By AVI CREDITOR
Ledley King's World Cup appears to be over after suffering a groin injury against the United States on Saturday. Early reports suggest that he'll have to miss at least three weeks while recovering.
King started alongside John Terry at central defense but was substituted for at halftime. Jamie Carragher replaced King for the second half against the Americans and figures to get the start against Algeria on Friday. Michael Dawson and Matthew Upson are other alternatives at the position for Fabio Capello.
In addition to King, Wayne Rooney and Ashley Cole also sat out Monday's training session, though both are fully expected to play against Algeria. Rooney picked up a knock after being kicked in the ankle, but the injury doesn't appear to be serious, according to multiple reports.
Midfielder Gareth Barry did participate in full training and is set to return for the Three Lions after missing the opening match of the World Cup.
Here are a few more stories from around the soccer world:
RALSTON DISLOCATES ELBOW IN REVS FRIENDLY
Steve Ralston's return to the New England Revolution hardly went as the team had hoped.
Ralston entered the Revolution's friendly with Brazilian side Cruzeiro Sunday night in the 72nd minute and had to be subbed off just a couple minutes later after dislocating his left elbow. It's unclear how much time he will have to miss.
Khano Smith was also injured (ankle) during the 3-0 loss in which Cruzeiro striker Welington Paulista netted a hat trick in front of more than 12,000 at Gillette Stadium.
The good news for the Revs is that goalkeeper Matt Reis returned to goal for the first time this season after recovering from shoulder and knee injuries. He played 45 minutes and appears to be ready to reclaim the starting role once Major League Soccer play resumes.
Here are some highlights from the match (injuries not shown):
VUVUZELAS WON'T BE BANNED
The soundtrack to the World Cup won't be changing after all. Despite reports that World Cup officials were considering banning vuvuzelas from the tournament's matches, that won't be the case.
Several players and broadcasters have voiced their complaints about how the noise affects concentration and the ability to hear, but all parties will have to figure out a way to deal with the iconic noise of the tournament.
Officials considered banning the horns after last summer's Confederation Cup before concluding otherwise.
ROSELL ELECTED AS NEW BARCA PRESIDENT
Joan Laporta's successor as president of FC Barcelona has been selected, as Sandro Rosell won the club's election by receiving more than 61 percent of the votes.
Rosell will have big shoes to fill, as Laporta, who took over in 2003, oversaw a team that won two UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns. Among objects on Rosell's agenda, reportedly, are signing coach Pep Guardiola to a long-term contract and renovating Camp Nou.
SCOLARI RETURNS TO PALMEIRAS
Former Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is returning to Brazil to become the manager of Palmeiras for a second time. Scolari had a strong run with the club more than a decade ago, winning the Copa Libertadores in 1999.
He was most recently with Uzbekistan side Bunyodkor after a disappointing stint at Stamford Bridge.
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Do you think Carragher should get another crack at centerback for England? Sad to see Ralston's comeback go as it did? Happy to hear that the vuvuzelas won't be going anywhere?
Share your thoughts below.
“Just don’t mention THE WAR!”
(Obscure Fawlty Towers reference…)
Most French players from Africa are of West African descent (especially Senegal) such as Bacary Sagna and Patrick Viera. Many many players in Ligue 1 and France’s second division are Senegalese.
I’ll call you uneducated though. You’re wrong on this.
Dude what is with the condescending quotation of my posts. Excuse me for thinking that players who routinely turn fullbacks in knots in the Premier League would cause Boca and Cherundelo problems.
Not to mention that Terry is not the fastest person in the world.
When you defend a “pacey winger” as you put it, you don’t do it one on one.
You can kill a tumor by attacking it directly or you can attack its blood supply. Team defense is all about choking off the blood supply at the source. Donovan and Dempsey were vital in their tracking back to disrupt Cole and Johnson, which made it harder for Lennon and SWP to get going.
Defense is a team thing. After all Boca has faced lots of “pacey wingers” in France. And we all know that Bornstein is one of the fastest guys on the team for all the good that does.
Green didn’t save that goal, exactly. Jozy’s shot hit his hands, went through them and bounced off the upright. With just a bit of luck that shot is in.
You’re not supposed to let that happen on the near post.
That said, I’d start Green again. James and Hart aren’t likely to be much better and goalkeepr isn’t really England’s issue.
They have to sort out their centerbacks and get Barry healthy. If they can do that everything else will work itself out.
paging Michael Dawson…..England needs you.
People need to stop picking ‘name brands’ in their player formations and need to know the squads a little better. Dawson is a suitable replacement that is young, hungry, and eager to make the field. Once there, he will show why he should have been picked ahead of “own-goal” Carragher. Fabio just needs to admit his mistake in not playing Daws in the first place once Rio was out.
Don’t be decieved remember we also played australia and beat em 3-1. Australias team is not as good as it once was they never stood a chance.
+1.
The USA needs to win against Everyone, anyone, anytime and anywhere to continue to earn respect no just against big name teams or people will continue to consider those games flukes. But the US should easily dispose of slovenia(no disrespect to them). Cosidering the result our B and C teams got against sweden, slovakia, denmark and czech republic who all play the same style as slovenia. Our A team should manhandle then germany vs australia (with all respect to slovenia)
Wow, “biggest piece of shite on the planet,” eh? I guess I figured that title would go to a rapist or cannibal or something.
I like what one of the commentators said about Evra of France complaining about vuvuzelas “i bet he wouldnt have complained if France won that game” and added answering his partner’s question if he would ban vuvuzelas: “That’s rude. i wouldnt want to disrespect the home country”
Word.
btw this wasnt john harkes, but some cool english commentators – think it was the Netherlands game – and john harkes is THE worst commentator alive
England v. Germany would be HUGE! No love lost between those two nations…
That’s cause Howard is class. He doesn’t complain. That’s studs up. 100%. Red Card. In the box. And Harkes is the biggest piece of shite on the planet.
Carragher actually saved a few possible break-aways…and Green saved a sure goal by Altidore…I say keep them both in.
I’d love to see England Germany.. I’m sure most of England is already stressing this possibility…
I won’t call you uneducated, because your words have demonstrated this fact. Are you familiar with tackling with your studs up? And I don’t need company from others or to be tucked in. The replays are my source.
Studs up chap, I guess you missed it with 1 million French men.
I am not sure what exactly you are trying to say here?
Are you implying I am was wrong to think Boca and Cherundelo would have trouble with the speed of Englands wingers?
I agree. Neither England nor the U.S. want Germany in the 2nd round. However, the other options will likely be either Ghana or Serbia, so there’s no real “easy” way to the quarters.
However, having said all of that, we still have Slovenia and Algeria to focus on right now…first things first.
You are being premature.
Germany are great but the Ozzies were absolutely clueless and pathetic.
If England can shore up the center of their defense, they have enough talent to give anyone trouble. I expect them to slaughter Algeria and Slovenia.
I wasn’t talking about the US’s path to advancing. I was talking about Slovenia’s path to advancing. I think the assumption has been that Slovenia will pack it in and be content with a draw, but I think that a draw will get them in trouble.
“I hope this is the case throughout the tournament when it come to pacey wingers as I think that was the US defenses major flaw.”
Considering it was their stout defending that got them their point I guess the US are in trouble then.
We really just need to win these two games so we don’t have to contemplate all of the “scenarios.” I watched the Algeria-Slovenia game, and we’re better than both of those teams. We just need to go out and take care of business.
The Slovenians will likely try to pack it in and look for the quick counter. Therefore, one thing we should do is start Findlay or Buddle, crazily enough perhaps both, and sit Altidore. If not both, then Findlay with Altidore. That will force their defense to stretch due to the speed we will have up top and open things up. Gomez should also be brought on as a sub. I think if the Slovenians get caught trying to mark Findlay, somebody for the U.S. will get open and put it in the net. If we get up on them, then they will be forced out to press for an equalizer, which will make them even more vulnerable.
Howard even said is was a clean play. Howard said Heskey had every right to the ball as he did.
I’ll agree that it is not something normally called…. but instead of treating keepers with kid gloves, this really shows how dangerous a position it is.
Think of it this way… anywhere else on the field if a player comes in late for a ball, at a full sprint, with studs up and spikes his opponent who played the ball away – what is the result?
Foul? Certainly. Yellow card? Possible red? Against a keeper, everyone just says its a 50/50.
Don’t be daft. He clearly means that they both need to win the group to avoid Germany, because neither team matches up favorably with Germany.
If the US and SLV tie, then ALG is still in it. If ALG defeats or ties the US and SLV ties ENG then the US is out.
Do you really want to leave it to the last game?
The SLV game is critical.
they can’t both win the group, you know that right? One of those two teams will play germany
the play with howard was completely clean. He was sliding for the ball and had just as much right to it as Howard. Just because there is contact with the goalie does NOT mean it is a foul. Havent you noticed that NO media outlet has made a case of this, it’s all uneducated soccer fans on websites like yourself. He came sliding in clean, as did howard. Unfortunately, howard came out a bit nicked up.
England and France’s black populations tend to come from their former colonies. In both cases, they often grow up in working-class neighborhoods where soccer is the main sport. It’s not surprising really.
Both England and the US need to win the group to avoid facing Germany in the next round. Based on last night’s performance, this German team is a machine. I would not like England or USA’s chances against them.
talk about diversity and some say Blacks don’t play soccer in the USA?
I believe we and England have the same overall number of Black players though I believe France has quite a larger number.
i just thought i’d point that out. like many of France’s players are of North African descent. Though odd to read about so many quality French players who opted to play for their parent’s homelands.
Slovenia will come at us but they’re not in awe of us as they are to England but we will win. 2-0
Here’s a point that I wonder if many people have considered:
Slovenia will probably need to win another game in order to advance.
If Slovenia draw their last two, and England and US each beat Algeria, it will be three teams on 5 points, and will come down to goal difference. With Slovenia’s goal difference at only +1, US and England would advance with 2-goal wins vs. Algeria.
So is Slovenia really going to be content with 0-0 vs. the US? If they do, they might have to beat England to advance. Will they take that chance?
so how does everyone’s european pals think of the draw? My danish and English pal of Algerian descent is downplaying it big time. Always hating on the americans when it comes to football.
some predicate a England-Spain final, some a Holland-Spain, others a Argentina-Spain, others a Brazil-Spain.
see the pattern
Goodbye England. I have to say although im anti England i do support Liverpool and was happy to at least concede a goal to Gerrard. That’s his 3rd WC goal. More than any other player in the England lineup.
I think if Defoe came on for Heskey instead of Crouch he would have caused more problems for the US. Onyewu and Demerit match up pretty well with larger target men.
I agree Boca and Cherundelo handled the speed of Lennon and SWP much better than expected. I hope this is the case throughout the tournament when it come to pacey wingers as I think that was the US defenses major flaw.
I was hoping to see Heskey on the injured list. Perhaps fate would do what the officials failed to do. Did Harkes over look the two footed studs up challenge in deference to Tyler?
David,
Lennon and SWPhillips weren’t fast enough for you? Both are faster than Defoe.
Im sorry…..the revolution are just horrible
i love Joseph and i love Nicol and his approach to playing rising talent, but this team brought Khano Smith back to the league from LINCOLN CITY….that player is utter rubbish. Joseph needs more help in that team and its not Ralston. I am amazed at Nicol’s transfer activity being that he is from the UK and could bring some real quality into the league.
Sorry for the rant, i just dont like when MLS teams get stomped by not so much better foreign sides. ESPECIALLY when MLS teams have showed so well lately. Chicago and New England are a dissapointment this year. If MLS teams choose not to take advantage of the new DP rule this summer, its just going to get worse as well.
I can see trotting out Green again. If Capello starts someone else that says that if you make one mistake you are out which adds more pressure to whoever replaces him and kills Greens confidence for games in the future.
I can see Carragher for the experience but then perhaps it has to be part of the game plan to sub him or Terry off after 60 or so minutes as I think they will be tired and vonirable.
I wonder if there is any possibility with Barry healthy of seeing a 5 man midfield with Rooney as a lone striker. They have so much talent in the midfield that it is hard to see some of them on the bench.
Also think Cappelo should have tried Rooney and Defoe vs. the US. The Us had a slow backline that would not have been able to deal with both of them.
Well, once again England proves to be overhyped, overconfident, and overrated…
Losing Ferdinand and Barry dealt a severe blow to the team chemistry and dynamics of the line-up, more so that anyone anticipated. Going into this tournament, goalkeeping was a question mark for them, and on Saturday we all found out how severe of a liability that it actually is for them.
The most complete teams in this tourney are Holland, Germany, Brazil, and Spain.
Germany was a bit of a question mark heading into things with the loss of Ballack and the youthful line up. Those questions were put to rest yesterday. Holland looked solid this morning, and when Robben comes back they will be even stronger. Brazil and Spain have yet to be seen, but I doubt they will disappoint.
More bad news for England. They can’t catch a break. Carragher is decent, but God help them if he picks up an injury. The backline needs consistency and Terry/Carragher have somewhat of a history together. But Dawson and Upson are desperate mode.
i believe after the group stages…? but not sure
I believe that after the group stage, all cards will be wiped.
England fan here. It’s a dilemma for us. Yeah, Carragher has slowed down a lot, but he does have vast experience and until recently was always solid for Liverpool. I don’t think Dawson has ever played for England (maybe once) and Upson doesn’t fill me with confidence. I’d actually prefer to see Carragher there because of his experience in big games (Champs League etc).
No word yet on who will be keeper. Some are suggesting that the best thing for Rob Green would just be to put him out there and let him get his confidence back. I have a sneaking suspicion that might happen.
Unrelated question. Are cards wiped clean at any point in this tournament? If so, in what round?
England should play Dawson instead of Carragher. It was pretty clear against the US that Carragher is to slow to compete at this level anymore. They need a faster centerback out there to make up for the fact that they have 2 offensive minded fulbacks.