Domenech called for an end to "intolerable displays of racism inside soccer stadiums" and said the "whole French team is supporting the means to stop this."

Singer Marc Lavoine and Yannick Noah -- the former French Open champion turned singer -- are recording a World Cup song called "Douce France," or "Tender France." They are among 50 people, including France defender Jean-Alain Boumsong, featured on the record.

The aim is to raise money "to help fight all forms of discrimination, and to help young people find work by means of professional training," Lavoine said Tuesday.

Racism has been widespread in European soccer this season, directed at black players in Spain, Italy and France.

"We need to amplify this project at a national level," Domenech said. "Football is the link we needed to put this project into the spotlight."

Paraguay, Poland touch down
Afp, Oberhaching

The Paraguayan football team arrived at its training base in southern Germany Tuesday ahead of the June 9-July 9 World Cup finals.

The squad arrived by bus from Austria, where it had been based for an eight-day training camp which included warm-up games against Norway (2-2) and Denmark (1-1).

Paraguay kick off Group B on June 10 with a game against England in Frankfurt, before playing Sweden on June 15 and Trinidad and Tobago five days later.

Elsewhere, Poland's World Cup squad arrived at their training base here late Tuesday coming straight from a 1-2 loss to Colombia in a friendly.

The Poles, who have been drawn in a group with Germany, Costa Rica and Ecuador, will play two further buildup games - against Croatia in Wolfsburg on Saturday and a German regional select at Salzgitter on Tuesday.

Spain ask for Del Horno replacement
Reuters, Madrid

Spain have asked FIFA for permission to bring in another player to replace injured defender Asier del Horno, the Spanish Football Federation said on Tuesday.

The Chelsea fullback damaged the area around his Achilles tendon in training last week.

After a scan on Tuesday, national team doctor Genaro Borras said Del Horno would be out of action for 10 days and would need at least another 10 to get back to full fitness after that.

The leading candidates to replace Del Horno are Deportivo Coruna's Joan Capdevila and Getafe's Argentine-born Mariano Pernia, if FIFA give permission.

Spain play their opening game against Ukraine on June 14.

Clampdown on hooligans
Ap, London

More than 3,000 people designated as soccer hooligans had until Tuesday to surrender their passports to British police, a measure aimed at preventing them from travelling to the World Cup.

The 3,286 people subject to "football banning orders" must also report to their local police station each time England plays. Those subject to the orders and who travel anyway could face fines or jail.

Riots at the 1998 World Cup in France and the 2000 European Championship in Belgium and the Netherlands prompted the government to take tougher action to stop known troublemakers from travelling to games.

The government began negotiations with German authorities on security two years ago to make certain security arrangements were in place.

Italy refocus
Ap, Rome

Scandal-riddled Italy will turn its full attention to the World Cup with two challenging exhibition games this week.

The Azzurri will face Switzerland in Geneva on Wednesday, and Ukraine in Lausanne on Friday. Both teams are possible World Cup quarterfinal opponents for Italy.

"I always prefer to play against tough teams," coach Marcello Lippi said Tuesday. "The result isn't our top worry. We're interested in getting the team to play by certain habits and get used to focusing on games again."

Since opening their World Cup training camp in Florence on May 22, the Azzurri have been deluged with questions about the scandals rocking Italian soccer.

Lippi was questioned by prosecutors regarding alleged pressure he received to select certain players for the national team. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has had to defend himself against illegal betting accusations.

"Everyone's morale is good. You can be sure that if things don't go as we hope in Germany, we won't look for any excuses," Lippi said. "We have all the qualities imaginable to do well."

After the exhibitions, the team will return home for a few more days of training in Florence before flying to Germany on June 7.

Agency cancels deals
Afp, Tokyo

A Japanese travel agency has cancelled tours to World Cup football matches involving Japan after it allegedly failed to obtain match tickets promised by a Chinese go-between.

Max Air Service Co. Ltd. announced the decision in a statement posted on its website late Tuesday, offering apologies to an unspecified number of people who have signed up for the tours to the finals in Germany starting June 9.

Repeated calls to the firm's Tokyo head office went unanswered.

About 1,200 people had applied for the tours each priced between 400,000 and 500,000 yen (3,570-4,460 dollars) and including a match ticket, air travel and accommodation, local media reports said.

Rooney due for return to England
Ap, Manchester

Wayne Rooney will fly to Germany with England's World Cup squad on Monday, then return to England two days later for a CT scan on his broken foot.

The 20-year-old Manchester United striker will travel to and from Germany so coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and the medical team can assess his chances of playing in the World Cup.

England expects to be without Rooney for its three group games against Paraguay, Trinidad-Tobago and Sweden, but hopes he will be ready for the elimination round -- assuming Eriksson's team gets there.

Eriksson requested the next scan take place two days before the FIFA deadline for replacing an injured player and three days before England's first game against Paraguay.

"Of course, I wait as long as possible," Eriksson said. "I should be very stupid if not."

Rooney was injured April 29 while playing for Manchester United. When asked if he thought Rooney would kick a ball at the World Cup, Eriksson answered, "Yes. Nothing has changed for me. I always think he would play."

Daddy calls up son
Ap, Belgrade

Serbia-Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic called up his son, Dusan Petkovic, as a replacement for injured striker Mirko Vucinic on Tuesday.

Belgrade media called Petkovic's decision a "scandal" and "own-goal" because defender Dusan Petkovic hasn't had an impact on the national team and didn't take part in World Cup qualification.

The 32-year-old Petkovic has 12 appearances for the national team, but none in official games. He has had an unsuccessful soccer career while playing for Russian, German, Japanese and Spanish clubs before returning to OFK Belgrade in the Serbian league last season.

"Petkovic's decision to call up his son is scandalous," former Yugoslavia captain Dragan Stojkovic said. "There are many other players who had deserved to be invited before him."

Dusan Petkovic won't be the only son of a coach to take part in this World Cup. Coach Zlatko Kranjcar and his midfielder son, Niko, are on the Croatian team.