Brazil coach Dunga Friday warned Beijing's choking smog was likely to affect the highly anticipated friendly with Argentina by forcing him to make mass substitutions.

With an "orange" pollution alert in the Chinese capital, and several complaints from his team, Dunga said he would limit players' time on the pitch to reduce their exposure.

Karim Bellarabi is set to cap a meteoric rise on Saturday by making his debut for Germany against Poland in a Euro 2016 qualifier amidst the world champion's injury problems.

The 24-year-old was relegated from the Bundesliga in May while on loan at Eintracht Braunschweig and watched Germany win the World Cup in July as a fan before starting pre-season training when he returned to Bayer Leverkusen.

Lewis Hamilton has cooled speculation linking him with a move from Mercedes to another team by making a statement on Twitter and briefing reporters on his position.

Speaking in the Olympic Park paddock ahead of Sunday’s inaugural Russian Grand Prix, the world championship leading Briton said he had no intention of leaving and was intent on discussing an extension to his current contract.

Formula One drivers have reacted lukewarmly to suggestions of a closed cockpit in the wake of Jules Bianchi's serious accident, saying a measure of risk is why they like traveling at high speeds.

While not excluding a closed cockpit as an option in the future, some drivers said Thursday they had mixed feelings since Formula One always has been an open-wheel series.

The brother and sister of Formula One driver Jules Bianchi have joined their parents at his hospital bedside in Japan, where the Frenchman remains gravely injured following a horror crash at last week's rain-hit Japanese Grand Prix.

Tom and Melanie Bianchi arrived in Japan late Thursday and headed to the Mie General Medical Center in Yokkaichi, where their brother was taken after the high-speed smash that has triggered an outpouring of support and calls for improved safety in the glamour sport.

Defending European champions Spain suffered their first qualifying defeat in eight years Thursday when they slumped to a 2-1 loss against Slovakia while England made it two wins in two.

Spain, who had opened their Euro 2016 campaign with a 5-1 mauling of Macedonia, exhibited all the faults which had led to their World Cup humiliation as Slovakia went top of Group C with a perfect six points.

Poland is chasing an historic first win over world champions Germany in Warsaw on Saturday with top spot in their Euro 2016 qualifying group at stake.

Adam Nawalka's Poland top Group D on goal difference by virtue of their 7-0 rout of minnows Gibraltar in their opening match.

Aldershot Town may be a world away from the Premier League glamour of English football giants Chelsea nearby, but for the small band of diehards who call its run-down stadium home, loyalty cannot be bought by billionaires or trophies.

Amid the giant flags and banners waved by the hardcore supporters behind the goal on the club's concrete terraces, fans talk of belonging to a family and not to a brand.

Lukas Podolski is looking to put his Arsenal frustrations behind him as he prepares for Germany's Euro 2016 qualifier against his native Poland on Saturday.

The 29-year-old was born in Poland, but grew up near Cologne, and is looking to add to his 118 appearances and 47 goals for Germany at Warsaw's National Stadium.

Britain's Andy Murray is still gunning for the end-of-season ATP World Tour Finals despite crashing out of the Shanghai Masters to David Ferrer Thursday.

The 27-year-old Scot is among a raft of players who are fighting for the remaining five berths for next month's London tournament, which features the world's top eight players.