Referee Peter Prendergast out of 2006 FIFA World Cup™

Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast and his two assistants, Anthony Garwood (Jamaica) and Joseph Taylor (Trinidad and Tobago), will soon be leaving the referees’ 2006 FIFA World Cup™ headquarters, the Kempinski Hotel Gravenbruch in Frankfurt/Neu-Isenburg, and heading home due to a knee injury sustained by Prendergast. In-depth medical examinations have confirmed that the Jamaican will not be able to take charge of any matches during the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

On 31 May, the 21 referees and 42 assistant referees who will be in action in Germany will be joined by the support and development group (five referees and ten assistant referees) for a final fitness test, which will be conducted in Frankfurt/Neu-Isenburg.

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England: Rooney scan switched

The next scan on England striker Wayne Rooney's injured foot has been brought forward by a week to 7 June.

The change, which was announced on Manchester United’s official website, is designed to afford Sven-Goran Eriksson the flexibility to replace the 20-year-old in his 23-man squad should it be shown that his broken metatarsal is not healing quickly enough to enable him to participate in the FIFA World Cup™.
Go to the England team page

Originally, it had been planned that the Manchester United striker would fly out with the England squad on 4 June before returning to Manchester ten days later for the CT scan that will determine whether he will be able to take any part in Germany.

However, following discussions on Monday morning between Eriksson, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and England and United's respective medical teams at the Old Trafford club's Carrington training complex, it has been decided to change the date to leave open the possibility
of England drafting in a replacement prior to the 9 June deadline.

Eriksson said: "It is important the scan will be done before I have to give the list to FIFA on 9 June. We have to take the decision and we want to have the scan as close to that date as possible. I am always very optimistic and still think he will play a part in the World Cup."

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Rooney faces further wait




Wayne Rooney faces a wait of 19 days before a second scan on his injured metatarsal will reveal whether he can resume full training. A statement from Manchester United released on Friday morning said that the club was satisfied with his period of recovery but confirmed he will require another scan on 14 June to determine when he can start training again.

It read: "A further CT scan will be performed in Manchester on June 14 to assess further his recovery and a decision will then be made as to whether he can begin to participate in football training."

However, even if Rooney was given the all-clear to resume training immediately after the scan, he would have barely a week to get himself fit for a potential Round of 16 game.

Go to the England team page

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Wayne has trained incredibly hard. We have continually supported Wayne with his fight to get to the World Cup but it is obvious that we have to be certain he is physically and mentally fit.

"The specialist has confirmed what we have always thought and we are confident in that assessment in that we are satisfied with Wayne's progress."
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he was 'delighted' with the news and confirmed that he will meet up with the rest of the England squad in Manchester on Sunday.

Rooney will continue his rehabilitation with Manchester United's medical staff at their Carrington training ground and will then fly to Germany with the England party on 5 June.
Eriksson said: "This is very encouraging news. I'm looking forward to Wayne joining up with the rest of the squad on Sunday. The fact that he is flying out to Germany with us will give everyone a huge lift.

"I spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson today and we had a really good conversation. Despite all the speculation, there has been a very positive dialogue with Manchester United all along.

"We are very grateful for the support that they have given Wayne and the England team. We're still hoping that the second scan will show further improvement and that Wayne can play his part in the World Cup."

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Koreans show strength with Bosnia win






Korea Republic, strengthened by the return of their Europe-based players, beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in a FIFA World Cup™ warm-up match on Friday.

Seol Ki-Hyeon opened the scoring for the home side in the 50th minute, heading in from close range after the visitors' goalkeeper, Romeo Mitrovic, could only half-clear an effort by Ahn Jung-Hwan.

Cho Jae-Jin made certain of victory by blasting in a second from the edge of the area in the 90th minute, to the delight of most of the 64,836 spectators in the Seoul World Cup stadium.

"I think it was a very effective game," Korea Republic coach Dick Advocaat told a news conference. The Dutchman had brought back his European players, including England-based duo Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, after his team had struggled at times to impose themselves in their last warm-up match against Senegal.

"I am very happy that our team kept the confidence after 0-0 at half-time", he added.
Bosnia-Herzegovina looked dangerous on the break aided by the trickery on the left of Admir Vladavic, who forced a good save from South Korean keeper Lee Woon-Jae in the 24th minute, but appeared to fall off the pace a little in the second half.

"We controlled the game for almost 75 minutes", Advocaat said, adding that he thought midfielder Lee Eul-Yong, who plays for Turkish side Trabzonspor, was the best player on the pitch.

Lee Chun-Soo also had a good match, constantly hustling the European side before being substituted by young striker Park Chu-Young.

The South Koreans, who were held 1-1 by Senegal on Tuesday, now travel to Europe for final warm-up matches against Ghana and Norway. "The majority of the team we know, but I can't say I know all 11 players", said Advocaat, who declined to answer a question about the possibility of a return to club football after the FIFA World Cup, apart from saying he had options.

The 2002 semi-finalists face France, Switzerland and Togo in Group G, with their opening game against the African side on 13 June.

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US bounce back with Venezuela win

Even without the services of captain Claudio Reyna, a new-look USA defeated Venezuela 2-0 in front of 29,000 fans on Friday night in Cleveland, Ohio. A goal in each half from Brian Ching and Clint Dempsey saw the Americans put behind them their humbling defeat by Morocco three days earlier and steady the ship before heading to Germany and taking on their tricky Group E opponents Italy, Ghana and the Czech Republic.

With nine changes to the side that lost out to Morocco on Tuesday night, the new-look Americans went on the attack from the off and both Ching and Josh Wolff went within inches of scoring in the opening minutes.

Go to the USA team page

The South Americans' goal came under heavy pressure in the first quarter-hour alone, with Reading winger Bobby Convey causing major problems up the left flank. Young striker Eddie Johnson and Wolff both looked in the mood as well, buzzing around the attacking third in the hunt for goals.

Although the visitors looked like threatening only on counterattacks, the Americans themselves were less than clinical in front of goal and from their handful of good chances created in the first 30 minutes, they rarely made goalkeeper Javier Toyo work.

All that changed in the 36th minute, though. Just seconds after spurning a golden chance, MLS leading scorer Ching appeared at the near post where he volleyed home an inch-perfect cross from Convey to give the States a precious lead and bring an end to their brief goal drought.
Ching nearly doubled the lead ten minutes after the break.

This time a nice bit of service from Chris Albright on the right picked out the big Hawaiian, who could only watch as his stunning volley was turned away by the sprawling Toyo. The hosts continued to pour on the pressure as the second period wore on, but Venezuela did threaten on the break.

Giancarlo Maldonado nearly caught the US defence out in the 60th minute, but his weak shot let him down after he did so well to beat the offside trap.

A few second later Edgar Jimenez forced Tim Howard into a nervy save from distance as the tide looked to be turning. Juan Arango's 63rd-minute free-kick tested Howard again but the Everton-bound keeper pulled off the save of the match to tip the ball away for a corner.

The US rode out the storm and doubled their lead with a brilliant piece of football at the other end in the 68th minute. Some clever approach work from second-half substitute Landon Donovan freed Johnson down the right side and his classy cross was met by a diving header from New England Revolution revelation Clint Dempsey.

The US will play their last pre-finals friendly against Latvia in East Hartford, Connecticut on Sunday before heading to their FIFA World Cup base camp in Hamburg. They open their Group E account against the Czech Republic on 12 June in Gelsenkirchen.

After picking up a hamstring strain on Tuesday night, captain Reyna is not expected to play before the USA meet the Czechs. Craig Berhalter, who was called into the squad on Wednesday to replace the injured Cory Gibbs, did not take the field against Venezuela.

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