begins his second spell in charge for the friendly against Sweden at Wrexham on 20 April.

Smith has left out Nathan Blake (Sheffield United) and Jason Perry (Cardiff City), who made their debuts against in the 3-1 home defeat by Norway, but recalled the Norwich defender, Mark Bowen. Portsmouth's Kit Symons also returns.

Peter Eustace was sacked last night as the manager of Second Division Leyton Orient, after three years in charge.

Dennis Wise, the Chelsea captain, has been confined to bed with a chest infection. He joins his player-manager Glenn Hoddle (tendinitis) and the defender Craig Burley (hamstring) on the doubtful list for Saturday's FA Cup semi-final against Luton at Wembley.

Ruud Gullit's 15 goals for Sampdoria could result in a return to Milan next season. The 32-year-old Dutch striker, who was with Milan from 1988 to 1993, is reported to have been offered a one-year contract worth pounds 840,000.

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (v Netherlands, Tilburg, 20 April): Bonner (Celtic), A Kelly (Sheff Utd); Irwin (Man Utd), G Kelly (Leeds), Staunton (Aston Villa), Phelan (Man City), McGrath (Villa) Kernaghan (Man City), Babb (Coventry), Houghton (Villa), Keane (Man Utd), Townsend (Villa), Sheridan (Sheff Wed), Cascarino (Chelsea), Aldridge (Tranmere), McLoughlin (Portsmouth), McGoldrick (Arsenal), Coyne (Motherwell), McAteer (Bolton).

WALES (v Sweden, Wrexham, 20 April): Southall (Everton), Roberts (QPR); Phillips (Nottm Forest), Horne (Everton), Symons (Portsmouth), Young (C Palace), Coleman (C Palace), Melville (Sunderland), Goss (Norwich), Bowen (Norwich), Roberts (Leicester), Speed (Leeds), Saunders (A Villa), Rush (Liverpool), M Hughes (Man Utd), Giggs (Man Utd), Pembridge (Derby), C Hughes (Luton).