WORLD CUP NEWSLINES

GROUP ADenmark's Jesper Gronkjaer has lashed out at reports of a training ground bust-up with Stig Toftig and Thomas Gravesen, claiming the scuffling stars were only involved in horseplay.

"It's really great journalism when three of us mucking around with water can be described as having a proper fight with me supposedly close to tears," Gronkjaer said.

Lens and Liverpool have opened talks about the transfer of El-Hadji Diouf to Anfield, according to the Senegalese player's agent. Nicknamed the "Serial Killer" by Senegalese fans, Diouf is valued at over £10 million.

French midfielder Emmanuel Petit yesterday joined forces with actress and animal welfare activist Brigitte Bardot in condemning the practice of eating dog meat in South Korea.

Uruguay forward Alvaro Recoba is still being treated for a knee injury sustained in training two days ago.

GROUP B

A Birmingham man will take home £945,000 if Spain win the World Cup after staking £105,000 at 8-1 on them. Good news for him is that Spain should be at full strength for their debut against Slovenia on Sunday.

However, Slovenia captain Ales Ceh is confident the group outsiders have a chance of humbling Spain.

South Africa captain Lucas Radebe has credited coach Jomo Sono with transforming the team."He has done a very good job," said Radebe. "We are like one big family now and the preparations are gathering momentum."

Antonio Colman Rodriguez, vice president of the Paraguay Soccer Association, was hospitalised yesterday after complaining of a chest pain.

GROUP C

China coach Bora Milutinovic, who speaks barely a word of Chinese, is waiting to hear if FIFA will allow his interpreter to join him on the touch-line for their game with Costa Rica.

Asked whether he sympathised with Mick McCarthy, who sent home Roy Keane, Milutinovic said he was unlikely to face such a situation. "I don't understand anything," he said.

Rivaldo (pictured with Edilson) has hit back at the whispering campaign that he saves his best displays for Barca, insisting he tries just as hard for his country. Brazil's game against Turkey has been beset by mutual accusations of dirty tricks.

Turkey have complained that Brazil sent Gilson Nunez to watch them train. Nunez tried to pass himself off as a journalist to an enquiring Turkish team official. The previous day, Brazil had complained of a Turkish journalist who watched their training session equipped with a video camera.

GROUP D

Football fervour reached a new intensity in South Korea yesterday with 25,000 people gathered outside the Seoul stadium and prayers for the tournament said in temples.

Kasey Keller's elbow injury will not rule him out of the USA's opening match against Portugal. The keeper hurt his left elbow during training but tests revealed just bruising

Portuguese star Luis Figo, plagued by a ankle injury, said yesterday he was considering quitting football shortly.

Poland's preparations have been given a boost by the news that key striker Emmanuel Olisadebe has finally secured a permanent move to Panathinaikos.

GROUP E

Three-times world champions Germany can go all the way to the World Cup final if they can overcome their injury jinx, assistant coach Michael Skibbe said yesterday.

However, Saudi Arabia coach Nasser Al Johar has claimed Germany are a footballing nation living on past glories.

Cameroon striker Patrick Mboma is hoping their flowing football in Japan will set the beer flowing back home. "There is tension between the different ethnic groups," he explained. "Football is the only thing which unites us. When we do well everyone comes together. . . Cameroon becomes a very nice place. A place with a lot of beers."

GROUP F

Japan's immigration authorities yesterday refused entry to two more suspected English football hooligans after confirming their names were on a blacklist of troublemakers.

Sweden's Freddie Ljungberg told yesterday of the anxious half hour when he thought his World Cup dream might be shattered. The Arsenal star underwent a scan to ease fears he had ruptured a groin muscle.

Argentina were keeping mum on tactics yesterday. Coach Marcelo Bielsa has kept everyone guessing as to his exact line-up to face Nigeria. Hernan Crespo or record-scorer Gabriel Batistuta will lead the one-man attack.

GROUP G

Mexico winger Jesus Arellano has earned a World Cup reprieve. Originally handed a three-match suspension by FIFA after being sent-off in Mexico's qualifier with Costa Rica, the world's governing body have now reduced it to two. After missing the last game in the qualifying stages, Arellano will now be absent from just the first game against Croatia.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has confirmed Christian Vieri and Francesco Totti will start their opening match against Ecuador. There was no place for Alessandro del Piero.

GROUP H

Belgium boss Robert Waseige may be ready to experiment with a new 5-3-2 formation in the Belgians' opener against Japan. Waseige has used a 4-4-2 system, but the withdrawal of key players through injury may have forced his hand.

Japan's key midfielder Shinji Ono jogged and stretched yesterday as he resumed training with his team-mates after four days in the dark over a reported appendicitis scare.

Russia playmaker Alexander Mostvoi should be fit for their opening World Cup game against Tunisia next Wednesday, despite the midfielder's absence from a warm-up game because of a hamstring injury yesterday.