The Austin Aztex U23 Premier Development League team will hold tryouts in early March, for the season that starts May 3. Players interested in trying out should send résumés to players@austinaztex.com. See www.austinaztex.com/u23 for more info.

The Texas Pro Soccer Festival will bring the Houston Dynamo, D.C. United, Toronto FC, and Chivas USA to the San Antonio area March 3-9, for a weeklong training camp, plus six preseason exhibition games. See www.texasprosoccerfest.com for more info.

Wednesday, Feb. 6, was the first day for most national teams to get back into action for 2008, with World Cup qualifiers in Asia and the Caribbean and some 29 international friendlies around the world. England, in action for the first time under new coach Fabio Capello and since failing to qualify for Euro 2008, beat Switzer­land, 2-1. Italy beat Portugal, 3-1; Spain beat France, 1-0. Australia opened their first WC qualifying campaign in Asia (they were previously part of Oceania) with an easy 3-0 win over Qatar on the first day of third round group play. U.S.-Mexico is Wednesday night, as we go to press; by the time you read this, full results will be at austinchronicle.com/soccer.

It’s Ghana-Cameroon and Ivory Coast-Egypt in the African Cup of Nations semifinals Thursday; the continental championship game is on Sunday.

This article appears in February 8 • 2008.

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