Lithuania win over Czechs is Scotland's best hope

Just how do you defeat Spain, one of the best international sides ever seen, if not the best? The best place to start is with Ottmar Hitzfeld, given the German was the man who guided the Swiss to that stunning win in Durban last June.

"If you want to play an attacking game against Spain, you will lose by a big margin," he said after their clash.

"Our aim was to have two compact lines behind our strikers. We didn't want to lose too much energy fighting for the ball.

"We concentrated and were organised from the start."

And that is how to beat Spain. What Hitzfeld didn't mention was the luck factor, something the Scots had in abundance in the two games against France in the last European campaign. 

Another era of ItalJuve

How a strong Juventus influence could be key to Italy's Euro 2012 hopes

It is far from a new phenomenon for a country to call upon a large number of stars from a single club, and Italy themselves have quite the history – particularly in relation to Juventus – and it has proven to be a winning formula for them in the past.

The Azzurri’s first-ever World Cup win in 1934 came in the middle of a run of five straight Scudetti for the Turin side, and the likes of Giovanni Ferrari, Raimundo Orsi and Umberto Caligaris were among a nine-strong band of Juve players in the 22-man squad which triumphed on home soil under Vittorio Pozzo. Four years later, Italy grabbed a second world title immediately after the Bianconeri had added a Coppa Italia win to their roll of honour. The 1930s remains the second most successful decade in the club’s history.

Bruce vows to prove doubters wrong

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has once again insisted he is the right man for the job amid fresh speculation over his future.

Sources on Wearside have dismissed suggestions that Bruce's job is under threat with Martin O'Neill being lined up to replace him at the Stadium of Light. However, there is little doubt results need to improve if the manager is to retain the support he currently enjoys from owner and new chairman Ellis Short.

Bruce, currently in Korea to promote the Black Cats brand around the world, told the Northern Echo: "I hope that people still have faith in me. I know people will be questioning me, of course they are. But I'm a determined, resilient, horrible so-and-so and I will try my utmost to turn it around."

Zinedine Zidane learns the A-ZZ of management

The ex-France, Juventus and Real Madrid superstar has started a two-year university diploma at Limoges to become a manager and is dreaming of coaching Les Bleus. Zizou said: "France manager? Why not? It would not be bad. Anything is possible in life."

Current coach Laurent Blanc is not yet quaking in his boots as Zidane has two years of hard studying ahead.

And it is believed he will first put his new skills to work in his current role as Real Madrid Director of Sport. Zidane enrolled into the Centre of Law and Sports Finances at Limoges with 17 other hopefuls, with former Leeds midfielder Olivier Dacourt among them.

Pep won't sign long-term deal

Pep Guardiola says he does not want to be tied down to a long-term contract at Barcelona because he needs to feel free to decide his future.

The 40-year-old was promoted from Barcelona's B team in June 2008 to replace Frank Rijkaard at the helm of the senior side.

Since then Guardiola has extended his contract with the reigning Spanish and European champions on a year-by-year basis, with his current deal due to expire next June.

Chelsea want long Andre Villas-Boas stay

The 33-year-old former Porto boss took over at Stamford Bridge in June. Buck told BBC Sport: "We do envy Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United in terms of longevity, but it shouldn't be longevity for longevity's sake.

"It has to be the right guy in the job for 10 or 15 years and, in light of Andre's age, he may well be that guy." Buck added: "Everyone thinks his age might have been a negative but it's a positive."

Wenger, 61, is celebrating 15 years at Arsenal since his appointment in 1996. Ferguson, 69, arrived at Manchester United a decade earlier and, in November, will mark 25 years as manager at Old Trafford.