Italy
United States-born forward Giuseppe Rossi was left off Italy’s final 23-man squad for the World Cup. Coach Cesare Prandelli apparently judged that Rossi had not fully recovered from his latest right-knee injury in January. It was likely a difficult decision since Rossi has always been one of Prandelli’s favourite players. Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne was selected instead. Rossi played 71 minutes in Italy’s 0-0 draw with Ireland on Saturday but failed to make much of an impact. Prandelli said he faces a huge task to lift his shattered players after Riccardo Montolivo was ruled out of the tournament with a broken leg. “Everyone is broken and really sad about what happened,” Prandelli said.
Ghana
Ghanaian defender Jerry Akaminko will miss the finals after breaking his left ankle during Saturday’s friendly with the Netherlands. Akaminko, 26, broke his ankle in the third extra minute in the match in Rotterdam, which Ghana lost 1-0. Akaminko is expected to be sidelined for at least three months. Ghana have been drawn in a tough Group G along with Germany, Portugal and the United States.
Brazil
Brazil captain Thiago Silva will not play in the World Cup warm-up match against Panama tomorrow to give him more time to recover from slight leg niggles, manager Luiz Felipe Scolari said. “He is a player that won’t be travelling with us, but instead will work on his own,” Scolari said. “It’s better to use him when he is in better or perfect condition in the second match.” Brazil face Panama in Goiania on June 3 and play Serbia in Sao Paulo three days later.
France
France winger Franck Ribery has been suffering from lower back pain but has not been ruled out of the World Cup, French TV channel TF1 reported. TF1 said Ribery was undergoing treatment. “Any announcement about him pulling out [of the World Cup squad] is premature,” a team official was quoted as saying.
Mexico
Luis Montes will not compete for Mexico at the World Cup after suffering a leg fracture during a 3-1 victory over Ecuador on Saturday.
England
England almost had a 24-man squad departing for the World Cup. As the country’s footballers prepared to board a flight to Miami for two friendlies ahead of the tournament in Brazil, a familiar face mingled among the 23 players. It was British actor Simon Brodkin, a BBC comedy star, who wore an identical grey suit to the players and also had a passport. Captain Steven Gerrard appeared to spot Brodkin first, and members of security and local police then intervened.
Ivory Coast
Striker Lacina Traore was one of five players cut from the Ivory Coast squad as coach Sabri Lamouchi was forced to relive his own anguish from 1998 when he was one of the last players culled from the French selection that went on to win the World Cup. Goalkeeper Badra Ali, France-based defenders Benjamin Angoua and Brice Dja Djedje and striker Seydou Doumbia were also left out of the final 23-man squad named by Lamouchi on Sunday, the Ivorian Football Federation announced.
