Jonathan Woodgate is facing a race against time to be fit for Euro 2004 (Daily Star).

The Newcastle defender has torn a thigh muscle and has been ruled out of the rest of the domestic season.

But the England international is now battling to be back in time for the championships in Portugal, with the first match against France on 13 June.

A Newcastle spokesman said: "Jonathan will definitely miss the rest of the season as he has been told he will be out for six weeks."

*****************

John Terry believes Englandare well prepared and looking forward to Euro 2004 (The Sun).

The international defender has had an excellent season with Chelsea and is expected to be named in Sven's squad for the tournament in Portugal.

And Terry said: "Euro2004 is just around the corner and we're very prepared.

"There is plenty of competition for places in Portugal, great players all fighting for the same place in defence - but that's the way I like it."

*****************

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has called for all matches to be decided by a penalty shoot-out if they end in a draw (The Mirror).

The idea is already used in American Major League Soccer, but would be a radical change to the tradition of the game around the rest of the world.

Blatter said: "Every game should have a winner. When you play cards or any other game, there's always a winner and a loser.

"We should have the courage to introduce a final decision in every game of football."

*****************

Ronaldo and David Beckham are major transfer targets for Chelsea in the summer according to manager Claudio Ranieri (Daily Express).

Chairman Roman Abramovich spent millions last season to revolutionise the Blues and now appears ready to chase the top world stars again.

Quoting from an Italian newspaper, the Daily Express reports Ranieri as admitting: "Yes, Chelsea are thinking of Ronaldo and Beckham.

"There is only one person who can try to take them from Real Madrid president Florentino Perez and that is Roman Abramovich."

*****************

Chelsea have appealed to UEFA against Marcel Desailly's three-match European ban (Daily Mail).

The Stamford Bridge captain was suspended for elbowing Monaco striker Fernando Morientes during the Champions League semi-final first leg.

The appeal will be heard on Thursday and the result will be known before the second leg which takes place on 5 May.