Today's other stories in brief
Genuine fears for Zambrotta
ITALY: Parma defender Daniele Bonera has been put on standby in case Gianluca Zambrotta is forced out of Italy's World Cup squad with injury.
Zambrotta (29) is struggling with an injury to his left thigh which is still giving him pain a week after he sustained it in a match at the Coverciano training base with some local amateurs.
PARAGUAY: Striker Roque Santa Cruz is hoping to be fit in time to play in his country's opening game of the World Cup against England. The Bayern Munich player has been nursing a knee injury in recent days, and sat out yesterday's 3-0 friendly win over regional side Bavaria, instead training on his own.
He said: "I'm moving slowly towards my full recovery, and looking forward to being available against England or maybe for the second match (against Sweden, on June 15th)."
Santa Cruz added that he and his team-mates are determined to avoid defeat against England in order to set a positive tone for their World Cup campaign. He continued: "We cannot just react to their game. We have to play our own game and try to focus on our strengths which are to combine well and let the ball flow and to attack aggressively."
Number one problems
FRANCE: Third-choice goalkeeper Mickael Landreau claims he is not taking sides in the rift between first-choice Fabien Barthez and number two Gregory Coupet but admits Les Bleus are still talking about it.
Landreau is unlikely to play in the World Cup but admits the bust-up between Coupet and coach Raymond Domenech at the Alpine resort of Tignes last week has had its effect.
Coupet was already dismayed that Barthez had been installed as number one for the finals but when Barthez refused to complete a mountain climb with his team-mates and then chose to eat alone, Coupet blew his top.
The 33-year-old and his family left the Alpine compound but returned within an hour and Domenech declared the incident closed.
However, Landreau admitted it wasn't closed as far as the players were concerned. He said: "We feel like we are on a reality TV programme because everyone is looking at Coupet and everyone is looking at Barthez.
"Everyone has spoken about this story. We are still talking about it in the squad. Lilian Thuram said that something would happen. Thuram said that from the moment he arrived it would come to a head because Coupet wants to start."
He added: "I am not between the two, I am the number three."
Lavolpe has secret hopes
MEXICO: Coach Ricardo Lavolpe believes set-pieces could be his side's secret weapon in the 2006 World Cup. Lavolpe is pleased with the progress shown by his side.
Lavolpe said: "We scored thanks to a prepared play but we can not show you all our plays. In the World Cup you will see them - they are some of our better plays.
"Mexico are a strong team forward and maybe we can open the score from a corner-kick or a free-kick."
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO: Forward Mateja Kezman has been injured in training, but should only be out for a few days, as a precautionary measure.
The former Chelsea man complained of severe pain in his knee following a strong challenge from team-mate Nemanja Vidic, and had to be withdrawn.
Following the intial scare, it has emerged that it is just a bruise, and that there is no anatomical damage.
The Serb will train separately for a couple of days, just as a precautionary measure, and should be back in action soon.
Kezman himself was in positive mood: "I am fine. I do not have any pain and there are no reasons for worry. These things happen in football."
Ghana look in good shape
FRIENDLIES: Goals from Asamoah Gyan, Sulley Muntari and Michael Essien steered Ghana to a 3-1 victory over fellow finalists South Korea yesterday. South Korea got their consolation through Lee Eul-yong. The night became worse for the young Korean defender when he limped off clutching the back of his right leg early in the second half.
Ivory Coast were also in action yesterday, Didier Drogba scoring twice in a 3-0 triumph over Slovenia. Kanga Akale completed the scoring with a strike after 70 minutes.
Keiji Tamada scored to lead Japan to a narrow 1-0 win over Malta yesterday.
Milan Baros has joined the Czech Republic injury list. The striker had to be substituted in the first half of his side's 3-0 defeat of Trinidad and Tobago in Prague on Saturday. Doctors have ordered him to rest for two days and he joins Tomas Rosicky and Tomas Galasek on the treatment table.
A second half header from Ebi Smolarek gave Poland a 1-0 win over Croatia in their final World Cup warm-up in Wolfsburg. Two second-half goals from Simao Sabrosa and a strike from Luis Figo ensured a comfortable win for Portugal over Luxembourg.
Raul and Jose Antonio scored as Spain beat Egypt 2-0 while Switzerland recorded a 4-1 victory over China.
