World Cup Newslines

GROUP ATwo Danish players yesterday launched into their own training-ground bust-up. Chelsea's Jesper Gronkjaer was ambushed by Bolton's Stig Tofting and Everton's Thomas Gravesen, who sprayed him with water bottles and put ice cubes down his shorts.

The horseplay turned sour after Gronkjaer hurt his eye, was seen by a doctor and then went to confront Tofting. The pair wrestled each other to the ground with Tofting's hand around his team-mate's throat.

South Korean police say they will take action against Senegalese footballer Khalilou Fadiga, who allegedly stole a $240 gold necklace from a shop in Daegu.

France's Youri Djorkaeff is to take over from injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane on Friday.

Uruguayan Fabian O'Neill will miss their opening match after injuring his Achilles tendon.

GROUP B

Paraguay defender Francisco Arce and midfielder Carlos Paredes are undergoing treatment after picking up knocks.

Fernando Morientes is a doubt for Spain's game against Slovenia after twisting his right ankle in a training session.

Slovenia defender and main injury worry Marinko Galic completed a full training session yesterday.

GROUP C

Civil servants in Brazil won't have to start work until midday during the World Cup, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso announced yesterday. Cardoso changed the normal working day of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to midday until 7 p.m. to allow 486,000 workers in federal administration sectors to see the games.

Turkey can match Brazil for skill and defeat them on teamwork, Turkish midfielder Yildiray Basturk has claimed."In terms of skill I think the two teams are level, but we have the stronger team spirit," he told reporters.

Up to 40,000 Chinese fans are expected to travel to South Korea to watch China's debut at the finals - less than half the number originally projected.

Costa Rica striker Hernan Medford, who was told he risks long-term damage to his knee if he plays at the finals, has decided to take the gamble.

GROUP D

Fears the US squad could be a tempting target for terrorists has resulted in South Korean police surrounding the squad with a ring of steel. Black-uniformed special forces, armed with sub-machineguns and pistols and travelling in an armour-plated Chevrolet, accompany the 23 players to and from training away from their hotel in Seoul.

Poland midfielder Radoslaw Kaluzny has said qualification from the group will not be enough. "We should fight for the medals and I won't be satisfied unless we get a medal."

Paulo Sousa is winning his race to be fit for Portugal's opener on June 5th.

GROUP E

Germany started preparing yesterday for their match against Saudi Arabia, admitting they did not even know what the individual opposition players looked like.

"They have good players but it's true that our players don't know what they look like, which means we can't really single any of them out," said assistant coach Michael Skibbe.

Saudi Arabia manager Prince Turki Bin Chalid believes the squad's never-say-die spirit will help them progress beyond the group stage. We don't have one diamond," Chalid said. "We're a whole team, they're all heroes."

Cameroon's Geremi believes they'll leave their mark on the World Cup. "I'm not particularly impatient to play the match against Ireland, but I can tell you that, with a little luck, Cameroon can pull off a surprise."

GROUP F

Claudio Caniggia is almost certainly out of Argentina's opener against Nigeria in Ibaraki on Sunday. The Rangers striker - who has been plagued by a knee injury - suffered a reaction on Saturday and has been struggling since.

Nigeria coach Adegboye Onigbinde has said he is "satisfied" with the form of Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro, who's been fighting to get fit after an injury.

The Swedish squad were given the day off yesterday.

GROUP G

Italy's reclusive squad finally got a chance to see some of their host city, Sendai, yesterday and straight away found themselves surrounded by autograph-hunting Japanese fans.

A stroll through a pedestrian shopping arcade had to be swiftly abandoned after word of their presence spread and hundreds of young Japanese fans surrounded the players.

Defender Anthony Seric is confident Croatia will play more than three games next month. "We are convinced we can get past the first round," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre will reveal to his players today the line-up for their match with Croatia. "Then the players will not have any more anxieties over who will play," Aguirre said.

Ecuador's players underwent a punishing training session yesterday after coach Hernan Dario Gomez accused them of losing their spark.

GROUP H

Belgium midfielder Sven Vermant has apologised to his team-mates after questioning coach Robert Waseige's decision to play him out of position in a friendly.

After being reproached for his attitude by Waseige and captain Marc Wilmots, the 29-year-old has backed down.

"I have to admit that I was wrong," Vermant told Belgian radio. "Now I am just happy if I can start on the pitch."

Japan face Belgium next Tuesday with question marks over striker Akinori Nishizawa and midfielder Shinji Ono, who has complained of stomach cramps.

The Russian government completed a u-turn yesterday by backing a bid to stage the 2008 European Championships.

Tunisia coach Ammar Souayeh dedicated more time in training yesterday to his goal-shy strikers.

Tunisia went down to a 2-1 defeat to Denmark at the weekend after missing a host of excellent opportunities.