McCarthy and Keane make up

The Republic of Ireland manager, Mick McCarthy, has resolved his disagreement with Manchester United's Roy Keane by including him in an initial 33-man squad for the World Cup qualifier in Liechtenstein on 31 August.

McCarthy was furious with Keane for missing six end-of-season internationals last term, including a three-match tour of the United States, for which the midfielder had been named as captain, but he has now forgiven him. "I spoke to Roy on Saturday, and we had an open and frank discussion. I told Roy what I thought and he has accepted that he was in the wrong and apologised," McCarthy said.

There was less good news for the England manager, Glenn Hoddle, as the prospects of having Paul Gascoigne in his first match in charge faded. The Rangers player has an Achilles injury and is likely to be out until Saturday week, when the Scottish champions meet Dundee United at Ibrox, 48 hours after Hoddle names his squad for England's World Cup opener in Moldova on 1 September.

France's Euro 96 outcasts, Eric Cantona and David Ginola, have been offered a World Cup lifeline by the French coach, Aime Jacquet, who said in an article in the French sports newspaper L'Equipe the players were in his plans for the qualifiers. "I'm not stubborn, or an idiot or crazy. I am here to make the best team possible," Jacquet said.

n Diego Maradona, the former captain of Argentina, arrived in Geneva last night and, according to Swiss television, checked into a drug rehabilitation clinic overlooking Lake Geneva.