Sportsday - rolling sports news

1. Dick Advocaat appointed Sunderland coach until end of season
2. Liverpool remain unbeaten in league in 2015 after win at Swansea
3. Champions League build-up to Monaco v Arsenal
4. Wales make two changes for Six Nations clash v Italy
5. GET INVOLVED: Your reaction to Dick Advocaat's appointment

Sportsday Live

That's it for Sportsday Live for Tuesday - it will return at 08:00 on Wednesday.

What's coming up

You can listen to the build-up to Arsenal v Monaco on BBC Radio 5 live from 19:00 GMT and it will be followed by full commentary of the game.

There are also nine games in the Championship with the game of the night the visit of third-placed Middlesbrough to fourth-placed Derby.

You can follow all the latest from tonight's games on the BBC Sport website.

Pellegrini's words of wisdom

Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini will be facing the media shortly ahead of City's last 16 second leg game in Barcelona on Wednesday night.

This evening's live football text commentary will have all of the words of wisdom from the Chilean who said in an interview in Tuesday's papers that he does not feel under pressure at the Etihad Stadium.

Watson hopes for Indian Wells win

EPA

Britain's Heather Watson is on court in Indian Wells in the fourth round of the BNP Parisbas Open.

Watson, who beat world number eight Agnieszka Radwanska in the last round, is up against Spanish 12th seed Carla Suarez Navarro in California.

You can hear live commentary of the game on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra or via the BBC Sport website.

Simeone wants noisy stadium

EPA

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has called on his side's fans to inspire them to overturn their first leg deficit against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League

Simeone's men have won 20 of their last 22 European games at the Calderon and the Argentine is hoping home advantage has an important role to play.

"I expect the Calderon that has pushed us to achieve great things," he says. "I don't want the stadium to be quiet even for a moment."

Big night for Atletico

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In Tuesday night's other Champions League game, last year's finalists Atletico Madrid are facing elimination from this year's competition.

The Spanish side need to overturn a one-goal deficit against Bayer Leverkusen to reach the quarterfinals.

"We have to keep going, roll up our sleeves, prepare Tuesday's match and work," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. "That is the only way we know to improve."

Hardaker in the headlines

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England international Zak Hardaker was released by police after reportedly admitting to allegedly assaulting a student.

Leeds announced earlier that the full-back was free to resume playing after West Yorkshire Police concluded their investigation into an incident in the city last month.

Hardaker, 23, and his 19-year-old club-mate Elliott Minchella were both questioned by police and have since been released without charge.

However, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post, both men reportedly 'admitted' the assault and agreed to pay £200 in compensation and write a letter of apology to their 22-year-old victim under a "community resolution".

Giroud bids to make amends

AFP

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud will be hoping for better luck against Monaco in the Champions League last 16 second leg in the Stade Louis II.

The 28-year-old was given a 2/10 player rating by French paper L'Equipe after failing to hit the target with any of his six shots in the first leg.

"Giroud actually owes the revenge to him. He owes a great performance for himself," said Arsene Wenger.

"He missed a few opportunities in the first leg, but what striker doesn't miss an opportunity? He has the ability and the right mental level."

Wenger remains hopeful

AP

Tuesday's Champions League game is a return to familiar territory for Wenger, who managed Monaco from 1987 to 1994, and the Frenchman remains confident.

"If we did not believe we could do it, we would not be here," he insists. "The statistics are against us. The result in the first leg is against us. We are conscious about that.

"But no matter how big the percentage (chance) is, we have to give absolutely everything to make the stats lie, that is our desire and belief that we can do it."

Arsenal face uphill task in Champions League

AFP

Let's focus on tonight's Champions League games for a while and no team in the competition has ever overturned a two-goal deficit away from home in the second leg - that's the task facing Arsenal this evening when they visit Monaco in their last 16 second leg tie.

The Gunners need to score at least three goals to stay in the competition after losing the home leg 3-1 and although Gabriel Paulista (hamstring) and Mikel Arteta (ankle) have returned from injuries, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (ankle) are out.

"We have experience, the desire and belief we can do it," says manager Arsene Wenger. "We want to give everything to have the greatest performance on the pitch."

Pomeroy to miss Hull game

Ben Pomeroy's 31-match run with Catalans Dragons will come to an end after he was given a one-game ban for striking.

The 31-year-old centre has been a virtual ever-present since joining the French Super League club from Cronulla 18 months ago, but will miss Friday's trip to Hull after submitting an early guilty plea for the offence on Hull KR forward Mitch Allgood.

Laidlaw keen to finish on a high

PA

Scotland skipper Greig Laidlaw admits the Dark Blues will be left embarrassed if they do not end this year's Six Nations with a victory on Saturday against Ireland.

Vern Cotter's side have impressed in brief spells so far this campaign but have not done enough to beat France, Wales, Italy or England.

"We have an opportunity this weekend to make sure we don't [finish with the Wooden Spoon]," he said

"We will go out there and give absolutely everything to try and avoid [another defeat]. It's a huge game for us but I know the boys are absolutely desperate to get out there, put in a good performance and come away with a win."

Jockey Weston released from hospital

PA

Amateur jockey Tom Weston has been released from hospital after suffering two punctured lungs in a fall at the Cheltenham Festival last week.

Weston fell from the Martin Keighley-trained Benbane Head at the fourth-last fence in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup on Thursday.

He was initially treated on the course before being airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, where his injuries were assessed and he had a spell in intensive care.

Weston tweeted: "About to be let out to rest up at home. Big thanks to @IJF-official @CheltenhamRaces @NorthBristolNHS and all wellwishers. Feeling gd. And of course big thanks to air ambulance."

Brunt banned over referee abuse

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West Bromwich Albion midfielder Chris Brunt has been suspended for one match after accepting an FA misconduct charge for using abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour towards a match official.

The incident took place in the tunnel at the end of West Brom's 2-0 FA Cup loss to Aston Villa earlier this month.

Brunt will miss the Premier League match against Manchester City on Saturday. He was also fined £8,000.

Alloa sign Chopra

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Scottish Championship side Alloa have signed former Sunderland and Blackpool striker Michael Chopra.

Chopra joins on a short-term deal following his release from Indian Premier League side Kerala Blasters FC.

Wasps caretaker boss Paddy Connolly told the Alloa Advertiser: "When the chance came up from the chairman, I felt it was a no-brainer because of the level he has played at in the game.

"He is still only 31 so I am sure he still has plenty to offer."

GB defeat Austria at Worlds

Great Britain have kept alive their hopes of promotion from the IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships B Pool after a 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday.

Tyler Christopher scored both goals for GB who lost 6-0 to Slovakia in their opening game on Monday.

Their next game in the round-robin phase will be against hosts Sweden on Wednesday.

Too many runs?

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We all love seeing the world's best batsmen hit huge sixes. But can you have too much of a good thing?

BBC Sport's Stephan Shemilt has been running the rule over the run-fest at the ongoing Cricket World Cup. He crunches the numbers to ask if too many runs are being scored, and whether the game is being tipped unfairly in favour of batsmen.

Read his feature here.

Coloccini appeal rejected

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Newcastle United captain Fabricio Coloccini will serve a three-game ban after his appeal against a red card was rejected.

The Argentine defender was sent off against Everton on Sunday following a challenge on Aaron Lennon.

He will miss the upcoming Premier League fixtures against Arsenal, Sunderland and Liverpool.

Bristol City announce loss

League One leaders Bristol City have reported a trading loss of £9.2m for the year ending 31 May 2014.

However, City's operating costs were lowered by 29% in the same 12-month period, including a salary reduction of £5.5m.

Now managed by Steve Cotterill, who was appointed in December 2013, City are 11 points clear at the top of the League One table.

QPR duo in Chile squad

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QPR duo Mauricio Isla and Eduardo Vargas have been named in the Chile squad for the upcoming friendlies against Iran and Brazil.

The pair have been retained by coach Jorge Sampaoli despite a disappointing season for QPR which has seen them drop to 19th in the Premier League.

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez has also been included.

Rugby World Cup 'could expand'

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World Rugby boss Brett Gosper says the number of teams taking part in future World Cups could be increased.

Both England 2015 and Japan 2019 will have 20 teams, but the 2023 edition may be larger.

"As the sport grows and we conquer new markets the discussion is about looking towards expanding [the World Cup], rather than contracting," Gosper added.

Johnson bail extended

Police have extended the bail date of Sunderland midfielder Adam Johnson after he was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of sexual activity with a girl under 16.

He is now due to report back to police on 23 April.

Kent's Coles 'has England quality'

Kent all-rounder Matt Coles has all the qualities to play for England, according to county captain Rob Key.

The 24-year-old has rejoined his home county from Hampshire and Key said: "There are not many people who can bowl at 85 miles and hour plus and hit the ball out of the park. Plus he is a good fielder.

"If I was him, I'd be watching England and the way they go about some of their one-day cricket and I'd be thinking I could make a massive difference to that set-up."

Catt keen for more improvement

England attacking coach Mike Catt knows his side have still got room to improve ahead of Saturday's Six Nations showdown against France at Twickenham.

"We have to have the ruthless edge to put away the chances we create. For players it is staying in the moment and making the right decisions," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"The nice thing for me is how players like George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson have bounced back from the Ireland game and the way they played against Scotland was exceptional. However, it is down to the type of ball they get and the forwards deserve credit for that."

Aurier sorry for ref video

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Paris Saint Germain full-back Serge Aurier has apologised for insulting referee Bjorn Kuipers after his side's Champions League win over Chelsea.

Aurier is currently out injured but posted an offensive video in response to the sending-off of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

"I beg the pardon of Mr Kuipers, his assistants and all match officials for my reaction after the match at Chelsea," Aurier wrote on Twitter.

"My passion for football and my frustration at being injured for such a match led to my reaction, which had no place in football."

Hillsborough match commander admits causing 96 deaths

The Hillsborough police match commander has agreed that his failure to close a tunnel "was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 people".

David Duckenfield also accepted that he "froze" during the afternoon of the 1989 football disaster.

Mr Duckenfield has been giving evidence for a sixth day at the new Hillsborough inquests in Warrington, Cheshire.

Omens not good for Man City and Arsenal

BBC

Number of British teams in the Champions League quarter-finals over the last decade

Is there any hope at all for Manchester City and Arsenal as they bid to overturn first-leg deficits in the Champions League?

Well, BBC Sport has been crunching the numbers so you don't have to. The conclusion? The omens are not good.

Arsenal fans will not be cheered by the news that no team has ever overturned a deficit of two or more goals in the Champions League when they are playing the second leg away.

As for City, well they have to contend with the fact that Barcelona are scoring at a rate of one goal every 37 minutes in the Champions League this season.

If they do not succeed, it would be just the second time since 1996 that no British club has been in the quarter-finals - the only other occasion was in 2013.

Hardaker free to return for Leeds

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Leeds Rhinos and England full-back Zak Hardaker has been released without charge after being interviewed by police over the alleged assault of a 22-year-old man in Leeds on 3 February.

The investigation into Hardaker, 23, and Rhinos youngster Elliot Minichella, 19, has now been concluded and the club have said in a statement that "both players will be available for selection this week".

Man Utd battle Bayern for Hargreaves

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Yes, you read that right - it's not 2007 again. Bayern Munich are competing with Manchester United for the services of Owen Hargreaves, as the two sides prepare to go head-to-head in a Legends match.

BBC Sport's Simon Stone reports: "At the press conference to launch the game at Old Trafford today, Bayern's Paul Breitner said he was meeting Hargreaves next week to ask him to play.

"Sitting next to him on the platform, United representative Denis Irwin immediately replied: 'I am seeing him this week.'

"Hargreaves spent seven years at Bayern, winning the Champions League in 2001. He left for United in 2007 and won the league and Champions League in his first season before suffering a serious knee injury."

Cook session boosts England Under-19s

New England Under-19 captain Joe Weatherley has revealed how a session with Test skipper Alastair Cook provided inspiration for their tour to Australia.

The Hampshire batsman, 18, will lead a 16-strong squad, who leave on Wednesday and will play seven games during the trip.

"He's a had a tough time recently, but he has done so well in the game and been so successful. To pick the brains of such a good player was really useful for the batting unit," Weatherley told BBC Radio Solent.

Isgrove extends Southampton contract

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Southampton midfielder Lloyd Isgrove has signed a new two-year contract extension with the Premier League club.

Isgrove, 22, came through Southampton's academy and will remain at St Mary's until 2017.

Giroud: better than Bergkamp?

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As you know, Arsenal face Monaco in the second leg of their Champions League tie this evening, needing to score at least three goals to have a chance of progressing.

Mission impossible? Perhaps, but the Daily Mirror has uncovered an interesting stat which should give Gunners fans cause for hope.

In his preview of the match, John Cross points out that the much-maligned Giroud has better goalscoring rate for Arsenal than club legend Dennis Bergkamp (0.43 v 0.28 goals per game).

Still, he says: "Arsenal will need Giroud to be at his very best if they are to make history and overturn Monaco's first leg lead."

Eriksen could break Danish caps record

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Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is poised to become the youngest Dane to win 50 caps after he was named in the squad for upcoming friendlies against the United States and France.

If selected, the 23-year-old will reach the milestone at a younger age than previous record holder Michael Laudrup.

Thomas to share Somerset captaincy

Somerset have announced that South African seam bowler Alfonso Thomas will skipper the team in limited-overs cricket this summer.

Former England opener Marcus Trescothick remains the official club captain and will continue to lead Somerset in County Championship fixtures.

Kuper unconvinced by Advocaat

Journalist Simon Kuper has told BBC Radio 5 live that he is unconvinced by Dick Advocaat's appointment as Sunderland manager until the end of the season.

"He hasn't exactly proven himself as a world beater in recent times," says Kuper. "His spell in charge of Netherlands is best remembered for the day he substituted Arjen Robben just as he was taking apart the Czech Republic at Euro 2004 and the Czechs went on to win.

"He's hardly gold standard in recent times. He's tended to have quite short stints as he has got older. He doesn't seem to have had the patience to build anything long term but then again Sunderland don't seem to either so it might be a match made in heaven."

Van Hooijdonk on Advocaat appointment

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Former Nottingham Forest and Celtic striker, Pierre van Hooijdonk, who played under Dick Advocaat in the Dutch national team has been giving his views on BBC Radio 5 live on the appointment of Advocaat as Sunderland manager until the end of the season.

"He is easy going, But he is one of these coaches that like to be in charge of everything. He is a little man and little men always try to be big," says Van Hooijdonk.

"He has got the character for it, he knows the game well and he has loads of experience."

Schools get final fever

If Gaelic football is your thing on St Patrick's Day, you can watch live coverage of the MacRory Cup final on the BBC Sport website.

The game, which is for the top prize for Ulster schools, features St Patrick's Cavan and St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon and is taking place at the Athletic Grounds in Armagh.

Enrique warns against complacency

AP

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique says his side are not taking progress for granted despite holding a 2-1 advantage heading into Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second-leg tie at home to Manchester City.

Barca, who are seeking a record eighth consecutive quarter-final appearance, have progressed 33 out of the 35 times they won the first leg away in European competition.

"We are still only halfway through the tie and have to play the return yet and looking at their players we can see they have the potential to make life difficult for us," said Enrique.

"They got back into the tie in the first leg despite our great start to the game. We are not taking anything for granted."

Sire de Grugy to have final season race

PA

Sire De Grugy will make just one more appearance this season at either Aintree, Punchestown or Sandown after losing his crown in last week's Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Last season star over two miles missed the bulk of the current campaign through injury and was a well beaten fourth behind Dodging Bullets at Cheltenham.

"He's come out of the race fine. The ground was just a bit quick for him," said trainer Gary Moore.

'Don't you know your left from your right!?'

Is there anyone who doesn't love a good outtake?

Here's a classic of the genre, courtesy of the BBC News School Report project as Match of the Day pundit Kevin Kilbane - aka Zinedine Kilbane - is ticked off by pupils Ben and Sam from The Lancasterian School, a Special Educational Needs School in Manchester.

BBC School Report

Kevin Kilbane's illustrious paying career did not save him from a ribbing from School Reporters Ben and Sam after a slip-up in front of the cameras

You can watch the full report and read Kevin's thoughts on the experience on School Report's News Day on Thursday, when thousands of pupils around the UK will be turning their classroom into newsrooms.

Lee faces World Cup fitness fight

PA

Wales coach Warren Gatland has revealed prop Samson Lee could miss the World Cup after suffering a ruptured Achilles during his side's Six Nations win over Ireland last weekend.

"It is a longer-termer that could potentially keep him out of the World Cup," said Gatland.

"He's having an operation and we're confident we can have enough time for him to come back and be available for the World Cup."

Ward confirms Nottingham appearance

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British number two James Ward has confirmed he will play at the new ATP World Tour event in Nottingham in June.

Ward's stunning five-set win over John Isner helped Great Britain to Davis Cup success against the United States last month and the 28-year-old is close to breaking into the top world's 100.

Pietersen confident over form

PA

Kevin Pietersen is confident he can score more Test hundreds for England, if he is given the opportunity.

The 34-year-old was sacked by England 13 months ago but recently new England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Colin Graves refused to rule out a recall if he can regain his form in county cricket.

"I don't think my best days are behind me," Pietersen told Fox Sports. "I think that's nonsense - I reckon I've still got quite a few Test hundreds in me.

"I thought I batted as well as I've ever batted in my career in Australia a few months ago."

Kirby 'hopes to make late mother proud'

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Reading and England forward Fran Kirby tells BBC South Today about her return to football, four years after quitting the sport following the sudden death of her mother.

With England just three months away from the World Cup in Canada and Reading opening their WSL 2 season on Thursday, Kirby knows she has a key part to play at home and abroad and wants to achieve one thing - to make her late mother proud.

Olsen to step down after Euro 2016

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Denmark coach Morten Olsen will step down after the Euro 2016 finals.

Olsen, who took charge after Euro 2000, is Europe's longest-serving international manager - a full six years ahead of his nearest rival.

A former Danish international with over 100 caps, he has led the Danes to the finals of two World Cups and two European Championships.

Mascarenhas to take NZ bowling role

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Former England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas will be New Zealand's bowling coach for this summer's Test and limited-overs series between the two countries.

The 37-year-old former Hampshire captain, who played 20 one-day internationals and 14 T20s for England, will replace Shane Bond as the Kiwis' bowling coach once the World Cup co-hosts and unbeaten quarter-finalists have finished their campaign in the global tournament.

"Bondy has done an extremely good job with his bowling unit," said Mascarenhas. "During this World Cup they have been phenomenal, and I am looking forward to working with those guys."

Vea to join Newcastle

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Newcastle have announced the signing of Tonga international prop Taione Vea from London Welsh.

The 6ft 2in 20-stone Auckland-born 26-year-old, who has won six caps for Tonga, will join the Falcons on a two-year deal in time for the 2015/16 season.

"As a Tongan international he brings a powerful and skilled head to our front row, although he's also a very humble guy who I know will fit in well with our squad," said director of rugby Dean Richards.

South Africa won't choke - De Villiers

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South Africa captain AB De Villiers says his side "won't choke" as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka in the first World Cup quarter-final.

South Africa have never won a knockout match at the World Cup and have earned a reputation for producing nervy performances on the big stage, but De Villiers says history will have no bearing in Sydney on Wednesday.

"We can't focus on what happened back in the day," said De Villiers.

Wembley trip not a day out - Clarke

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Reading manager Steve Clarke says his side are not going to Wembley for a "day out" when they take on Arsenal in the semi-final of the FA Cup.

The Royals defeated Bradford 3-0 on Monday night to reach the last four of the competition.

Former England spinner Appleyard dies

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Former Yorkshire and England spin bowler Bob Appleyard has died at the age of 90.

Appleyard (on the left in the above picture) did not play first-class cricket until the age of 27, but took 200 wickets in his first season in 1951.

Three years later, he made the first of nine appearances for England, and took seven wickets in an innings win over Pakistan at Trent Bridge.

McLaren prepare Alonso for return

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McLaren are preparing driver Fernando Alonso for a return to action after he missed the Australian Grand Prix to recover from concussion sustained in a pre-season crash.

Alonso will drive the McLaren simulator this week as part of the plan for his return.

World Cup joy for Bhutan and India

@FifaWorldCup

More exciting news from World Cup 2018 qualification to bring you (yes, really).

The world's lowest-ranked side Bhutan have made it through to the second round of Asian qualifying with an extraordinary 3-1 aggregate win over Sri Lanka. 18-year-old Chencho Gyeltshen bagged both goals in the second leg. They'll be dancing on the streets of Thimphu tonight...

India have also made it, with a 2-0 aggregate victory over Nepal.

Arsenal focussed on Champions League

The Champions League takes centre stage this week with Arsenal first up on Tuesday night away at Monaco after losing the last 16 home leg 3-1.

In the latest Focus Forum, Dan Walker is joined by Mark Lawrenson and Stuart Pearce as they discuss the tie with Arsene Wenger's side needing to score at least three goals to stay in the competition.

Get involved

This morning we've been asking you for your reaction to the news that Dick Advocaat is to take charge at Sunderland for the rest of the season...

Andy Rees: They just made a huge mistake, they have 9 games to save their season and have appointed a man that has no understanding of the English game. Lunacy.

Wez McCullough: We were sleepwalking to relegation under Poyet without a doubt. Not really confident Advocaat will do the job either but we will see. Glad to see Poyet go after most of his decision making this season but the timing looks too late.

Gordon Christie: He is past it. Didn't do well at Rangers with a squad of great players, won't do with a squad of players with no confidence.

Arnautovic in, Weimann out for Austria

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Stoke City's Marko Arnautovic has been called up by Austria for their forthcoming matches against Liechtenstein and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

However. Aston Villa's Andreas Weimann has been axed from the squad in favour of uncapped Red Bull Salzburg striker Marco Djuricin.

Bayern Munich midfielder David Alaba is back in the squad after recovering from knee surgery.

Horner urges Renault improvement

AFP

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has called on their power-unit supplier Renault to get their act together and help save his organisation's season.

The team had to change the power unit on Daniel Ricciardo's car in between practice sessions on Friday due to a problem with the engine while Daniil Kvyat retired on the formation lap with a suspected gearbox failure.

"Renault need to have a clear vision and they need it quickly," said Horner. "You can see Ferrari have made a good step forward, whereas Renault at this stage appear to have made a retrograde step. It's frustrating we are effectively further back than we were in Abu Dhabi in both power and driveability.

"It means we haven't seen the potential of our car yet because it's masked by the engine issues we have. It's important we regroup with Renault and offer support where we can because it's obviously in a bit of a mess at the moment."

Rangers mystified by Ferguson call-up

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Every international squad announcement contains a surprise name or two. But the inclusion of Rangers' Shane Ferguson in the Northern Ireland squad to face Scotland has raised more eyebrows than most.

That's because Ferguson hasn't played this year due to a serious knee injury.

Rangers boss Stuart McCall says he's mystified. "From what I've been led to believe, we won't see him at all this season," he said.

Wales change two for Italy clash

BBC Sport

Wales have made two changes for Saturday's Six Nations match against Italy. Props Aaron Jarvis and Rob Evans come in for the injured Samson Lee and Gethin Jenkins, while scrum-half Mike Phillips drops out of the match-day squad.

Wales have a chance of winning the championship if they beat Italy in Rome.

Bury still targeting Championship

Bury chairman Stewart Day has revealed that getting the club to the Championship remains his main aim.

Day was part of the consortium that took control of Bury in May 2013 and the club currently sit fifth in League Two, four points off the automatic promotion places.

"When I came to the club I talked about a five-year plan to try and get us into the Championship and nothing has deteriorated away from that, "said Day.

Mongolia out of World Cup running

Mongolia fans, look away now. Your boys have become the first side to be knocked out of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup.

Today sees the second leg of the first round of qualifying in the Asia confederation, and Timor-Leste have proved too strong for the Mongolians, winning 1-0 in Ulaanbataar to wrap up a 5-1 aggregate victory.

Pulis rues Foster injury

AFP

West Brom manager Tony Pulis has been speaking about the news that goalkeeper Ben Foster has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

"It's rotten news for Ben because he's been so consistent," Pulis told the club website.

"He kept seven clean sheets in 10 games but we have a very able man to step forward in Boaz (Myhill), who has performed well when he's come into the team.

"We've got the international break coming up which I hope will give our medical team the chance to work on Ben's rehab and we will reassess later."

Get involved

This morning we're asking you to have your say on the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland...

Brian Murphy: Good manager, if they brought him in around January then yes but it's too late now, if I was a Sunderland fan I'd be asking why Poyet wasn't removed before now.

Simon Lethbridge: They're not in the bottom three now so he probably only has to not do any worse. I predict he'll win a few, keep them safe, get offered a longer contract, and then they'll struggle again next season

Keep your comments coming in on Twitter at #bbcsportsday and via the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Cookson criticises Armstrong

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UCI president Brian Cookson has branded Lance Armstrong "completely disrespectful" for aiming to ride the Tour de France route this summer for charity.

Former England footballer Geoff Thomas has convinced Armstrong to take part in his charity fundraising mission, riding the Tour route one day ahead of the professional peloton.

Cookson said the UCI has no authority to stop Armstrong's bid, but urged the American, who has been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles, to think again.

"I'm sure that Geoff Thomas means well, but frankly I think that's completely inappropriate and disrespectful to the Tour, disrespectful to the current riders, and disrespectful to the UCI and the anti-doping community. I think Lance would be well-advised not to take part in that," said Cookson.

Cyprus referees threaten strike action

Referees in Cyprus have threatened strike action after a top match official's car was set on fire in the sixth such attack in a year.

It would be the second time this season that fixtures have been disrupted by protest action by referees. In addition, the league has had to deal with allegations of match-fixing.

Police said that a company car assigned to Cyprus Referees Association chief Leontios Trattos was found on fire in the car park outside his Nicosia apartment block with forensic investigations revealing the fire was probably started with a flammable liquid.

Foster ruled out with knee injury

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West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has been ruled out for a month with a knee injury.

Foster, 31, was replaced by understudy Boaz Myhill during Saturday's game against Stoke City after hurting his leg challenging Peter Crouch for a high ball.

Man arrested over alleged racial abuse

A man has been arrested for the alleged racial abuse of Reading winger Garath McCleary during their 3-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Bradford.

The 27-year-old Jamaica international was in the process of taking a corner just before half time when the situation arose in front of the Bradford fans at the Madejski Stadium.

Police confirmed a 36-year-old man from Bradford was arrested.

He has been bailed until 16 April pending further inquiries.

McIlroy replaces Woods as face of video game

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First he took his world number one ranking. Now Rory McIlroy has trumped Tiger Woods again - this time by replacing him as the face of a popular golf video game.

Woods has been the face of EA Sports's PGA Tour game since 1998 but he is being succeeded by 25-year-old McIlroy.

However, Tiger can comfort himself with the knowledge that he still comfortably leads McIlroy on major titles - 14 to four.

Rookie linebacker quits over concussion fears

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Some big news from the NFL overnight: a star linebacker has decided to retire due to fears over concussion.

Chris Borland, who plays for the San Francisco 49ers, had only played one season in the League.

Speaking to ESPN's Outside the Lines, Borland said: "I just want to do what's best for my health. From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk."

49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement: "While unexpected, we certainly respect Chris' decision."

Derbyshire sign Dilshan

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Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan will be heading to Derbyshire this summer.

The 38-year-old has signed a deal with the county to replace Martin Guptill as their overseas player.

Elite performance director Graeme Welch said: "It demonstrates our growing reputation within the game. Dilshan is a proven match-winner who has shown this time and time again on the world stage."

Dilshan is currently starring at the World Cup with Sri Lanka and he will be in action when Sri Lanka take on South Africa in the first quarter-final overnight.

Bale puts in extra training

as.com

While Spanish newspaper As features Atletico Madrid's key Champions League last 16 game against Bayer Leverkusen, it also reports that Real Madrid's Gareth Bale is putting in extra training at the club as he bids to turn around his form.

No slipping

L'Equipe

Let's have a look at what's making the news on the continent this morning.

French sports paper L'Equipe leads on tonight's Champions League clash between Monaco and Arsenal, warning the French side: "No slipping!"

The paper says: "The Monegasques have everything in their favour to join PSG in the quarter-finals. They will rely on their defensive solidity to eliminate the Gunners."

Irfan to miss rest of World Cup

AP

Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Irfan will miss the remainder of the World Cup with a pelvis injury, team physiotherapist Brad Robinson has confirmed.

Left-armer Irfan, who has taken eight wickets in five matches so far, underwent an MRI scan after sitting out Pakistan's seven-wicket win over Ireland on Sunday with pain in his hip.

After an initial scan proved inconclusive on Monday, the seven-foot bowler underwent further tests on Tuesday where it was confirmed he had suffered "an obvious stress fracture in the pelvis", according to a Pakistan Cricket Board statement.

Pakistan will wait until after the quarter-final before deciding whether to call up a replacement.

Get involved

This morning we're asking you to weigh in on the big sporting story of the day, the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland. We'll bring you some of the social media comments shortly, but first, here are a selection of your responses in the 'Have Your Say' section underneath the BBC Sport article.

Clearsighted: It's a shame that some English managers were overlooked for this role. Whilst O'Shea and Wes Brown are there even if they appointed the best manager in the world (Ian Holloway) they would still have trouble saving them from relegation.

Richwebb101: The players never seem to get blamed by the people in charge. The fans also, in large numbers, always turn on the manager. Poyet was not in charge of transfers, and the players the people in charge have bought are not good enough to be any higher than relegation candidates. Until Sunderland get a Manager, not a Head Coach, they will continue to struggle.

Feldybhoy: Bad appointment IMHO. You only need to look at Felix Magath to see how appointing a manager with zero Premier League experience at a team in the bottom half works out.

Sunderland target McClaren

Guardian

The Guardian leads on the managerial situation at Sunderland - correctly identifying Dick Advocaat as the club's preferred short-term choice, and suggesting that Derby's Steve McClaren could come into contention when Advocaat's spell ends at the end of the season.

There's also an interesting interview with Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, who says he does not believe his job is under threat.

Advocaat's arrival on Wearside

The Sun

Dick Advocaat's arrival in Sunderland makes the back page of the Sun while Liverpool's Premier League win over Swansea and Reading's FA Cup win over Bradford are also featured.

Liverpool buoyant ahead of United clash

Daily Telegraph

Let's have a look at this morning's back pages. The Daily Telegraph leads on Liverpool's victory against Swansea in the Premier League - quoting Jordan Henderson's confident rallying cry ahead of the visit of Manchester United on Sunday.

There's also a mention of Arsenal's tough Champions League assignment against Monaco tonight - Arsene Wenger says his team will still believe even though the odds are stacked against them.

Oldham appoint Holden to end of season

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Want more breaking managerial appointment news? Well, you're in luck.

League One side Oldham Athletic have appointed Dean Holden as their manager until the end of the season. Holden had been in caretaker charge following Lee Johnson's exit to Barnsley last month.

Holden, 35, only ended his playing career last year - here he is in action for Shrewsbury.

Get involved

As ever on Sportsday, we want to hear from you this morning. We'd like you to weigh in on this morning's big news - the appointment of Dick Advocaat at Sunderland.

What do you reckon? Can Advocaat keep the Black Cats up, or is it a bad move to appoint someone with no previous Premier League experience?

Let us know your views on Twitter at #bbcsportsday, or via the BBC Sport Facebook page.

Liverpool can finish second - Rodgers

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As we mentioned earlier, last night also saw a win for Liverpool, who beat Swansea 1-0 in the Premier League.

Reds manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side can finish second in the table if they continue their good form.

"Manchester City's result at the weekend gives us an opportunity to finish second," Rodgers said.

"Our mentality, the run and confidence we have at the moment we're just going to take that into every game and see where it takes us."

Reading into FA Cup semis

Getty Images

Let's turn our attention back to last night's action now.

Reading are into the FA Cup semi-finals after a comfortable 3-0 win in their replay against Bradford.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Garath McCleary scored inside the first 10 minutes, before City's Felipe Morais was sent off and Jamie Mackie sealed the win.

The Royals will face Cup holders Arsenal in their first FA Cup semi-final in 88 years.

Advocaat appointed Sunderland coach

Advocaat becomes the sixth new managerial appointment in the Premier League this season, after Alan Pardew, Tony Pulis, John Carver, Chris Ramsey and Tim Sherwood.

The Dutchman takes over a day after the sacking of Gus Poyet with the Black Cats one point above the Premier League relegation zone.

Advocaat, who has had two spells in charge of the Dutch national team, joins compatriots Louis van Gaal and Ronald Koeman in the Premier League.

At 67, he also becomes the oldest manager in the top division.

Advocaat appointed Sunderland coach

Getty Images

More on that breaking news from Sunderland.

Sunderland chairman Ellis Short has welcomed Dick Advocaat's appointment, saying: "Dick has an incredible CV and vast experience of managing at the very highest level. We have one aim only now - to climb the table and everyone is fully focused on the task ahead of us."

Advocaat himself said: "Sunderland is a big club and I am very much looking forward to the challenge ahead. We must now concentrate on Saturday as a priority and I can't wait to get started."

BreakingBREAKING NEWS

We've got some breaking news to bring you. In the last few minutes, Sunderland have confirmed the appointment of Dick Advocaat as head coach until the end of the season.

Advocaat has previously managed the Netherlands, PSV Eindhoven, Rangers and Russia. His most recent job was as coach of the Serbia national team, a position he resigned in November.

Hello

Welcome to Sportsday. Today we'll be looking back last night's action in the Premier League and FA Cup, and casting an eye ahead to tonight's Champions League ties as Arsenal bid to overturn a two-goal deficit against Monaco. But first...

On the up

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Five straight wins. Unbeaten in 2015. Six consecutive clean sheets away from home. 32 points from the last 36.

Yes, it's fair to say that Liverpool are the Premier League's form side, and after a 1-0 win at Swansea, manager Brendan Rodgers believes his side can overtake Manchester City and finish second.

However, the win wasn't without good fortune as Jordan Henderson's winner came via an unintentional deflection from Jordi Amat's clearance. Will their luck hold?