US World Cup players began a three-day rest break before their Thursday departure for Germany and their date with destiny in the global football showdown.
The Americans defeated Latvia 1-0 here Sunday in the last of three warm-up matches played over the past week that allowed US coach Bruce Arena to study combinations and analyze players under match conditions before Cup competition.
Swedish star and Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is continuing rehabilitation training of his injured right foot at a gym in Stockholm, Swedish news agency TT said.
Ljungberg was the only member of Sweden’s World Cup side not to turn up for the team’s training session on Sunday.
Germans are being encouraged to loosen up and even discuss World War II in a bid to change their image when a million foreign visitors pour into the country for the football World Cup finals which kick off next week.
The national coaches of Germany and Japan have stated their
intention to lift the World Cup on July 9 and both Jurgen Klinsmann and Zico have a chance to assess their team’s progress on Tuesday when they face off in a friendly match at the BayArena.
Rio Ferdinand has insisted that England can still win the World Cup this summer, even if Wayne Rooney fails to make the plane for Germany.
Manchester United striker Rooney, 20, will have a scan on his injured right foot on June 7, just two days before the final deadline for announcing squads, to assess whether he is fit enough to take part in England’s World Cup bid.
Six-time German champions Borussia Dortmund have taken an important step towards financial stability when they reached a deal to buy back their stadium from the Molsiris group, who had been leasing the venue since 2004.
Spain coach Luis Aragones fears his team could be heading for another World Cup of under-achievement after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Russia.
Despite boasting arguably the world’s strongest domestic league, Spain have always struggled in major tournaments, with a fourth place finish at the 1950 World Cup their best performance in the tournament.
Terry Venables claimed he was too old for full-time management and that was why he turned down the chance to succeed Steve McClaren at Middlesbrough, the News of the World reported.
Former Boro boss McClaren is thought keen to use the 63-year-old as a senior advisor when he becomes England head coach after the World Cup.
Italy left back Gianluca Zambrotta injured his right thigh during a training match at the national team’s training base at Coverciano, team doctors said.
Zambrotta received the knock against amateur side San Geminiano and immediately left the pitch for treatment. Further tests will be made to find the exact nature of the injury.
England are to keep their options open on Wayne Rooney’s injured foot bringing forward to June 7, the next assessment scan on the injury.
The 20-year-old Manchester United star had been due to fly out to Germany with Sven Goran Eriksson’s squad next Monday before returning to Manchester 10 days later to have the CT scan which would determine whether or not he will be able to take any part in the competition.
