World cup 2010 news

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has named five Irish League players in his squad for a two-match tour.

We’ve come to the point of no return. 37 days to the World Cup, and the bodies begin to drop. And not just insignificant bodies – these are bodies which deserve to be at a World Cup. The type of players the fans want to see.

The German national team has lost Bayer Leverkusen duo Rene Adler and Simon Rolfes. Or, perhaps more accurately: Rene Adler and Simon Rolfes lost the German national team.

What was an impossibly tough hole to fill for Joachim Loew late last year has become, somehow, even tougher.

The German No. 1 in South Africa was to go to Robert Enke, who sadly ended his own life in November. This opened up that door for another to take the first shirt, and Rene Adler did so.

It’s difficult to call it a horrible story in light of how the No. 1 came available, but it’s certainly not a good one: after sitting out some time with a rib injury he finally made his injury comeback Saturday, only to find out after the game the injury is “worse than first thought”. From a return for fitness to no World Cup in 90 minutes.

“This was the toughest decision of my life,” said the 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper in a statement.

“But it would have been simply irresponsible of me, my club and the national team to have participated in the World Cup.

“Medically speaking, it would have been possible. But the pain is so great that I would not have been able to perform at my best over the longer term both in training and during matches.

Harsh though it may be, this is serious business, so the next question becomes: next? The answer may be simple: Manuel Neuer. There isn’t a great deal separating Adler and Neuer – young, German, exquisitely talented – but a number of months. Tim Wiese’s also in the hunt, as he was when the No. 1 originally became available, but there was always the feeling Adler and Neuer would battle it out for the No. 1 for years to come – it just began a bit early. And though the World Cup is a loss in itself for Adler, Neuer might never relinquish the No. 1 once he gets it.

Simon Rolfes, on the other hand, isn’t as unexpected. In fact it may not be unexpected at all – which would mean it’s expected. His knee had gone through the tried and true wood chipper treatment, and his last game was was on January 24th, so both fitness and match time were out of the question, and thus too was his squad spot.

With this info, Jogi will unveil his provisional squad of 30 on May 11, where there will be no room for Kevin Kuranyi, or so it would appear.

LOC President Steffi Jones is all set to make a special appearance at the draw for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Port of Spain on Wednesday.