Stuttgart sign World Cup duo

VfB Stuttgart have signed Pavel Pardo and Ricardo Osario after both impressed for Mexico at the FIFA World Cup finals.

'High-class players'
The versatile players appeared in all four of their country's matches in Germany where they reached the Round of 16 before losing 2-1 after extra time to Argentina. The 29-year-old midfielder Pardo, who has been capped 129 times, arrives from Club América for a reported €1m on a three-year contract. Osario, a 26-year-old defender who has 43 caps, joins from CD Cruz Azul in a €3.5m move on a contract running to summer 2010. Stuttgart coach Armin Veh said: "With Pavel Pardo and Ricardo Osario, we have two experienced and high-class players at our disposal."