Brazil prez gets jersey

BRASILIA: Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva received an autographed jersey from the national soccer team on Saturday and joked he would tell Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos “how to win the World Cup.” Carlos, a wingback for Brazil, delivered a yellow Brazilian jersey to Silva — an ardent soccer fan — and to first lady Marisa da Silva. Roberto Carlos, who helped Brazil win its fifth World Cup in 2002, said he promised to visit Silva following a friendly between Brazil and Haiti in 2004, when Brazil won 6-0.

Young pulls out

LONDON: Charlton defender Luke Young pulled out of England’s standby team for the World Cup on Saturday. Young trained last week in Portugal with England, but aggravated an ankle injury that he picked up late in the season with Charlton. He made his debut for England last year against the United States, but was unlikely to have been called up to the 23-man squad. No decision has yet been made about naming a replacement.

Viduka named captain

MELBOURNE: Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka will captain Australia when it makes its first World Cup soccer appearance in 32 years next month. Viduka, the Australian captain for its final playoff series win over Uruguay last November, was given the job on Sunday

by coach Guus Hiddink. Former skipper Craig Moore, who was longtime captain under former coach Frank Farina, was injured during the Uruguay series. Viduka said he accepted the job with mixed emotions because of his friendship with Moore.