A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Japan move into top-20 rankings
JAPAN moved into the top 20 of the Fifa world rankings yesterday after beating Australia in last month’s Asian Cup while current world champions Spain remain in first place.
Japan’s record fourth Asian title, which they won in Qatar, lifted them 12 places to 17th, making them the Asian confederation’s highest-ranked side.
It is the first time they have been in the top 20 for nearly five years.
Australia, beaten Asia Cup finalists, jumped five places to 21st.
Honduras were another big climber after winning a qualifying tournament for this year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup and jumped 17 places to 39th.
The top nine places remained unchanged with Spain leading Netherlands, Germany, Brazil and Argentina.
Giovanni Trapattoni’s Republic of Ireland remain in 35th place while Northern Ireland are up five places to 38th.
INTER Milan goalkeeper Julio Cesar has played down reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
Cesar denies United link
Cesar has been linked with a possible switch to Old Trafford in the summer as a replacement for the retiring Edwin van der Sar.
Speculation over Cesar’s future at Inter has intensified amid rumours that Inter have lined up Bologna’s Emiliano Viviano as the Brazilian’s replacement at the San Siro.
However, Cesar insists he remains committed to Inter and will stay until the end of his contract in 2014.
“United? I never heard from anyone, and from what I know, neither have Inter,” Cesar told Gazzetta dello Sport.
“If the club has something to tell me in future then I will sit down with president Massimo Moratti and speak with him.
“For me Viviano’s arrival wouldn’t change anything.
“I don’t see why I should change club when my contract expires in 2014.”
Fletcher refuses call from Levein
SCOTLAND manager Craig Levein has revealed that Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Steven Fletcher turned down a place in his Scotland squad for next weeks Nations Cup match with Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium
Fletcher (23) is reported to have sent a text message to Frank Reilly, a Scottish FA official, stating that he did not want to be selected and that the national team manager could phone him if he wanted.
Levein was ready to recall Fletcher after dropping him from the squad for the friendly against Faroe Islands in November and not playing him in October’s Euro 2012 qualifiers against Czech Republic and Spain.
* BLACKBURN Rovers captain Christopher Samba has committed his future to the Premier League club by signing a new contract which will keep him at Ewood Park until the summer of 2015.
McCarthy called into Irish squad for Wales opener
WIGAN Athletic’s James McCarthy has been called into the finalised 22-man Republic of Ireland squad for the opening fixture of the inaugural Carling Nations Cup against Wales at the Aviva Stadium on February 8th, reports Carl O’Malley.
The young midfielder’s inclusion comes at the expense of Birmingham City’s Keith Fahey, who has been placed on standby, along with Celtic striker Anthony Stokes. Kevin Kilbane has also been omitted.
Other absentees include the injured Stephen Hunt, Paul McShane and Kevin Foley, while there was little point calling in Aiden McGeady from Moscow for a mere two days.
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND SQUAD:Given (Manchester City), Westwood (Coventry City), O'Shea (Manchester Utd), Clark (Aston Villa), Coleman (Everton), Dunne (Aston Villa), St Ledger (Preston NE), Kelly (Fulham), O'Dea (Celtic), Wilson (Stoke City), Gibson (Manchester Utd), Whelan (Stoke City), Green (Derby Co), Lawrence (Portsmouth), McCarthy (Wigan Ath), Treacy (Preston), Duff (Fulham), Keane (Tottenham), Walters (Stoke City), Doyle (Wolves), Long (Reading), Best (Newcastle)
Dunne banned from driving
RICHARD Dunne was banned from driving yesterday after being convicted of going through a No Entry sign. The Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland defender was given three penalty points for failing to comply with a No Entry sign in Newhall Street in central Birmingham last September. Magistrates heard his driving licence was already endorsed with nine points and told the player he would be disqualified for six months under “totting up” procedures.
