Well, the World Cup's underway - and as such this page should be your first port of call every morning.
As we appreciate that you can't be expected to watch every minute of every match - unfortunately we've checked and discovered that it's just not possible - we've set up this page just so that every morning we can give you a brief but all-inclusive round-up of the previous night's events in that there Deutschland...
Friday, June 30:The Neviller has superbly said he doesn't care what FIFA president Sepp Blatter says about the football England have played so far...Frank Lampard expects to be fit for England's World Cup quarter-final clash with Portugal, despite twisting an ankle in training on Thursday...Pele has offered his backing to David Beckham by stressing the England captain "has nothing to prove"...Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos has urged former Real Madrid team-mate Zinedine Zidane not to retire after the World Cup...Former Mexico striker Hugo Sanchez has put his name forward to succeed Ricardo Lavolpe as the Tricolor's national team coach and vowed to guide them to the quarter-finals at South Africa 2010.
Monday, June 26: England will face luiz Felipe Scolari in the quarter-finals for the third tournament running, but the Portugal boss will be without Costinha and Deco, both sent off in his side's win over Holland...Oliver Kahn has launched an attack on coach Jurgen Klinsmann after being consigned to the role of number two goalkeeper at the World Cup. The Bayern Munich man said he would "never understand" Klinsmann's decision to hand Arsenal's Jens Lehmann the starting job...Michael Ballack sat out training on Sunday after picking up a minor foot injury in Germany's 2-0 victory over Sweden...Joaquin could be the surprise element when Spain take on France in their World Cup second-round showdown in Hanover, starting on the right if Spain switch to a 4-4-2...Brazil striker Robinho was forced to sit out training on Sunday as the team prepare for their last-16 clash with Ghana. The Real Madrid player felt some discomfort in his right thigh during Saturday's training session.
Friday, June 23: Gary Neville trained for the first time in a week on Thursday but faces a race against time to be fit to play against Ecuador...Brazil battled back from a goal down to beat Japan 4-1 in Dortmund and eliminate the Asian champions from the tournament. And Big Fat Ronaldo equalled Gerd Muller's World Cup scoring record of 14 with a goal in each half...Italy secured their place in the second round as they eliminated the 10-man Czech Republic with a 2-0 Group E victory in Hamburg. A goal in each half from Marco Materazzi and Filippo Inzaghi was enough to give Marcello Lippi's men the points as the Czechs had Jan Polak sent off for two bookable offences...Stephen Appiah's disputed penalty fired Ghana into the World Cup second round with a 2-1 Group E victory over the USA, but Michael Essien slammed German referee Markus Merk for a "ridiculous" early booking which will keep the Chelski midfielder out of their second-round clash with Brazil...Jared Borgetti will be the given the final say in whether he will face Argentina in the second phase on Saturday.
Thursday, June 22: Gary Neville will step up his fitness programme in a bid to play some further part for England in the World Cup finals, but he is unlikely to feature in Sunday's clash against Ecuador...Newcastle chairman Freddie Shepherd is unimpressed with the compensation the FA have offwered his club following Michael Owen's injury...Serbia and Montenegro striker Savo Milosevic has confirmed he is quitting international football. Milosevic, speaking after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of the Ivory Coast in a match between two Group C teams who had already been eliminated, said he would not play for the new Serbia team that will emerge from the ashes of Serbia and Montenegro when the country splits into two...France's stand-in captain Patrick Vieira is adamant Les Bleus can still win the World Cup - but he also fears a second consecutive elimination at the first hurdle. Vieira and his team-mates must beat Togo on Friday by two goals in their last Group G match to be certain of progressing to the last 16...Ricardo La Volpe believes the pressure is off for Mexico after they advanced into the last 16 of the World Cup, even though they will face Argentina.
Tuesday, June 20:England defender Gary Neville will find out on Wednesday if he can play again in the World Cup when he undergoes another scan on his calf injury...Spain beat Tunisia 3-1 last night after going a goal down...Ukraine hit Saudi Arabia for four...Switzerland sent Togo home wuith their 2-0 win...Patrick Vieira feels France only have themselves to blame for not beating South Korea on Sunday...Serbia and Montenegro defender Mladen Krstajic has announced that he is quitting international football after the World Cup...Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann says he is unconcerned at the possibility of facing England in the knock-out stages...Miroslav Klose has dismissed reports that he and fellow striker Lukas Podolski have had a rift...Mark Viduka has condemned the critics who have labelled Australia as over-aggressive.
Monday, June 19: Togo coach Otto Pfister insists he does not have the power to quell the mutiny in the ranks of his team who are threatening to boycott today's Group G match with Switzerland...Thierry Henry blasts the referee who refused to award France a second goal against South Korea despite Patrick Vieira's header clearly crossing the line...A defiant Marcelo Lippi insists that allegations of corruption in Italy is strengthening team morale...Owen Hargreaves is the favourite to replace Steven Gerrard for England's match with Sweden in which Wayne Rooney is a confirmed starter...Zico describes Japan's World Cup schedule as "criminal"... Henri Michel admits he is unlikely to remain as Ivory Coast boss beyond their final World Cup match...Michael Ballack says he is unconcerned by the prospect of facing England in the second round...
Saturday, June 17:
Sven-Goran Eriksson says he is tempted to start Wayne Rooney against Sweden... Ibrahimovic is rated extremely doubtful to start on Tuesday...But Franz Beckenbauer admits he is concerned at the prospect of Germany facing England in the second round...Argentina's 24-pass goal against Serbia is widely described as the best goal ever...Ronaldinho vows to shoot on sight against the United States...Andriy Shevchenko admits he wasn't fully fit in the Ukraine's opening match against Spain...Scolari names Spain as favourites to win...Mexico claim they are still confident of reaching the last 16 depsite being held by plucky Angola...
Friday, June 16: Wayne Rooney, who came off the bench in England's win over Trinidad & Tobago, is apparently ready to start any time Sven decides to use him...Ruud van Nistelrooy says he's savouring the friendly atmosphere of the Holland squad after his testing time at ManYoo...After his side clinched their place in the second phase of the World Cup with a 3-0 triumph over Costa Rica, Ecuador's Agustin Delgado has announced he will retire from international football after the tournament...Freddie Ljungberg believes Sweden have broken their scoring hoodoo - just in time for their meeting with England next week. The Arsenal midfielder struck in the 89th minute against Paraguay on Thursday night to put Sweden on the brink of making the last 16...France coach Raymond Domenech has dismissed concerns over his deployment of Thierry Henry as a lone striker...Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves believes Africa can still succeed in the 2006 World Cup - and thinks his team have the ability to claim what could be the first victory for the continent against Mexico in Group D today.
Thursday, June 15: Wayne Rooney is fit band may feature against Trinidad & Tobago, but Gary Neville is set to miss out. Sven says the ManYoo right back is definitely not out of the tournament, though...Oliver Neuville scored an injury-time winner as Jurgen Klinsmann's side virtually secured their place in the World Cup knockout stages by beating 10-man Poland 1-0 in Dortmund...Brazil striker Ronaldo was taken to hospital last night after complaining of dizziness and headaches...Argentina forward Lionel Messi should be fit for Friday's Group C clash with Serbia & Montenegro, despite hobbling out of training yesterday with a foot injury...Bolton's Radhi Jaidi headed a last-gasp equaliser as Tunisia denied Saudi Arabia victory in a thrilling 2-2 draw in World Cup Group H in Munich...Spain manager Luis Aragones believes Fernando Torres has the ability to eclipse more experienced players and become the star of the World Cup. The 22-year-old Torres was outstanding in his side's 4-0 demolition of Ukraine, who recorded an unhappy debut in the competition.
Wednesday, June 14: The Sun report that Wayne Rooney will play no part in England's game against Trinidad & Tobago, but Theo Walcott will...In his latest comment on England, Leo Beenhakker insists they are little more than a dead-ball team...Marco van Basten remains confident of Ruud van Nistelrooy's ability to deliver World Cup goals despite the striker's poor showing in Sunday's win over Serbia and Montenegro...Carlos Alberto Parreira insists he has no plans to drop Ronaldo from the World Cup holders' starting line-up to face Australia on Sunday after the striker's poor performance in Brazil's win last night...Dick Advocaat believes South Korea have a fighting chance of making the last 16 after storming back to defeat Togo...France and Switzerland opened their World Cup with a bore draw, meaning France are still without a World Cup goal since 1998...
Tuesday, June 13: Wayne Rooney will not return against Trinidad & Tobago after all...Italy beat Ghana 2-0 last night...In the same group the Czech Republic cruised past the United States 3-0...Tim Cahill scored twice as Australia beat Japan 3-1...Jan Koller's injury is not as bad as first feared...Otto Pfister is set to return as Togo coach days after walking out...Brazil captain Cafu could be given a 10-month prison sentence if he is found guilty of falsely obtaining an Italian passport...Brazil claim Ronaldo is fit and not fat...
Monday, June 12:Wayne Rooney may make a shock World Cup debut for England against Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday...Portugal beat Angola 1-0 in their opening match of the World Cup...Tunisia boss Roger Lemerre has called up striker Haykel Guemamdia to replace injured defender Mehdi Meria...Holland opened their World Cup campaign with a hard-fought Group C victory over Serbia & Montenegro in Leipzig...Mexico beat Iran 3-1 in their opening game of the World Cup...Theo Walcott picked up a slight knock on Sunday but will be fit to resume full training with the England squad on Tuesday...
Sunday, June 11: Despite their win over Paraguay, the England media slam the Three Lions for their second-half performance...Bobby Robson warns that teams will deliberately attempt to kick Wayne Rooney's dodgy foot...Joe Cole says he is happy to play as a striker...Up to five Swiss players, including Arsenal's Phillipe Senderos, are injury doubts for their World Cup opener against France...
Saturday, June 10: Steven Gerrard is likely to play for England against Paraguay, despite missing training several times this week...Media reports are claiming that Togo coach Otto Pfister has resigned just three days before their first World Cup game...Michael Ballack has played down speculation about a potential rift between him and Jurgen Klinsmann after the hosts kicked off their campaign with a 4-2 win...Poland captain Jacek Bak says his team now have it all to do if they are to reach the knockout phase of the World Cup, after they lost their first game 2-0 to Ecuador, while Ecuador's Edison Mendez is confident his side can reach the second round...
Friday, June 9: Germany midfielder Michael Ballack has declared himself fit to play in the host's opening match with Costa Rica in Munich on Friday...Ukraine captain Andriy Shevchenko scored in his first game for a month as he returned from injury...Steven Gerrard is expected to be fit for England's World Cup opener against Paraguay...Eriksson could use Wayne Rooney as early as the game against Trinidad & Tobago...Celtic playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura insists he will be fit for Japan's opening World Cup game against Australia on Monday...Liverpool's club doctor Mark Waller has confirmed that he expects Djibril Cisse to make a rapid recovery from a broken leg...
Thursday, June 8: In case you've somehow missed it, Wayne Rooney has returned to Germany, and will be in England's World Cup squad. Jermain Defoe is flying home...The latest of those charming Paraguayans to have a dig at England is Roque Santa Cruz, who says Peter Crouch would be better off playing basketball than football...Gennaro Gattuso could miss Italy's first two games, but he says he's staying in the squad even if he has to chain himself to the bus...That won't be an option for Djibril Cisse, who broke his leg (the other leg, this time) against China last night...Aston Villa striker Milan Baros missed training with the Czech Republic squad yesterday but should be fit to face the USA on Monday...Chelski defender Paolo Ferreira flew back to Portugal for the birth of his first child on Wednesday. Congratulations from all at WC365, Paolo...
Wednesday, June 7: Wayne Rooney has a crucial scan today on his injured metatarsal, and says he is "300% confident" of playing in the World Cup...Ashley Cole is a doubt for Saturday's game against Paraguay...Gary Neville says England don't need to worry about penalties because they are good enough to win games outright, but Roberto Carlos says England need to be more adventurous to have any chance...Germany captain Michael Ballack could well miss the opening game after failing to train once again yesterday...Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta will miss Italy's first game, against Ghana...Raul has rubbished claims he will not be fit enough to feature for Spain in the tournament...
Tuesday, June 6: The England squad are now in Germany...Wayne Rooney has been pictured doing scissor-kicks...David Beckham, John Terry, and Gary Neville are all back in training...But Ashley Cole is not...Michael Ballack missed training yesterday...Fellow Chelsea recruit Andriy Shevchenko is also struggling....The USA have beaten Angola 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly...Trinidad and Tobago beat German side FC St Pauli 2-1...
Monday, June 5: Sven says the World Cup begins when the England squad climb aboard the plane this afternoon for Germany...Wayne Rooney will also be on the plane, with Sven still confident that the striker will be fit for the tournament...Despite promising that Peter Crouch will start against Paraguay, Eriksson reiterates his plan to use the controversial 4-5-1 system if England progress beyond the group stages...The FA dismiss injury fears about John Terry, Gary Neville and Ashley Cole...Holland are rocked by injuries to Wesley Sneijder, Phillip Cocu and Giovanni van Bronckhorst in a friendly with Australia...No such worries for favourites Brazil as they swat aside New Zealand in a friendly in Geneva...
