North Korean translator is gatekeeper at Asian Cup

DOHA, Qatar (AP): North Korea's national team has a simple message for media at the Asian Cup: don't ask us anything about the isolated country or its regime.

The team's translator batted away questions Monday on conditions in the country with a curt "come, visit North Korea" and refused to allow the team's coach Jo Tong Sop to answer it. Other no-go areas included a question about reports of players being sent to a labor camp after its 2010 World Cup failures.

Even Jo responded to a question about possibly facing South Korea in the knockout stage with a gruff insistence that he would only discuss its next opponent, the United Arab Emirates.

Jo dismissed suggestions that the country was closed off, saying he watched occasional Premier League and Bundesliga matches.

  

Henry training with Arsenal during MLS offseason

LONDON (AP): New York Red Bulls striker Thierry Henry has begun a training stint with former club Arsenal to keep fit during the Major League Soccer offseason.

The 33-year-old Henry left Arsenal in 2007 for Barcelona after scoring a club record 226 goals between 1999 and 2007.

Arsenal says "the short-term arrangement will help Henry maintain his fitness ahead of the new MLS campaign."

Henry will begin his second season with the Red Bulls on March 19 with a home match against the Seattle Sounders.

  

Clarke appointed Liverpool's 1st team coach

LIVERPOOL, England (AP): Steve Clarke was hired Monday to work under new manager Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool.

The 47-year-old Clarke will serve as first team coach with Sammy Lee remaining assistant manager at Liverpool, which dismissed manager Roy Hodgson over the weekend after just six months in charge.

Clarke was an assistant at Chelsea to Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant and Luiz Felipe Scolari before a brief stint at West Ham.

"Steve is a great addition to our backroom team and I'm delighted we've been able to bring him into the club," Dalglish said on Liverpool's website. "I am looking forward to working with Steve alongside Sammy Lee and our other technical staff."

Dalglish is back as Liverpool manager after a 20-year absence. The club's American owners hired the Scot until the end of the season.

His reign began Sunday with a 1-0 loss at Manchester United in the FA Cup.

"He is here to help us and put us back where we belong," Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt said. "He is a very experienced man and someone who can have a positive impact on the squad. The most important thing is to make Liverpool a winning team again."

  

Beckenbauer questions Van Gaal's decision

MUNICH (AP): Franz Beckenbauer has questioned Bayer Munich coach Louis van Gaal's reported decision to switch goalkeepers in midseason without consulting other club officials.

Honorary club president Beckenbauer writes in his Bild newspaper column Monday that Van Gaal runs the risk of not having the backing of top club officials for his "risky" move.

Although not questioning the decision on sporting grounds, Beckenbauer says the coach should have discussed it first with the front office.

Van Gaal has not confirmed that he intends to bench 36-year-old veteran Hans-Joerg Butt in favor of Thomas Kraft, but has hinted at the possibility.

  

Beckham takes fitness test at Tottenham

LONDON (AP): David Beckham took a fitness test at Tottenham on Monday before starting his monthlong training stint with the Premier League club.

Despite talks collapsing over a two-month playing loan from the Los Angeles Galaxy, the midfielder and Spurs are still hopeful that a deal can be revived.

Beckham's spell with Spurs is due to end on Feb. 10, with the Galaxy expecting the former England captain back to prepare for the Major League Soccer season opener at the Seattle Sounders on March 15.

After undergoing medical tests at Tottenham's training ground east of London, Beckham left inside two hours wearing a club tracksuit top and shorts.

The 35-year-old Beckham is hoping to play for Tottenham to boost his chances of being recalled to the England team, having made 115 appearances - the most by an England outfield player.

The Galaxy is reluctant to allow Beckham to go to Europe during a third consecutive Major League Soccer offseason, because of concerns he may get injured. An Achilles' tendon injury sustained while at AC Milan last March kept him out until September.

Beckham's management remains hopeful that Tottenham's talks with the Galaxy can be revived. The stumbling block is over the length of the player's deal and what proportion of his contract is paid by Tottenham.

  

England to play friendly against Ghana

LONDON (AP): England will play a friendly against Ghana in March, and has pulled out of a match against Thailand.

England will play World Cup quarterfinalist Ghana for the first time at Wembley Stadium on March 29, three days after facing Wales in a 2012 European Championship qualifier.

England raised the prospect of a friendly with Thailand during its bid to host the 2018 World Cup, but the country was eliminated in the first round.

"Although an informal agreement had been reached for a friendly match following the qualifier with Switzerland, no formal details in terms of match date or venue had ever been established and, following discussions by the FA board, it was decided not to go ahead with the fixture," the Football Association said in a statement.

  

SE Asia misses out on Asian Cup

SEOUL, South Korea (AP): Four years ago after Southeast Asia hosted the Asian Cup, the 10 countries in the region are watching from the sidelines after none qualified for the continent's biggest football tournament.

Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam played well enough while co-hosting the 2007 tournament to spur hopes they might be ready to challenge for the title this year.

But the region's 10 countries had a dismal qualifying campaign for the 2011 Asian Cup, winning just two of the 20 matches they contested and scoring a measly 15 goals in total.