On the pitch
06 Jun 2006Aussies will be big surprise, says Hiddink
Australia coach Guus Hiddink believes Australia can be the surprise contenders at the World Cup and get beyond the first round.
"We haven't come to Germany to make up the numbers," said the Dutchman at the team's base here on Tuesday.
"Brazil are the favourites for the title, but the other teams in Group F are the same level."
The Socceroos kick-off what is only their second ever World Cup finals against Japan on June 12 in Kaiserslautern, followed by their clash with champions Brazil in Munich on June 18.
They conclude the first round against Croatia in Stuttgart on June 22.
"I have told the players that our goal is to reach the second round and I am convinced that we are going to do it.
"We have worked a lot on our tactical and technical aspects of our game."
Ballack wary of England threat
German midfielder Michael Ballack answers a question during a press conference at the ICC center in Berlin 06 June 2006. Germany opens the 2006 Fifa World Cup against Costa Rica 09 June and then take on Poland and Ecuador in Group A. AFP PHOTO / OLIVER LANG
Germany captain Michael Ballack admits the World Cup hosts already have one eye on who they could face in the knockout phase and acknowledges England would be a nightmare draw in the last 16.
"Obviously we are looking at Group B where England, Sweden and Paraguay are fighting it out to progress," Ballack said on Tuesday.
"We could meet England and that would be a really hard test. It is the best English team for years.
"They have a mature team with good players that have played in tournaments together. The players also know the system inside out."
Germany open the World Cup against Costa Rica in Munich on Friday and are expected to cruise through Group A, with Poland and Ecuador their other opponents.
Eriksson upbeat on Rooney comeback
English forward Wayne Rooney trains alone at Mittelbergstadion in Buhlertal, 06 June 2006, ahead of the Fifa World Cup 2006. England's opening game in Groupf B of the tournament will be against Paraguay 10 June in Frankfurt. Rooney worked out separately from his England teammates at their idyllic Black Forest training camp amid a surge of optimism that he could be fit for the World Cup.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson believes Wayne Rooney should be fit for the World Cup while the star striker took part in a light workout and pictures of a Rooney flying scissor-kick dominated newspapers in Britain.
Rooney faces a crunch scan in Manchester on Wednesday which will assess his recovery from a fractured metatarsal bone suffered on April 29.
"I think he looks very good. But let's wait as, very soon, we will know what is going to happen about him.
"He looks okay, very good I would say, but let the surgeons and specialists have their say tomorrow. He's good and that's it."
On Tuesday, Rooney trained alone under the watchful eye of medical staff.
Fears ease for injured Italy pair
Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta poses for the official picture at the National Technical Center of Coverciano in Florence, 25 May 2006. Italy prepares for the upcoming football World Cup, which will be held in Germany next month. AFP PHOTO / Patrick HERTZOG
Italy received a welcome double boost Tuesday with news that defenders Gianluca Zambrotta and Alessandro Nesta were both recovering well from their injuries.
Italy's medics had feared Zambrotta would miss the World Cup altogether but the versatile Juventus full-back said he could be fit in time to face the United States in their second match.
"I'm happy," said the 29-year-old.
"Most probably I'll be ready for the United States."
Italy coach Marcello Lippi was also relieved AC Milan central defender Nesta is now on course to start against Ghana in their opening tie after earlier suffering a thigh strain.
Germany predict winning start
Germany's national team's assistant coach Joachim Loew smiles during a press coference, 17 May 2006 at the Hotel Is Morus in Pula, on the island of Sardinia, where the German football team starts a five-day-long training camp until 21 May ahead of the 2006 football World Cup. AFP PHOTO OLIVER LANG
Hosts Germany are confident of dispatching Costa Rica in Friday's opening match in Munich, says assistant coach Joachim Low.
Low revealed Germany had identified flaws by watching DVDs of the central Americans' warm-up matches and believes the hosts will get their World Cup campaign off to a winning start.
"It is the first match and we are a bit nervous but we have done our homework and I think we are in a position to beat Costa Rica," said Low.
"If we turn up and show our strengths we will win the match."
"We have collected a lot of information on them by watching DVD clips of league games and international matches. We know their strengths and weaknesses but of course we will not be discussing them in public."
Koller in best shape ever
Czech striker Jan Koller kicks a ball during a training of Czech national soccer team in the training camp in Seefeld village, some 25km far away from Innsbruck town, 21 May 2006, in Austria. Czech national soocer team will participate in the upcoming 2006 Football World Cup in Germany. AFP PHOTO MICHAL CIZEK
Czech international striker Jan Koller believes he has never been fitter after enduring the toughest medical of his career before his recent signing with Monaco.
Koller, 33, returned to competition at the end of April after being sidelined for seven months with a serious left knee problem.
Top scorer for his country with 42 goals in 68 games, the 33-year-old 2.02 metre (6.6 ft) giant is a key member of the Czech World Cup squad.
"I've never endured such a medical in my career. There were three or four doctors around me permanently," he told the Sport newspaper.
"But everything went for the best and I'm happy about it ... My family are sure to be very happy in Monaco."
The Czech Republic play in the same opening group as the United States, Ghana and Italy.
Neville hopes England avoid opening jinx
Gary Neville has called on England to banish their opening-day hoodoo when their World Cup quest kicks off against Paraguay on Saturday.
England's record speaks for itself. In nine World Cups and Euros stretching back to the 1986 finals in Mexico, England have registered just one win in their first match.
""In Euro 96 we drew when we were expected to win, in 98 we beat Tunisia. In 2000 we lost to Portugal, in 2004 we lost to France.
"That's not just me trying to make excuses before Saturday but it is to say it's not going to be easy for us. It's going to be damned hard work."
Ronaldo on the mend
Brazilian striker Ronaldo (R) vies for the ball with teammate Cris, 06 June 2006, during the first training session in Konigstein, Germany. Brazil star Ronaldo will definitely be fit for the champions' World Cup opener despite a foot problem believed to caused by new boots he has been wearing, team doctors said today. AFP PHOTO/ANTONIO SCORZA
Brazil star Ronaldo will definitely be fit for the champions' World Cup opener despite a foot problem believed to be caused by new boots he has been wearing, team doctors said Tuesday.
Ronaldo had complained of pains and blisters on his feet ahead of Sunday's 4-0 friendly victory over the Kiwis, and attributed them to the boots he has been supplied with by sporting giants Nike.
The problem led to Brazilian officials asking the player's club Real Madrid to send them several pairs of the boots he normally wears in an attempt to ease his pain.
Brazil team doctor Jose Luis Runco insists that Ronaldo is fit and was not in doubt to face Croatia on June 13 -- but admitted the precise cause of the problem had yet to be pinpointed.
USA down Angola in private affair
The US mens national soccer team poses for a photo before their friendly against Canada, 22 January 2006 in San Diego, CA. The match ended in a 0-0 tie. AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck
The United States defeated Angola 1-0 Monday in a friendly arranged away from the prying eyes of World Cup rivals Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic.
A goal from Fulham striker Brian McBride settled the encounter, US team officials said Tuesday, after a match played under blanket secrecy at the express request of US coach Bruce Arena.
The game will not be regarded as an official friendly by FIFA, nor will McBride's strike count towards his international goal tally as the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists prepare for a Group E opener with the Czechs on June 12.
The US took to the field wearing shirts without numbers of names, making identification of each player difficult.
Angola are in a pool with Portugal, Mexico and Iran.
Wounded Dutch call in reserves
Dutch coach Marco van Basten is seen during the friendly test macth Netherlands vs. Mexico, ahead of the 2006 World Cup, 01 june 2006 at the Philips stadium in Eindhoven. Netherlands won 2-1. AFP PHOTO MAARTJE BLIJDENSTEIN
Netherlands coach Marco Van Basten called two extra players into his squad Tuesday after the weekend's bruising 1-1 draw with Australia left five of his squad limping.
Midfielders Stijn Schaars of AZ Alkmaar and Nigel de Jong of Hamburg joined the Dutch camp as potential cover for Rafael Van der Vaart (sore ankle), Wesley Sneijder (sore ankle), Phillip Cocu (bruised thigh), Kew Jaliens (dead leg) and Giovanni van Bronckhorst (sore calf).
Three of those had to be substituted in Sunday's rough and tumble game.