Football: Van Basten's chance: Dutch marksman on course for America

MARCO VAN BASTEN, out of action for more than a year with an ankle injury, may make his comeback in the World Cup finals. The 29- year-old Milan striker has been drafted into the Dutch squad in place of Ruud Gullit, who walked out of a training camp on Monday.

Van Basten said he was going to the United States 'not to play but to work', although if required by the Dutch coach, Dick Advocaat, he 'would play the final 10 or 15 minutes of a match'. He will make his decision today.

Milan's fitness coach, Vincenzo Pincolini, however, warned against Van Basten's participation, saying: 'He risks throwing away a top- level career that could last another four or five years.'

Neil Warnock, the former Notts County manager, has denied any knowledge of an illegal payment of pounds 5,000 allegedly made by Alan Ball to an agent, Peter De Sisto. It is alleged that Ball made the payment when manager of Exeter in order to secure the transfer of Gary Chapman from Notts County in September 1991.

A man was stabbed in the chest during violence following Germany's 5-1 win over Austria in Vienna. Eleven policemen were also injured.