Joachim Loew is set to again give youth a chance in Germany's last internationals of 2018, against Russia and the Netherlands, as his squad clear-out continues following the World Cup debacle.

Having already dropped 2014 World Cup winner Sami Khedira, Loew left Jerome Boateng out of his latest squad and now Thomas Mueller is set to again be benched for Thursday's friendly against Russia in Leipzig.

Diego Maradona says he "loves" Lionel Messi and described as "false" comments attributed to him attacking his Argentine compatriot and Barcelona legend.

"Leo is a friend of mine and I'd never speak ill of a friend," Maradona assured Spanish sports newspaper Marca on Wednesday.

Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic of the Los Angeles Galaxy was named Monday as Major League Soccer Newcomer of the Year, defeating England's Wayne Rooney among others for the award.

Ibrahimovic won in a balloting of MLS coaches and players plus a media panel with an average of 36.36 percent support to 32.25 percent for DC United captain Rooney. Mexico's Carlos Vela of Los Angeles FC was third on 13.47 percent.

Mick Schumacher will attempt to follow in his famous father's footsteps on Saturday when he races in the Macau Grand Prix to decide arguably the world's best Formula Three driver.

"It's great to be back in Macau, it was a fantastic season for the whole team and I'm proud to be coming here as European champion," Mick Schumacher, 19, said after arriving in China with his Italian Prema Team.

Qatar is considering offers from other countries to host teams during the 2022 World Cup, but no decision has been taken yet, the head of the organizing committee told AFP on Monday.

Former England midfielder Joe Cole announced his retirement on Tuesday after making more than 700 appearances for seven clubs including West Ham and Chelsea.

The bombshell allegations about Manchester City's financial conduct will not tarnish his team's reputation, coach Pep Guardiola said on Friday.

A series of reports in the German news magazine Der Spiegel has claimed City artificially inflated sponsorship deals in order to comply with UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations.

Long-time Germany stalwart Jerome Boateng has been left out of national coach Joachim Loew's squad for internationals in November and been told he could do with a break.

The 30-year-old 2014 World Cup winner, also struggling for form at Bayern Munich, was in the side that slumped at Russia 2018.

Paris Saint-Germain said Friday it would deliver the results next week of a probe into claims that players were subject to racial profiling by club recruiters.

The internal investigation was launched in response to revelations by French investigative website Mediapart that club talent scouts operated a system of racial profiling for years.

Controversial striker Mario Balotelli was left out again as Italy coach Roberto Mancini brought three new players into his squad for upcoming fixtures on Friday.

The Azzurri, still re-building after missing out on last summer's World Cup, face Portugal in a key Nations League match on November 17 and the United States of America in Genk, Belgium in a friendly on November 20.