Football news in brief: Toshack named coach of Scots' rivals Macedonia

ANOTHER dimension was added to Scotland's World Cup qualifying section last night, when John Toshack was named the new coach of Group A rivals Macedonia.

The 62-year-old Welshman resigned as coach of his home nation in September 2010 following a loss to Montenegro in the team's opening Euro 2012 qualifier. Wales and Macedonia are both in Scotland's group for the World Cup 2014 qualifiers along with Belgium, Croatia and Serbia.

The former Liverpool player and veteran coach replaces Mirsad Jonuz, who was dismissed in June after poor results in 2012 European Championship qualifiers. Macedonia are fifth in Group B, with only four points from six games.

"Toshack will arrive in Macedonia on August 25 and will be officially promoted the next day," FFM president Haralampie Hadziristeski said.

Cowie and McNaughton called into Scotland fold

CARDIFF City duo Kevin McNaughton and Don Cowie have been called into the Scotland squad for the friendly against Denmark at Hampden on Wednesday night, the Scottish Football Association has confirmed.

Defenders Alan Hutton and Steven Whittaker have withdrawn from Craig Levein's squad through injury.

Hutton missed Tottenham's challenge match against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday with a knee injury while utility player Whittaker missed Rangers' glamour friendly against Chelsea at Ibrox on Saturday with a toe problem.

McNaughton and Cowie both played in yesterday's Championship win over West Ham at Upton Park, where Scotland striker Kenny Miller marked his debut for Cardiff with an injury-time winner.

All three will join up with the rest of Levein's squad just outside Glasgow.

Rangers' Europa foes Maribor add another win

RANGERS' Europa League opponents Maribor enjoyed a comfortable 2-0 win in the Slovenian league on Saturday, while Sion - who will meet Celtic - were denied victory at Basel after conceding a last-minute equaliser. Sion had led through goals from Vilmos Vanczk, Dos Santos Adailton Jose and Giovanni Sio, before Basel's Adilson Cabral salvaged a 3-3 draw.

Maribor maintained their 100 per cent start in the league - making it four wins out of four - away to Triglav thanks to a goal in each half.

Bayern lose at home on Bundesliga resumption

BAYERN Munich lost 1-0 at home to Borussia Monchengladbach in the opening round of Bundesliga matches, after they failed to recover from Igor De Camargo's 62nd minute goal.

In the Dutch league, Miralem Sulejmani struck twice as champions Ajax came from behind to beat Graafschap Doetinchem 4-1. Twente beat NAC Breda 1-0, while PSV Eindhoven suffered a 3-1 defeat against ten-men AZ Alkmaar.

Rennes opened their French league campaign with a 5-1 victory at newly promoted Dijon.