The Brazilians revved up for a tilt at a sixth title with a convincing 5-1 thrashing of Tanzania in Dar Es Salaam on Monday with Robinho scoring a brace and Kaka and Ramires also getting on the scoresheet.
In contrast, England failed to impress in a 3-0 victory over South African Premier League side Platinum Stars in Moruleng as their stuttering build-up to their Group C opener against the United States on June 13 continued. Goals from Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney ensured Fabio Capello’s men emerged from their meeting on Monday with a win, and captain Steven Gerrard insisted they would be ready for the United States.
With Rio Ferdinand out of the tournament through injury and Gareth Barry ruled out of the US clash, Capello will be pleased at least that no one else picked up any knocks.
Group of death lacking Nani, Drogba
Brazil return to their training base in Johannesburg upbeat and ready to get their campaign underway against North Korea at Ellis Park on June 16. They are drawn in the so-called “Group of Death” alongside Ivory Coast and Portugal.
Portugal, the 2006 semi-finalists, open Group G against Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth on June 15 and coach Carlos Queiroz will be without Manchester United striker Nani, who has been ruled out of the World Cup after injuring his collarbone, the Portuguese Football Federation said on Tuesday on its website (www.fpf.pt).
“After bruising his collarbone and after medical tests, we have concluded the player is unfit to play the World Cup,” an FPF statement read. “The medical dossier will be presented to Manchester United’s medical department,” the FPF added.
Nani, four goals in 34 games for his country to date - including three during qualifying - suffered the injury in training on Friday and the 23-year-old will now be replaced by Ruben Amorim of Benfica. Under FIFA rules, a player can be replaced until the day before their first match.
Injuries also continue to dog the build-up with Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben both battling to be fit in time. Chelsea striker Drogba returned to the Ivory Coast camp in the Swiss Alps on Monday after surgery on a broken forearm and a big question mark remains over whether he will play.
Robben remained in the Netherlands when his team-mates flew to Johannesburg over the weekend as he tries to overcome a thigh muscle tear sustained in a 6-1 drubbing of non-qualifiers Hungary. Chelsea stars Michael Ballack, Michael Essien, John Mikel Obi, and Manchester United’s Rio Ferdinand have already been ruled out.
Blatter insists World Cup will be ‘fantastic’
Despite the setbacks, FIFA president Sepp Blatter insists the tournament will be “fantastic”. “We find ourselves in a position of indescribable anticipation,” said Blatter, who was awarded the Order of the Companion of OR Tambo on Monday, the country’s highest accolade.
“Everywhere you go, you can practically feel that the big kick-off is not far away,”
The build-up since South Africa was awarded the event has not been without its problems, but all 10 stadia have been built or revamped on time, albeit well over budget, and nearly all tickets have been sold. Crime though remains a problem, with Japan coach Takeshi Okada the latest to express his fears, telling his players Tuesday they must stay inside their luxurious hotel in George while at their base camp.
The hosts’ open the tournament on Friday in Johannesburg against Mexico, with France facing Uruguay in Cape Town on the same day.
Twenty-five of the 32 teams are now settled in South Africa for the June 11-July 11 tournament – the first World Cup staged in Africa. Many will be at their training venues through the day, with Australia, Germany, Argentina, France, North Korea and the USA all scheduled to be put through their paces.
RETIRED HURT
Nani
The Manchester United Portuguese winger damaged his collar bone in training and has ruled out of the tournament. Nani was expected to sparkle alongside Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo in South Africa. “He is in pain. We carried out tests and the upshot is that he is not fit to compete. He is not going to be able to recuperate in time for the finals,” coach Carlos Queiroz told TVI television.
Rio Ferdinand
Ferdinand, who suffered knee ligament damage, will fly home after England’s opening match against the United States having been given no chance of playing any part in the tournament as a result of Friday’s clash. “The ball came in from one of the lads to Emile [Hesky] and I’d gone to try and tackle him from behind. We both went off balance and Emile’s weight went down on my knee,” recalled Ferdinand.
COMEBACK HOPEFULS
Didier Drogba
African Footballer of the Year Drogba needs surgery on a fractured arm, but it is unclear if the striker will then be able to play for Ivory Coast, arguably the continent’s best hope but heavily reliant on their talisman. French media reports quoted Drogba as saying he would miss the tournament and his team-mate Kolo Toure told reporters: “The World Cup is finished for him.”
Arjen Robben
The Bayern Munich player suffered a thigh injury in Saturday’s friendly against Hungary in Amsterdam and had been hoping to join his teammates in South Africa this weekend.
“Since the Champions League final against Inter Milan, Arjen hasn’t been ready to play a lot or train a lot. His injury is serious and I don’t know when he can join us,” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk told reporters.
Published in the Express Tribune, June, 9th, 2010.
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