Soccer: Rooney ruled out of opening stages of World Cup

LONDON - Striker Wayne Rooney has been ruled out of the opening stages of England's World Cup campaign with a broken right foot but may still be available for the latter stages of the tournament.

His club Manchester United said in a statement that a scan showed the 20-year-old's metatarsal break was healing as expected and another scan on June 14 could clear the way for him to start training.

England open their Group B campaign against Paraguay on June 10 and finish against Sweden on June 20. If they qualify their second round match would be on June 24 or 25.

The prospect of Rooney training was welcomed by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson. The Football Association said Rooney would fly to Germany with the rest of the squad on June 5.

"This is very encouraging news," Eriksson said in a statement. "The fact that he is flying out to Germany with us will give everyone a huge lift."

"We're still hoping that the second scan will show further improvement and that Wayne can play his part in the World Cup." Under FIFA rules, the Swede can replace Rooney in the squad up to 24 hours before the Paraguay game. Rooney was injured in a Premier League match at Chelsea on April 29.

Eriksson denied speculation that Rooney's recovery had caused 'club v country' friction with United, whose manager Alex Ferguson has been cautious about the striker's Cup chances.

Rumours increased after the abrupt departure this week of United team doctor Mike Stone.

Eriksson said: "I spoke to Sir Alex Ferguson today and we had a really good conversation.

"Despite all the speculation, there has been a very positive dialogue with Manchester United all along.

"We are very grateful for the support that they have given Wayne and the England team."

Ferguson was more wary in his reaction to the scan on a player who has cost the club nearly £30 million and is fundamental to their future.

"We are praying and hoping (that he can go). We have said all along that we will get him there, somehow, and that we would do our very best and that's what we are doing," Ferguson told United's MUTV station.

"Because he is young he doesn't feel any pain and this is a dangerous area because the scan quite clearly shows the fracture has not healed.

"We have to tread carefully and hopefully we will get there."

Eriksson's first alternative would be the towering Peter Crouch, who had a run-out as Michael Owen's strike partner in England B's 2-1 defeat by Belarus on Thursday.

Owen, himself short of match fitness after breaking a metatarsal on Dec 31, could also be partnered by Chelsea flair-player Joe Cole or Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

A less likely alternative is 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott. He got half an hour against Belarus but has yet to play for Arsenal's first team since joining in January.

Playmaker Michael Ballack will miss Germany's warmup match against Luxembourg in Freiburg on Saturday because of a minor ankle injury.

The German Football Association said on Friday Ballack would need three or four days before he could return to full training.

The World Cup hosts play the opening game of the tournament against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

South Korea, semi-finalists at the 2002 tournament they co-hosted with Japan, welcomed the return of their Europe-based players by defeating Bosnia 2-0 in a World Cup warmup match in Seoul.

South Korea coach Dick Advocaat had brought back his European players, including England-based duo Park Ji-sung and Lee Young-pyo, after his team had struggled to impose themselves in their last warm-up match against Senegal.

Seol Ki-hyeon opened the scoring for the home side in the 50th minute, heading in from close range after Bosnia keeper Romeo Mitrovic could only half-clear an effort by Ahn Jung-hwan.

Cho Jae-jin made certain of victory by blasting in a second from the edge of the area in the 90th minute, to the delight of the 64,836 spectators in the Seoul World Cup stadium.

- REUTERS