Soccer: Nelsen may be forced out of Cup

All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen may have to leave the World Cup early. Photo / Mark Mitchell

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - New Zealand captain Ryan Nelsen may miss some of his team's campaign at the World Cup in South Africa because his wife is due to give birth during the tournament, he told media today.

Nelsen's second child with wife Monica is due July 10 - the day before the Cup final and about two weeks after New Zealand's last group match against Paraguay.

Blackburn Rovers defender Nelsen told Wellington's Dominion-Post newspaper the baby might arrive sooner and in that case he would have to leave his team to be present at the birth.

"There is nothing on this earth that would stop me from being their at my child's birth," Nelsen said.

- AP