A red traffic light is pictured next to a banner showing Germany's captain Michael Ballack in Frankfurt. The hosts will be without Ballack for today's World Cup opening match against Costa Rica in Munich. - REUTERS
BERLIN (Reuters):
HOSTS GERMANY suffered a setback yesterday on the eve of the World Cup when captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the opening game against Costa Rica.
But England were buzzing after coach Sven-Goran Eriksson declared striker Wayne Rooney was over his foot injury and would play as soon as he was match fit.
Today's game at the futuristic Allianz Arena in Munich between Germany and Costa Rica is the first of 64 matches which make up the world's most-watched sporting event.
Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann acknowledged Ballack's absence due to a calf injury was a blow to the home nation, who are hoping to win their fourth World Cup.
"Of course we would have liked to have him in the team," Klinsmann. "He's our captain and our leader."
INJURY ON THE MEND
But he also said the injury, sustained in a friendly match against Colombia last week, was on the mend.
"We'll leave him on the sidelines for this game and have him fit for the next one. It's annoying, but not the end of the world," he told a news conference.
Ballack himself hit out at suggestions he should have sought treatment for the injury earlier.
"I completely reject all allegations this was handled unprofessionally," he said.
"It's almost a slur on my reputation."
England's normally mild mannered coach Erikssson was also in forthright form, making clear he and Rooney would decide when the player would take to the field - not Manchester United.
ROONEY'S PROSPECTS
The striker's club has been consistently more cautious about Rooney's prospects of playing at the tournament after he broke his foot in a league match against Chelsea on April 29.
"I'm prepared to listen to everyone and discuss Rooney with them. But the last say in this story is Rooney's and mine," Eriksson said.
Manchester United said a scan on Rooney's foot on Wednesday had shown he had a good chance of playing in the World Cup after the group phase, but only after "very careful assessment".
While Rooney will almost certainly miss tomorrow's opener with Paraguay, Eriksson's upbeat attitude suggests he may even come on as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago or Sweden.
"The good news from yesterday evening and today is that Rooney has no more injury, he is injury free," Eriksson said.
"Now it's up to us to get him match fit."
He has another headache, however, as midfielder Steven Gerrard says he is only '50-50' to face Paraguay due to a hip problem.
Rooney's place tomorrow will be taken by Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz has admitted the 6 foot 7 inches (2.04 metres) striker is one of his main worries.
"We hardly come across players like Peter Crouch," he said.
Brazil striker Ronaldo missed training yesterday with a slight fever. He is due to partner Adriano in attack in the champions' opening game, against Croatia on June 13 in Berlin.
COMING TO TERMS WITH ABSENCE
France were coming to terms with the absence of their forward Djibril Cisse, ruled out of the tournament on Wednesday after breaking his leg in a 3-1 friendly victory over China.
"Everybody was in a state of shock in the lockerroom," coach Raymond Domenech said. "I even saw a few who were close to tears."
Domenech called up Olympique Lyon's Sidney Govou to replace Cisse and he joined the squad for the journey to their base in northern Germany, a castle converted into a luxury hotel.
