By The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 24, 2006; 4:20 PM
PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Czech Republic midfielder Vladimir Smicer is questionable for the World Cup after straining a thigh muscle.
Smicer was taken to a hospital in Innsbruck, Austria, on Tuesday to undergo tests. He wasn't hospitalized and remains with the team at its World Cup training camp in Seefeld, Austria, team spokesman Lukas Tucek said Wednesday.
Coach Karel Bruckner said he'll wait until just before the team's departure for Germany to decide whether to take Smicer, who has been out for the last three months with a hamstring injury.
Smicer, who has scored 27 goals in 81 matches for the Czech Republic, hasn't played since getting injured with French club Bordeaux in February.
The Czechs open the World Cup against the United States on June 12.
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MANCHESTER, England (AP) _ The Manchester United doctor treating injured England striker Wayne Rooney left the club Wednesday over what the team described as a "difference of opinion."
Mike Stone has been working with Rooney as he tries to recover from a broken bone in his right foot in time for the upcoming World Cup.
"We can confirm that Dr. Stone has left the club," United said in a statement. "There was a difference of opinion on a non-football and non-clinical issue, as a result of which Dr. Stone felt it to be in his and the club's best interests for him to leave."
The club said the decision "had nothing whatsoever to do with any medical treatment to any Manchester United player."
Rooney is scheduled to undergo a scan on his injured foot Thursday. The results will give England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson a clearer idea on whether Rooney can play at the World Cup.
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WEGGIS, Switzerland (AP) _ Ronaldo practiced separately from the rest of Brazil's squad Wednesday in the defending champion's first practice for the World Cup.
Ronaldo, who had various injuries at the start of the year, ran by himself for 40 minutes while the other players underwent a series of physical drills.
Only 16 of Brazil's 23 players participated in the team's first practice session. The remaining seven players _ including Ronaldinho, Cafu and Dida _ were completing a series of physical examinations at a clinic near Lucerne.
Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said Ronaldo will play in Brazil's tournament opener against Croatia on June 13.
"He's is in great shape and will be ready," Parreira said.
Ronaldo scored only five goals in Real Madrid's first 19 matches this year and was sidelined for most of April because of injuries.
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GENEVA (AP) _ To hear assistant coach Joachim Loew describe Germany's first warmup game since it went into its pre-World Cup training camp, it was a near disaster.
"We had it tough last night. We were in no way dominant, we couldn't impose our game, we couldn't keep up the pace," Loew said Wednesday.
And that was against a team that played in the third Swiss division last season, Servette.
"We need to improve in all sectors," Loew said.
Germany won 2-1 on goals by captain Michael Ballack and Gerald Asamoah, and coach Juergen Klinsmann gave his squad Wednesday afternoon off.
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LONDON (AP) _ Queen Elizabeth II has set aside July 10 to welcome England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson and his players for an open-top bus World Cup victory celebration to Trafalgar Square.
Wishful thinking? After all, the World Cup doesn't kick off until June 9.
The Times reported Wednesday that the Football Association has begun making arrangements with police and Buckingham Palace officials in case England wins the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
If England wins the title, the celebrations in central London will be far bigger than the million people who thronged the area after England's 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph. And larger than the tens of thousands of people who turned up after the cricket team's Ashes triumph over Australia last September.
The FA declined comment.
"We have no comment to make on any such plans," said FA spokesman Adrian Bevington. "We certainly don't want to tempt fate by discussing any plans we may or may not have."
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SHANGHAI, China (AP) _ Chinese customs agents have confiscated 600 soccer balls illegally stamped with World Cup logo.
The balls were impounded Tuesday in the eastern port of Ningbo after being found in a shipment traced to a travel agency in the northern city of Baotou, a Ningbo customs agent said Wednesday.
The balls were stamped "FIFA 2006 World Cup Germany," said the agent, who declined to give his name. He refused to say how agents determined the balls were produced without the endorsement of world soccer's governing body, or give other details.
Customs agents haven't said where the balls were being shipped to, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Protecting trademarks for major international sporting events is a special concern for China, which has been heavily criticized for rampant product piracy and trademark violations.
China has been trying to boost awareness of the problem among law enforcement leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, strengthening laws and cracking down heavily on any unauthorized use of the Olympic logo or slogan.