On the pitch

07 Jun 2006

Cisse's Cup dream hangs by thread

France striker Djibril Cisse's dreams of appearing in the World Cup hang by a thread after he badly injured his right leg in a 3-1 warm-up win against China in Saint Etienne on Wednesday.

Coach Raymond Domenech told French television he was concerned Cisse would miss the finals.

"Given what we've seen, we're worried. For the moment we have no definitive diagnosis but it's a dramatic development for us," said Domenech, adding he would mull "all possibilities" regarding a possible addition to the squad.

Cisse, 24, having been named in the starting 11 had every hope of retaining his place in France's opener against Switzerland on Tuesday.

Ballack in doubt for opener

Germany captain Michael Ballack appears to be losing his race to be fit for Friday's World Cup opener against Costa Rica after he failed to complete Wednesday's training session.

The 29-year-old had not trained for two days due to a calf injury but returned on Wednesday after getting the green light from the medical team.

However Ballack failed to come through the entire session with his calf still causing him problems.

Ballack has insisted that he will be fit for the first Group A match in Munich but manager Jurgen Klinsmann will not want to take any risks with his star player.

Aussie newboy overshadows Kewell

Harry Kewell continued his battle to overcome a groin injury and feature in Australia's opening World Cup game against Japan when he played almost an hour of his team's 3-1 friendly win against Liechtenstein on Wednesday.

But Kewell was overshadowed by the man who replaced him in the 58th minute, Josh Kennedy, who scored Australia's second on his international debut.

The Socceroos kick-off their World Cup campaign against Japan in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

Limping Italy lose general

AC Milan midfield dynamo Gennaro Gattuso expects to be out of action for up to 15 days and is certain to miss their June 12 opener against Ghana, team doctors said on Wednesday.

Italy have already ruled out defender Gianluca Zambrotta from the opener and are bracing themselves also for the potential loss of central defender Alessandro Nesta, which would mean three senior, and all essentially defensive, players watching in the stands on Monday.

"Gattuso should miss one or maybe two matches," said the team doctor.

"I'm disappointed," said Gattuso, who has an injured right leg. "Missing two matches is a lot for me. But I'm going to the World Cup even if I have to tie myself to the bus."

Michel says pressure is on Argies

Two-time world champions Argentina may be the hot favourites to beat Ivory Coast in their Group C opener but the African Nations Cup finalists coach Henri Michel said Wednesday they may be feeling the pressure.

"Maybe they have as many doubts as us. There are no sides more favourites than the others, even if one thinks Argentina are better."

"We are happy to be here, to be competing in our first World Cup. We appreciate that the tension will mount from now till the match.

"We have had the luck that we have suffered no injuries and the conditions are ideal for finishing our preparations for the match.

"Everyone knows the importance of the first match in a World Cup, which is also against Argentina. Often the result determines the way the teams play for the rest of the competition.

Spain edge Croatia

Spain came back from 1-0 down to beat fellow World Cup contenders 2-1 on Wednesday with a late, late strike from striker Fernando Torres, who had missed a penalty just minutes earlier.

Spain conceeded an own goal in the 12th minute but Mariano Pernia, a recently naturalised, Argentine-born, free-kick specialist defender converted a dead ball in the 61st minute to silence those critical of his late call up for Spain in place of the injured Asier Del Horno.

Torres then bagged the spoils for Spain in time added on for injury, bringing a ball down in the area and swivelling to strike.

Van der Vaart gives Dutch boost

Dutch midfielder Rafael Van der Vaart said Wednesday he was hopeful of being fit for his country's opening World Cup clash against Serbia-Montenegro in Leipzig.

The SV Hamburg player, who hasn't played for two months because of a recurring left ankle inury, said that his injury had "healed 100 percent" even if "the physical condition is not yet 100 percent".

"I have good hope of playing on Sunday," he said after training on Wednesday.

"I trained well, I felt good. Now I am waiting until Thursday to see how my ankle will recover. But I'm optimistic."

After Sunday's game, the Dutch will take on Cote d'Ivoire on June 16 and Argentina on June 21.

Zico fury at Schweinsteiger

Japan coach Zico and captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto have lashed out at Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger for the tackle that wrecked Akira Kaji's hopes of being fit to face Australia next Monday.

Kaji was stretchered off in the first half of the friendly match against the hosts and is now carrying a serious foot injury.

"It was a disgraceful tackle," said Zico.

"Kaji got taken badly and Schweinsteiger should have been sent off. Now I have left him in the hands of our doctors and hope for the best."

Miyamoto believes midfielder Schweinsteiger should apologise.

"If there was an apology, I didn't hear about it," said Miyamoto, who also words with German skipper Michael Ballack.

"I fouled him in the first half. I tried to apologise to him but he turned round and said to me 'I'll show you'."

Gerrard sits out England training

England suffered an injury worry on Wednesday just three days ahead of their World Cup opener when influential midfielder Steven Gerrard sat out training nursing a back injury.

However, coach Sven-Goran Eriksson was confident that the 26-year-old Liverpool player would be fit to face Paraguay in Frankfurt on Saturday.

"He has a stiff back, but it shouldn't be a problem," said Eriksson.

Gerrard missed training but is expected to take a full part in Thursday's session.

Striker Wayne Rooney was the only other absentee with the Manchester United star undergoing a scan in Manchester on the foot injury which could keep him out of the tournament.

Hiddink in confident mood

Australia coach Guus Hiddink believes his side can be the surprise contenders at the World Cup and get beyond the first round.

"We haven't come to Germany to make up the numbers," said the Dutchman at the team's base here on Tuesday.

"Brazil are the favourites for the title, but the other teams in Group F are the same level."

The Socceroos kick-off what is only their second ever World Cup finals against Japan on June 12 in Kaiserslautern, followed by their clash with champions Brazil in Munich on June 18.

They conclude the first round against Croatia in Stuttgart on June 22.

"I have told the players that our goal is to reach the second round and I am convinced that we are going to do it.

"We have worked a lot on our tactical and technical aspects of our game."

France to give away secrets

France are expected to reveal their World Cup starting line-up in their last preparation match against China on Wednesday.

"There is every chance," said Domenech when asked if he would pick his World Cup starting XI. "But it is not an absolute certainty. There is still a week to go, and some training sessions."

France were jeered by their own fans after and during a 1-0 victory over Mexico in their first warm-up before a markedly improved performance in beating Denmark 2-0.

Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse looks set to get the nod in attack alongside Thierry Henry, ahead of Juventus's David Trezeguet and Lyon's Sylvain Wiltord, in a 4-4-2 formation.

France open against Switzerland on June 13.

Ballack misses training again

Germany captain Michael Ballack missed training again on Tuesday due to his troublesome calf, sparking fears that he may lose his fitness race for Friday's opener against Costa Rica.

The 29-year-old picked up the injury in last Friday's 3-0 friendly win over Colombia and can still not put any pressure on his calf.

"Michael is making progress but his calf can still not take a lot of pressure," said a team doctor.

"I expect to play on Friday. I could not train due to a calf problem but it is not serious," Ballack said. "I still have a few days."

Czech striker Baros doubtful for US

Czech striker Milan Baros is doubtful to start in his country's first match against the United States on June 12 because of a foot injury, team coach Karel Bruckner said in Prague on Wednesday.

"Regarding Milan, we do not know. It is a rather disagreeable injury," he said,.

Bruckner was speaking shortly before the Czech squad flew out to Germany.

Baros, who plays for English premier league club Aston Villa and who was top scorer in the Euro-2004 competition in Portugal with five goals, was injured on Saturday during a World Cup warm up match against Trinidad and Tobago.

"He fell badly on his foot and hurt the arch," Bruckner added.

Baros said he had not trained since the injury. "I feel pain whenever I move fast," he admitted.

D-day for Rooney

England star Wayne Rooney faces a make-or-break scan on his injured right foot later Wednesday that will determine whether he plays in the World Cup.

Rooney was flown by private jet from southern Germany to Manchester at around 11am local time (0900 GMT) where he was whisked to the city's Whalley Range private hospital for the crucial X-ray on his broken metatarsal.

Newspaper pictures showing Rooney training and kicking a football in the past week have triggered a surge in optimism that the 20-year-old Manchester United star will be given the all-clear to play.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported Wednesday that England and United had agreed a FIFA-appointed doctor would have the final say on Rooney's fitness if there was any dispute on the results of the scan.

Don't write off Figo, warns Simao

Portugal's World Cup rivals will be making a huge mistake if they write off 34-year-old Luis Figo as a has-been, says teammate Simao Sabrosa.

"You can't really say that Figo is old. We saw recently against Luxembourg that he is in tremendous shape," said Simao of the 3-0 win where skipper Figo scored one with Simao adding the other two.

"Figo still has lots of drive and is a very important member of our team. He is still my idol and I can only say good things about his current form."

"The feeling is really great," said Simao of the team spirit.

"We are all happy and smiling all the time. This is the World Cup after all, and we are all thrilled to be getting down to business. Physically we are feeling very strong and mentally we are confident."

Fears ease for injured Italy pair

Italy received a welcome double boost Tuesday with news that defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Alessandro Nesta were both recovering well from their injuries.

Italy's medics had feared Zambrotta would miss the World Cup altogether but the versatile Juventus full-back said he could be fit in time to face the United States in their second match.

"I'm happy," said the 29-year-old.

"Most probably I'll be ready for the United States."

Italy coach Marcello Lippi was also relieved AC Milan central defender Nesta is now on course to start against Ghana in their opening tie after earlier suffering a thigh strain.

Argentina see Ivory Coast tie as key

Key Argentinian players say that a victory in their opening match against Ivory Coast could prove to be decisive in the most difficult group in the first round of the finals.

"A victory in the first match would be a very important start," said Maxi Rodriguez said.

"If we secure a good result at the beginning we'll be on the right track," added Carlos Tevez

Argentina were confident enough to allow rising Barcelona star Lionel Messi to train publicly among a group of six Tuesday, while the rest of the squad stayed behind closed doors at their base in the small southern town of Herzogenaurach.

Germany predict winning start

Hosts Germany are confident of dispatching Costa Rica in Friday's opening match in Munich, says assistant coach Joachim Low.

Low revealed Germany had identified flaws by watching DVDs of the central Americans' warm-up matches and believes the hosts will get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start.

"It is the first match and we are a bit nervous but we have done our homework and I think we are in a position to beat Costa Rica," said Low.

"If we turn up and show our strengths we will win the match."

"We have collected a lot of information on them by watching DVD clips of league games and international matches. We know their strengths and weaknesses but of course we will not be discussing them in public."