Soccer: Germany's captain ruled out of opener

BERLIN - Hosts Germany suffered a setback today on the eve of the World Cup when captain Michael Ballack was ruled out of the opening soccer game against Costa Rica.

But England were buzzing after coach Sven-Goran Eriksson declared striker Wayne Rooney was over his foot injury and would play as soon as he was match fit.

Tomorrow morning's (NZ time) game at the futuristic Allianz Arena in Munich between Germany and Costa Rica is the first of 64 matches which make up the world's most-watched sporting event.

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann acknowledged Ballack's absence due to a calf injury was a blow to the home nation, who are hoping to win their fourth World Cup.

"Of course we would have liked to have him in the team," Klinsmann. "He's our captain and our leader."

But he also said the injury, sustained in a friendly match against Colombia last week, was on the mend.

"We'll leave him on the sidelines for this game and have him fit for the next one. It's annoying but not the end of the world," he told a news conference.

Ballack himself hit out at suggestions he should have sought treatment for the injury earlier.

"I completely reject all allegations this was handled unprofessionally," he said.

"It's almost a slur on my reputation."

England's normally mild mannered coach Eriksson was also in forthright form, making clear he and Rooney would decide when the player would take to the field -- not Manchester United.

The striker's club has been consistently more cautious about Rooney's prospects of playing at the tournament after he broke his foot in a league match against Chelsea on April 29.

"I'm prepared to listen to everyone and discuss Rooney with them. But the last say in this story is Rooney's and mine," Eriksson said.

Manchester United said a scan on Rooney's foot on Wednesday had shown he had a good chance of playing in the World Cup after the group phase, but only after "very careful assessment".

While Rooney will almost certainly miss Saturday's opener with Paraguay, Eriksson's upbeat attitude suggests he may even come on as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago or Sweden.

"The good news from yesterday evening and today is that Rooney has no more injury, he is injury free," Eriksson said.

"Now it's up to us to get him match fit."

He has another headache, however, as midfielder Steven Gerrard says he is only '50-50' to face Paraguay due to a hip problem.

Rooney's place will be taken by Liverpool's Peter Crouch and Paraguay coach Anibal Ruiz has admitted the 2.04m striker is one of his main worries.

"We hardly come across players like Peter Crouch," he said.

Brazil striker Ronaldo missed training on Thursday with a slight fever. He is due to partner Adriano in attack in the champions' opening game, against Croatia on June 13 in Berlin.

France were coming to terms with the absence of their forward Djibril Cisse, ruled out of the tournament yesterday after breaking his leg in a 3-1 friendly victory over China.

"Everybody was in a state of shock in the locker room," coach Raymond Domenech said.

"I even saw a few who were close to tears."

Domenech called up Olympique Lyon's Sidney Govou to replace Cisse and he joined the squad for the journey to their base in northern Germany, a castle converted into a luxury hotel.

- REUTERS