Briefs-Pirlo predicts successful Italian stint for Beckham

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Sports news in brief from around the world on Saturday.

Soccer - Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo is certain David Beckham has what it takes to be a success in Serie A after joining AC Milan on a short-term loan from LA Galaxy.

"He's intelligent, he strikes the ball well with his feet, he has sense of position," Pirlo told La Gazzetta dello Sport from Milan's winter training camp in Dubai. "He does not lack anything to do well in Italy."

Hockey - New Zealand will contest a four-nation hockey tournament in Chandigarh later this month in place of Pakistan after its government banned the national men's team from travelling to India for security reasons, NZPA reported.

New Zealand will take on Netherlands, India and world and Olympic champions Germany at the Jan. 31-Feb. 9 tournament following Pakistan's withdrawal, which comes amid simmering tensions between the two traditional foes. (Editing by Peter Rutherford and Martin Petty)