Football: Sacchi for Atletico spells sack for Antic

THE FORMER Italian national team coach, Arrigo Sacchi, will replace Raddy Antic as the coach of Atletico Madrid next season, it was announced yesterday.

The Spanish club's president, Jesus Gil, said Sacchi would take over, although some points of the contract still have to be resolved. Saachi, who coached the great Milan side of the late 80s and took Italy to the 1994 World Cup final, has been on a sabbatical since resigning last season after a second spell at Milan. Antic led Atletico to a Spanish league and cup double in1995-96 but since then has been unable to find success.

Alain Giresse was yesterday named as the new coach of Paris St-Germain. The former French international midfielder will replace the Brazilian, Ricardo, from next season. Giresse is expected to sign a three-year contract with PSG.

The Brazilian midfielder Juninho is fit enough to be included in Brazil's World Cup squad, the national team doctor said in a newspaper interview yesterday.

The former Middlesbrough player made his comeback for Atletico Madrid on Sunday after a three-month absence with a broken leg.

The Argentine captain, Gabriel Batistuta, may have played his last home game for Fiorentina after revealing he is ready to leave the Italian Serie A club. Batistuta has had a difficult relationship with the Fiorentina president, Vittorio Cecchi Gori.