Zurich  - Football's ruling body FIFA asked Tuesday that all member associations scheduled to hold midweek 2010 World Cup qualifiers observe a minute's silence prior to kick-off in memory of the 22 victims of last weekend's Abidjan stadium disaster.

Rome - Italy striker Antonio Di Natale won't be available for Udinese in the final part of the season as he recovers from a knee injury suffered at the weekend, the ANSA news agency reported Tuesday.

Di Natale, 31, was stretchered off the pitch Saturday as Italy beat Montenegro 2-0 in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.

He damaged the cruciate ligament in his left knee as he slipped away from the ball on a wet pitch.

Oslo - The Norwegian Football Association has extended coach Egil "Drillo" Olsen's current contract through the ongoing World Cup qualifications, reports said Tuesday.

Olsen led Norway to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, and was praised after Norway upset Germany 1-0 in a recent friendly. The victory ended a year-long winless drought.

The 66-year-old was called in as caretaker after Age Hareide left, but has succeeded in generating a new spirit in the Norwegian team although Norway lost a recent friendly away to South Africa.

London - England manager Fabio Capello has suffered another attacking blow ahead of Wednesday's World Cup qualifier with Ukraine after Darren Bent limped out of training on Tuesday.

The Tottenham Hotspur striker was only called up to the Italian's squad at the last minute after injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole in the 4-0 friendly win over Slovakia on Saturday.

Munich  - Luca Toni is set to return into Bayern Munich's lineup for Saturday's big Bundesliga match at VfL Wolfsburg from a five-week injury layoff.

The Italy striker resumed training on Monday after being sidelined with Achilles tendon problems which made him miss Bundesliga and Champions League games for Munich as well as two World Cup qualifiers for his home country.

"I feel good," Toni told Munich's website. "I am happy to be back in training with the team."

London, Mar. 31 : Soccer star Wayne Rooney will win his 50th England cap on Wednesday against Ukraine.

According to The Sun, Rooney has been voted Nationwide Player of the Year by the Three Lions faithful after banging in seven goals in his last four internationals.