World Cup Digest

Seven days and counting...

Crouch follows rich tradition

PETER Crouch will follow in the footsteps of Nat Lofthouse, Bobby Charlton, Glenn Hoddle and Alan Shearer by wearing the England number nine shirt during the World Cup in South Africa, while David James has been handed the number one shirt by Fabio Capello.

The numbers suggest both James and Crouch will be in the England manager’s first-choice starting XI for the tournament, which kicks off for England on June 12th against the USA in Rustenburg, although Emile Heskey, number 21 in the squad, remains a candidate to partner Wayne Rooney in attack. Chelsea’s Joe Cole will wear the 11 shirt, while Gareth Barry takes number 14.

Brazil renew criticism of ball

BRAZIL renewed their criticism of the World Cup ball yesterday, with coach Dunga saying players from other countries were also unhappy with it. Dunga was also angry with Fifa general secretary Jerome Valcke, who implied during a news conference this week that, in criticising the ball, Brazil were looking for excuses in case they failed to win the tournament.

“All he (Valcke) has to do is play,” Dunga said. “If he plays he will have a different opinion. The guy has never gone on the pitch, never kicked a ball, the only thing he knows how to do is talk. “Let’s put him on the field to play, to come and train here with us, with this ball, and afterwards we can talk.

Fifa act on goalkeeper plan

NORTH Korea have been told by Fifa that Kim Myong-Won will only be able to play as a goalkeeper in the World Cup and not in his usual role as a striker. Coach Kim-Jong Hun decided to name only two regular goalkeepers in his squad, with Kim, who plays for Amrokgang, as the back-up.

A statement from Fifa said: “The three players listed as goalkeepers can only play as goalkeepers during the Fifa World Cup and cannot play outfield. This will be communicated to the teams in the team arrival meetings and will be enforced on match days.”

Maicon keen on move to Madrid

INTER Milan’s Maicon wants to join Real Madrid, the Brazil World Cup full back said yesterday. The 28-year-old has also been linked with a move to Manchester City but he is keen to follow new Real coach Jose Mourinho by leaving the San Siro for the Bernabeu.“Im going to say it very clearly so there is no misunderstanding: I want to play with Madrid, I don’t want to go to Manchester City,” he said.

Navas scores late winner

SPAIN’S Jesus Navas scored a stunning late goal to secure a 1-0 warm-up win over South Korea in Innsbruck, Austria, yesterday, when Cesc Fabregas returned to action after two months out injured.

The European champions fielded mainly second-choice players and were restricted to few sights of goal until the closing stages when the substitutes made their presence felt.

Arsenal midfielder Fabregas played for an hour without any problems. Striker Fernando Torres remains the only leading Spanish player not to have featured in the warm-up matches as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

US striker struggling

UNITED STATES striker Jozy Altidore (20) has been hospitalised with a sprained ankle, according to reports in the United States.

Villarreal striker Altidore missed practice yesterday due to the injury but American sports broadcaster ESPN said hospital X-rays ruled out any serious damage. He had been expected to play against England in their opening World Cup game on June 12th.

Italy beaten by Mexico

MEXICO beat World Cup holders Italy 2-1 in a warm-up match in Brussels yesterday. Italy started brightly with Vincenzo Iaquinta heading against the bar in the third minute, but the lively Giovani Dos Santos found Carlos Vela unmarked in the Italian penalty area and the Mexican striker comfortably scored in the 16th minute.

Veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco chipped over the Italian defence for Alberto Medina to settle the match in the 83rd minute. Substitute Leonardo Bonucci pulled one back for Italy three minutes from time.

“Weve been in the mountains (at an altitude training camp) for 10 days and we just came down today,” Italy coach Marcello Lippi told Rai TV, explaining his sides lacklustre showing. I know these players very well, Im not sad at all. Its important to be in the right condition in 10 days or so.

Schweinsteiger is spot on

MIDFIELDER Bastian Schweinsteiger converted two penalties in four minutes to give Germany a 3-1 win over Bosnia in Frankfurt last night.

Defender Philipp Lahm helped give the Bosnians a 15th-minute lead when his clearance hit striker Edin Dzeko and the ball flew into the net. Lahm made amends and equalised early in the second half and Schweinsteiger then struck two identical penalties in the 73rd and 77th minutes.

7 days to go