World Cup Digest

Australia in control: The Socceroos rounded off their World Cup preparations with a scrappy 3-1 win over Liechtenstein at the Ulmer Donaustadion in Germany yesterday. The Socceroos were always in control but needed late goals from Josh Kennedy and John Aloisi to seal victory

Australia gifted Liechtenstein an own goal in the seventh minute when Lucas Neill headed a free kick past a sprawling Zeljko Kalac into the back of his own net.

Australia equalised in the 19th minute when Stan Lazaridis crossed for Mile Sterjovski who fired home.

ITALY: Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of the Azzurri's opening World Cup game against Ghana with a thigh injury and faces a race to be fit for the second match.

Baros in fitness battle

CZECH REPUBLIC: Injured striker Milan Baros missed training yesterday though doctors are optimistic he will be fit for their opening World Cup game against the United States next week.

The 24-year-old forward, top scorer at Euro 2004 and a key player for a team making their World Cup debut, is likely to have recovered from his foot injury in time for the first Group E game against the United States on Monday.

"I can't really make any predictions, but the doctors are optimistic," coach Karel Brueckner told reporters at the team's training base in Westerburg yesterday.

POLAND: Polish authorities expect some 300,000 Poles to travel to neighbouring Germany for the World Cup finals.

Fans flock to see Ghana

GHANA: About 7,000 fans flocked to the African team's first open training session yesterday, many wearing the national colours or waving the country's red, gold and green flags as reggae music blared from the stands.

Wuerzburg Kickers' ground was at least half full as the Black Stars went through their paces, with some neat touches to show that they are not just here to make up the numbers.

"They're my second team for the tournament," said local engineer Simon Schreck, who was sporting a yellow Ghana soccer shirt he had picked up on a business trip to the country. "I think they'll come second and so get through."

Ghana face Italy in their opener in a tough group.

Shaka praises Beenhakker

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has paid tribute to coach Leo Beenhakker after he helped lift the team from the bottom of the CONCACAF qualifying group and into the World Cup finals.

The Soca Warriors had claimed only one point from their first three matches, including a 5-1 defeat in Guatemala, when the Dutchman took over from Bertille St Clair. He then guided the team through to the qualifying stage and into their first World Cup.

"He (Beenhakker) brought professionalism and a real organisation to the team, which I think we sorely lacked," said 37-year-old Hislop.

"We've always managed to produce good players."

Zico blasts tackle

JAPAN: Coach Zico has described as a "disgrace" a tackle by German Bastian Schweinsteiger that has threatened to ruin wing back Akira Kaji's World Cup.

Kaji is still in pain following a nasty lunge by midfielder Schweinsteiger in last week's 2-2 warm-up draw with the tournament hosts.

Kaji was taken off on a stretcher after Schweinsteiger's late challenge and is now regarded as very doubtful for the tournament.

SPAIN: A classy extra-time goal from striker Fernando Torres and a free kick from debutant Mariano Pernia earned Spain a 2-1 victory over fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia in the final warm-up match for both sides after Pablo Ibanez had nodded the ball into his own net.

Kezman fit to start

SERBIA & MONTENEGRO: The Balkan country has moved to allay fears their star striker, Mateja Kezman, will miss the country's opener with Holland. The former Chelsea forward was hurt when he was on the receiving end of a tough challenge from team-mate Nemanja Vidic in training. But team doctor Ilija Asanin is confident he will be fit for the clash on July 11th. "It's not an injury we have to be worried about," he said.

PARAGUAY: striker Roque Santa Cruz says England are the favourites to win the World Cup ahead of their clash in Frankfurt on Saturday in the opening fixture in Group B. "For this game the pressure is all on England," said Cruz. "They are the favourites not only to win the group but are the favourites to win the World Cup."