Ronaldo Won't Play at Copa America

Brazil's star Ronaldo will not be chosen for his nation's team for Copa America in June and July in Venezuela.

"I will observe other strikers during the competition," coach Dunga told Globo TV on Monday. "We already know what Ronaldo is capable of; he's the type of player you can count on whenever you need."




Ronaldo, who helped Brazil win the Copa America in 1997 and 1999, has yet to play for Brazil since Dunga took over the squad after its World Cup elimination last year.

The striker has regained form since moving from Spain's Real Madrid to AC Milan in February, scoring seven goals in 12 matches.

Ronaldo has played in four World Cups with Brazil, and scored 67 goals in 104 matches overall with the five-time world champion.

The South American championship will be Brazil's first official tournament with Dunga in command. The coach said he wants the squad at full strength, but some of his regulars may skip the competition, which follows the European season.

Brazil won the Copa America's last edition, in Peru.

Dunga has had a successful start with Brazil, winning seven matches, including 3-0 against South American rival Argentina and 4-0 against Chile. It drew 1-1 with Norway and lost to Portugal 2-0.

Brazil will play England on June 1 at the rebuilt Wembley Stadium in London.

Vidic and Ferdinand Take Plane to Italy

Manchester United duo Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand have both made the trip, despite doubts over their fitness.

Vidic broke his collarbone at the end of March and Ferdinand aggravated a groin injury against Middlesbrough.

With Patrice Evra suspended, it is likely Sir Alex Ferguson will pick at least one of them, allowing Gabriel Heinze to slot into his preferred position of left-back.

Louis Saha could be on the bench, despite his recent hamstring problems, but Gary Neville misses out again.

Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Scholes are all one booking away from a ban that would rule them out of the final, should United progress.

Milan beat United in the semi-final of the old European Cup in both 1958 and 1969.

Head-to-heads
AC Milan and Manchester United have met seven times before in European competition, United winning three and AC Milan the other four. Milan have won all three matches played in Italy, all without conceding a goal. The Italians have knocked United out each time they have met in Europe.

AC Milan have hosted English clubs on 11 previous occasions and are yet to lose, winning six and drawing five. Manchester United have visited Italy 12 times, winning just twice and losing nine times.

Liverpool, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea have all knocked AC Milan out of European competition. The last to do so over two legs was Manchester City in the 1978-79 Uefa Cup.

European history
Milan are taking part in the Champions League main competition for the 11th time. They are two times winners of the Champions League and have added these to four Champions Cup triumphs. Last season, Milan were eliminated in the CL semi-finals by eventual winners FC Barcelona. Apart from their six Champions Cups, Milan have also won the now obsolete Cup Winners' Cup twice. They have featured in a record five CL finals, since the competition was launched in 1992-93.

Manchester United are playing in their 31st season of European competition and their 12th in the Champions League. They have won all three European finals they have reached, the 1968 Champions Cup final, 1991 Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1999 Champions League final.

Current European form
AC Milan have struggled in recent home matches, losing 0-2 to Lille OSC, requiring extra time to beat Celtic 1-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bayern Munich.

Manchester United have lost three of their five away matches in this season's Champions League, winning only at Benfica and Lille.

Player and disciplinary info
Patrice Evra is suspended against AC Milan. Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes (Man. Utd) and Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) will be suspended for the final if they receive another caution and their team progresses.

Maldini is AC Milan's most experienced player in the Champions League with 104 matches. Filippo Inzaghi has scored 36 Champions League goals in his career, the most by a current Milan player. Kaka and Marek Jankulovski are the only AC Milan players who have played all 11 Champions League matches this season. Kaka has scored nine of the 15 AC Milan goals in this year's Champions League, and has more goals to his name in the Champions League than in Serie A this season.

Wayne Rooney could become the first English player ever to score in four successive Champions League matches. Gary Neville is Manchester United's most experienced player in the Champions League with 98 matches. Ryan Giggs is the club's current top scorer in the competition with 23 goals. Edwin van der Sar, Michael Carrick and Rooney have played in all 11 of United's Champions League matches this season. Only Van der Sar is yet to miss a minute.

Other miscellaneous facts
AC Milan head coach Carlo Ancelotti has reached the Champions League semis for a record fifth time. Sir Alex Ferguson has taken Manchester United to this stage for the fourth time.

This match will be Manchester United's 127th in the Champions League, equalling Real Madrid's record.

Tuesday 1 May : Today's Gossip in Newspaper

Manchester City are ready to make a £3.5m move for Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, who is currently on loan at Marseille. (Daily Mirror)

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock will be given a £20m transfer kitty in the summer if the club remain in the top flight. (Daily Mirror)

Middlesbrough are ready to spend £1m on Crewe striker Luke Varney. (Mirror). England is Fifa's top alternative to host the 2010 World Cup if South Africa is not ready to host the tournament. (The Sun)


Liverpool keeper Scott Carson could turn his loan move at Charlton into a permanent deal if the Addicks beat the drop. (Sun)

Middlesbrough will face competition from Sunderland, Bolton and Birmingham for Portsmouth midfielder Sean Davis. (Daily Mail)

Wolves are chasing Stockport defender Ashley Williams. (Daily Star)

Dundee manager Alex Rae will run the rule over 16 potential signings at a specially arranged match on Tuesday. (Daily Record)

Sheffield United have joined Wigan and Aston Villa in the race to sign Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. (Daily Star)

Chelsea are furious with striker Andriy Shevchenko for pulling out of the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Liverpool because of groin strain after he was told he would be on the substitutes' bench. (Various)

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez says Jose Mourinho's tinkering has cost Chelsea the title. (The Sun)

Jose Mourinho says Liverpool's fans should cheer him rather than jeer him. (Daily Mirror)

Ex-Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is moving closer to gaining control at Manchester City. (Mirror)

Former Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is not on Shinawatra's wish-list as City's potential new manager. (Guardian)

Bolton want £5m compensation if Allardyce becomes manager of City or Newcastle. (The Sun)

Leeds United are thought to be ready to file for administration after their relegation to League One was all but sealed on Saturday. (Guardian)

Leeds could play at South Leeds Stadium, home of rugby league club Hunslet, while they redevelop Elland Road. (Daily Mail)

West Ham could be without Carlos Tevez for their last two Premiership games after failing to reach an agreement with his owners MSI. (The Sun)

Lawrie Sanchez is resigned to losing his job as Fulham manager even if he keeps them in the Premiership. (Sun)

Celtic will fight manager Gordon Strachan's touchline ban so he can lead his team out at the Scottish Cup final. (Daily Record)

The new Wembley stadium is shown as a dilapidated wreck with knee-high grass on the pitch in new film 28 Weeks Later, which is released a week before the FA Cup final on 19 May.

Shevchenko Rule Out Chelsea

Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko has been ruled out of Tuesday's Champions League semi-final second leg at Liverpool.

The Ukraine international has not travelled with the squad and joins Ricardo Carvalho (knee) and Michael Ballack (ankle) on the sidelines.


However, Arjen Robben is included in the squad after making a quicker-than-expected recovery from knee ligament damage.

Michael Essien will be available after a one-match European ban for the Anfield clash.

Didier Drogba is one yellow card away from missing a potential final in Athens if Chelsea can hold onto their 1-0 first-leg lead, while it is expected that Khalid Boulahrouz could come into defence.

Chelsea (from): Cech, A Cole, Makelele, Terry, Essien, Ferreira, Boulahrouz, Lampard, J Cole, Drogba, Mikel, Geremi, Bridge, Robben, Wright-Phillips, Diarra, Kalou, Cudicini.