Football: Boli makes flying visit

RANGERS are confident of signing Brian Laudrup and Basile Boli, internationals with Denmark and France respectively, by the weekend. Both players have had talks with the Scottish champions and fees have been agreed with Fiorentina for Laudrup and Marseille for Boli.

Boli made a flying visit to Glasgow yesterday, and left Ibrox to speak to Spurs, who are also interested in the 27-year-old defender.

Roy Keane has given the Republic of Ireland an injury scare four days before their opening World Cup game with Italy. The midfielder limped out of a 4-2 warm-up victory against the United States Under-21 side in Orlando with a strained groin muscle.

The Brazilian defender, Ricardo Gomes, will miss the World Cup because of a thigh injury. He will be replaced by Ronaldo Rodrigues, of the Japanese club, Shimizu S-Pulse.