Madrid  - Bernd Schuster is to continue as coach of troubled football club Real Madrid - for the time being.

Pedja Mijatovic, the club's sporting director, announced on Monday evening that Schuster still enjoys his confidence, despite recent results.

"My confidence in the coach has not changed since the beginning of the season," Mijatovic told the packed press conference at the Estadio Bernabeu.

London  - Frank Lampard became the latest player to pull out of England's friendly international against Germany this week when he was ruled out with a rib injury on Monday.

The Chelsea midfielder joined Liverpool's Steven Gerrard on the sidelines, leaving England with a relatively inexperienced midfield to face the Germans in Berlin on Wednesday.

Fulham's Jimmy Bullard and Scott Parker of West Ham United have been called up as midfield cover.

Berlin - Germany are expected to hand out some new caps in the friendly international against England in Berlin on Wednesday.

Coach Joachim Loew, who has called up three newcomers for the match in the Olympic Stadium, said Monday he wanted to test some or all of his trio of novices.

"The intention is to learn something new against strong opponents but I can't say yet exactly how it's going to look," Loew said.

"However I do want to give the one or other player a chance."

London- Newcastle United and England midfielder Joey Barton will be out for up to two months because of a knee injury.

The 26-year-old damaged knee ligaments in his side's 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic on Saturday, after a clash with Lee Cattermole.

"I am not blaming Lee in any way," Barton said. "It was a 50-50 ball and we both went for it, these things happen.

"It's disappointing and frustrating. My sole intention is to knuckle down and bounce back and get fit again."

Munich - Bayern Munich's French defender Willy Sagnol is considering en

Athens - Age seems to have become a problem for Juventus star Alessandro Del Piero, whose impressive form was not enough to grant him a spot in Marcello Lippi's squad as the world champions Wednesday visit Greece for a friendly in Athens.

Lippi decided to leave home the 34-year-old striker despite the three memorable goals he scored as Juve beat giants Real Madrid in two Champions League games.

For Del Piero's millions of fans worldwide, however, it may be hard to criticize Lippi for preferring other players to an icon who will be almost 36 in 2010, when the Azzurri are set to defend their World Cup title in South Africa.