England's Owen out of Euro qualifier against Croatia

England striker Michael Owen is set to miss Wednesday's crucial Euro 2008 Group E qualifier against Croatia at Wembley after an injury.

Owen pulled up with a thigh injury after shooting at goal 34 minutes into England's 1-0 friendly win over Austria on Friday and motioned to the bench to take him off.

Peter Crouch scored the winner for England against Austria in an international friendly at the Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna. The goal came in the 44th minute.

England are already missing captain John Terry and forward Wayne Rooney because of injuries while central defender Rio Ferdinand is suspended for the Croatia match.

A draw for Croatia and a win for the Russians would effectively end England's qualifying hopes and make Wednesday's encounter with the group leaders all but meaningless.

Brazil's national soccer team, Ronaldinho travel to Peru

In Rio de Janerio (Brazil), Brazil's national soccer team and its star player Ronaldinho, recovering from injury, travelled Friday to Peru to get ready to play their World Cup qualifier game against its Peruvian counterpart on Sunday.

Ronaldinho, twice named Federation of International Football Associations' (FIFA) Player of the Year, is recovering from an injury suffered in a game for Spain's Barcelona soccer club.

"It is less swollen," the striker said in a televised interview Friday before departing to Peru. "We're in the final phase of treatment. I still don't have full confidence, and in some movements it still hurts, but there's still time until the game. I think I'm going to play."

Brazil tied 0-0 against Colombia and defeated Ecuador 5-0 in its two previous qualifier games.

Brazil's soccer team, five times World Soccer Cup champions, trail leader Argentina by two points in the 10-nation South American qualifying tournament. Brazil next faces Uruguay on Wednesday in Sao Paulo.

In Canberra (Australia), Dutchman Dick Advocaat has turned down offers from Football Federation Australia to coach the Socceroos for next year's World Cup qualifiers, local reports said Saturday.

The FFA is reportedly holding crisis talks this weekend after Advocaat, who was set to be confirmed in the role this weekend after attending Australia's friendly against Nigeria in London, knocked back an offer to coach the national team.

Just 81 days before Australia's opening World Cup qualifier in February, the FFA has to renew its search for a coach and find a big-name overseas coach to replace Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

Reports said Advocaat has accepted a new deal to remain with Russian club Zenit St Petersburg, said to be worth $3.6 million a year.

Advocaat coached the Netherlands at the 1994 World Cup and also guided South Korea to the 2006 finals. He has also won club titles with PSV Eindhoven and Glasgow Rangers.