World Cup Digest

Kick-off: Friday, June 9th

Best foot forward

BRAZIL: Ronaldo trained with Brazil yesterday after recovering from the foot blisters which forced him off at half-time in Sunday's warm-up game against New Zealand.

Ronaldo took part in Brazil's first training sessions since arriving in Germany late on Sunday. "If there was a match today, Ronaldo would play without any problem," team doctor Jose Luis Runco said. "The blisters have healed. It's all been sorted out."

GERMANY: Germany captain Michael Ballack missed another training session because of his calf injury yesterday, heightening concerns that he may not be fit for the World Cup opener against Costa Rica on Friday.

Sun sets on son early

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: The son of Serbia and Montenegro coach Ilija Petkovic has been pulled out of the squad for the World Cup finals after a row over nepotism.

Centre back Dusan Petkovic returned home yesterday from the team's training camp in Felden, Austria. His father said they made the decision to "put an end to an ordeal". There had been an avalanche of criticism in local media following his selection.

TOGO: Officials with Togo have reached an agreement with their players in a dispute over pay.

"The players will get their money," spokesman Messan Attolou said. But he said the deal did not include €155,000 each the players had demanded to play in the World Cup.

Italy hit by injuries

ITALY: Gianluca Zambrotta has been ruled out of Italy's World Cup opener against Ghana.The Juventus full back had a fitness test on his thigh injury and the results revealed he would not be ready in time for Monday's game.

"We hope that (Marcello) Lippi will have Zambrotta available for the second clash, against the US," said Italy team doctor Enrico Castellacci.

The Azzurri's other defensive doubt, AC Milan centre back Alessandro Nesta, will have a late test on Saturday to see if he has recovered from a muscular injury.

PARAGUAY: Striker Jose Cardozo has pulled out of the World Cup through injury just days before Paraguay face England in their opening match.

Hooligans tag unjust

POLAND: The football association of Poland criticised German police yesterday for labelling Polish fans as a major potential source of trouble at the World Cup.

Police and foreign media have played up the threat from Polish hooligans, helped by some fans grabbing headlines with promises to cross the border armed with pick-axes and knives to attack German and English supporters.

SWITZERLAND: Police chiefs warned Switzerland fans yesterday they would not tolerate a repeat of the violence which erupted the last time a Swiss team visited Hanover.

Fifty Grasshopper Zurich fans were arrested when the Swiss club played a friendly against local team Hanover 96 in January.