Rooney will be ready: Eriksson

Watford (England): England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says he is confident that injured striker Wayne Rooney will recover in time for the World Cup.

Eriksson, who said the 20-year-old Manchester United forward also believes he will be fit for the finals, is waiting for the results of a scan on Rooney’s broken foot on Thursday.

“On Friday, we will know much better how the situation is,” Eriksson told reporters on Monday. “I’m quite sure that at some stage during the World Cup Wayne Rooney will be ready, I strongly believe that.

According to England’s team doctor, Rooney is making a “perfect recovery.” “Everything points to a perfect recovery,” England doctor Leif Sward was quoted as saying in a newspaper. “I have the highest hopes for Rooney and the World Cup.”

The Beckhams’ send-off party

London: A host of stars descended for David and Victoria Beckham’s gala World Cup charity party at their Hertfordshire Mansion on Sunday night.

‘The Full Length and Fabulous Ball’ was attended by about 350 high profile guests who braved grim weather to make it to the bash, billed as a send-off for the England squad for the World Cup.

Among the first to arrive were Wayne Rooney and fianc?e Coleen McLoughlin.

Andrew Flintoff and wife Rachael were among the celebrity guest list which also included Tom Cruise, Liz Hurley, Sir Elton John, Kate Moss and Elle McPherson.

Hosts’ injury worries ease

Geneva: Germany’s World Cup injury worries eased on Monday as striker Lukas Podolski and midfielder Sebastian Kehl returned to training at their Swiss camp. Podolski had been suffering from a back injury, while Kehl had been out with an ankle problem.

Central defender Christoph Metzelder and left-back Philipp Lahm are the only two players still nursing serious injuries.

Meanwhile, Jens Lehmann is predicting hard times for goalkeepers at the World Cup because of the choice of ball.

‘Nightmare’ for Domenech

Paris: France must be wary of Switzerland, their first opponents at the World Cup, coach Raymond Domenech said on Monday.

“It’s the match (on June 13) I’m worried about for the time being,” Domenech said. “I’m dreaming about July 9 (the day of the final) but the Swiss could turn out to be a nightmare for us.”

‘United’ Serbia to take part

Belgrade: Serbia-Montenegro will make World Cup debut as a united country despite the proclamation of independence by the tiny republic of Montenegro, officials said on Monday.

“The players of the national team gathered for preparatory training on Sunday under one flag, and woke up this morning without a state,” said Serbia-Montenegro’s football federation chairman Tomislav Karadzic.