HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW IN A move that will send shockwaves through the footballing world, USA defender Alexi Lalas has had the flowing red locks that made him famous chopped off! "I had nothing to do with him cutting his hair. It was his own decision," said coach Steve Sampson, quick to play down claims of any ‘short hair or you're out' style orders. THOMAS DOOLEY, who hardly spoke a word of English when first chosen to represent the USA six years ago, will be captain America at next month's World Cup. The 37-year-old is the oldest and most experienced member of the squad, having spent the majority of his career playing in Germany. "It's a big honour for me," said Dooley, currently with the Columbus Crew in the Major League Soccer. "I think they respect me." Goalkeeper Tony Meola captained the side during USA 94 World Cup but hasn't appeared in an international since and his successor John Harkes was kicked off the squad by Sampson last month because the midfielder refused to play a more defensive role. FLAVIO ON HIS KNEES MIDFIELDER Flavio Conceicao has become the second Brazilian player to see his World Cup dreams shattered. Coach Mario Zagallo dropped the Deportivo La Coruna player from his finals squad because of a knee injury and announced he would call up uncapped Ze Carlos of Sao Paulo as a replacement. "Let's be objective, said Zagallo. Our team doctor has spoken to the player and the Deportivo doctor, and it has been decided to drop him from the squad. Conceicao, who has been a regular in the last two years, angered the manager by turning up for last month's friendly with Argentina without telling them about the knock. He was sent home from that match and has now suffered the same fate as central defender Marcio Santos, who was axed in favour of AC Milan's Andre Cruz because Zagallo didn't think he would shake off a thigh injury in time for the tournament. TREBLE TOPS FOR BATISTUTA MANCHESTER United target Gabriel Batistuta warmed up for France 98 by blasting a hat-trick in Argentina's 5-0 win over Bosnia on Thursday night that will only add to the growing feeling that Daniel Passarella's side can win the World Cup. Midfielder Ariel Ortega, who has astonishingly been left on the substitute's bench for most of this season at Spanish club Valencia, scored once and set up two for Batistuta, who ran his national team goal haul to a record 41 goals. The first came with his left foot after just four minutes, the second came in the 23rd minute. Ten minutes into the second half, Claudio Lopez, who scored the winner as Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 in Rio de Janeiro last month, crossed from the left for Javier Zanetti to drive home the third before Ortega got his reward and Batistuta completed his hat-trick with a 79th minute header. PARAGUAY LEFT SANS FRANCISCO BRAZILIAN club Palmeiras could be in hot water with FIFA, world football's governing body, after refusing to release star full back Francisco Arce for Paraguay's pre-World Cup tour to Japan. A Paraguayan Football League spokesman said the club "broken the FIFA regulations but admitted that although FIFA have contacted the Brazilian Football Confederation nothing has been sorted out yet. Ironically, Brazil are in constant conflict with European clubs over the release of players for internationals.

ITALY PREVIEW Atalanta Look Sunk   ONLY the remaining relegation places are left to be decided when the final games of the Serie A season kick off this afternoon - Juventus have already won their third championship in four years and all the berths in next season's UEFA Cup have been filled. Napoli and Lecce are already resigned to Serie B soccer next year, but Piacenza, with 34 points, can avoid the drop by winning their match at Lecce, a result that would leave Brescia (32) and Atalanta (31) facing the drop. ''We are aware that a battle awaits us, there's no reason why they should give us anything for free,'' said Piacenza striker Massimo Rastelli. ''It's true that we have the advantage in the standings, but it's best that we don't think about that while we are on the field. Atalanta have the toughest task. They need a victory and plenty of help just to reach a one game relegation play-off, are hosting the new champions and are missing the suspended trio of defenders Zoran Mirkovic and Andrea Sottil and midfielder Walter Bonacina. Juve will rest goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, midfielder Zinedine Zidane and forwards Filippo Inzaghi the former Atalanta star whose 24 goals this season is the same haul his old club have managed between them - and Alessandro Del Piero in readiness for Wednesday's Champions Cup Final against Real Madrid. Brescia's top flight hopes rest on a combination of victory at Parma and a Piacenza loss to Lecce. Enrico Chiesa, reportedly bound for Lazio or Milan, will probably be playing his last game for Parma. Gabriel Batistuta, Pierluigi Casiraghi and Oliver Bierhoff are among the other stars getting ready to move, while coaches Francesco Guidolin (Vicenza), Alberto Malesani (Fiorentina), Alberto Zaccheroni (Udinese) and - most notably of all - Fabio Capello (AC Milan) are all likely to leave. Away from the drop zone, Inter's Brazilian superstar Ronaldo (23 goals) will be aiming for a hat-trick against Empoli to pip Oliver Bierhoff (25), who is injured and misses Udinese's match at Vicenza, for the title of top Serie A scorer. Other games: Bologna v Lazio; Fiorentina v Milan; Napoli v Bari; Roma v Sampdoria.

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