Tag Archives: concerns

Terry expresses England concerns

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John Terry has admitted that England (2/7 f with totesport to win Group C) have had problems coming to terms with playing at high altitude but insists the players will be ready for the World Cup.

Fabio Capello’s men beat Platinum Stars 3-0 in their final warm-up game on Monday in an uninspiring performance, on the back of unconvincing wins against Mexico and Japan.

Jermain Defoe, Joe Cole and Wayne Rooney scored the goals against the Stars and Terry believes that the run-out served its purpose as it helped the players get more used to conditions they will experience in the upcoming showpiece.

“We had one to two weeks off and you lose a bit of sharpness, but that’s improving,” Terry said. “The altitude has been more of surprise to me. Your mouth is really dry.

“We train at quite a high level anyway, coming here was another 150m higher again and we certainly felt that.

“We’re looking good. We needed this game to get used to the flight of the ball and the altitude.”

Fabio Capello’s men get their campaign underway on Saturday against the USA and are 4/9 favourites in the match betting to open up with a win, with the Americans available at 13/2 and the draw at 16/5.

The players will of course hope that their training has had the desired effect as the opening match is taking place at altitude in Rustenburg, at a venue 1403m above sea level, and if they make it to the quarter-finals, they will have to play again in thin, dry air.

Terry has also spoken out about the ‘Jabulani’ ball that is to be used in the World Cup and seems to have joined the ranks of dissenters, which already includes Spain’s Iker Casillas and Italy’s Gianluigi Buffon, while David James said the new ball was ‘dreadful’.

“It’s important we put in a lot of crosses in the box and get a lot of shots in from outside the box,” said Terry. “It’s difficult for the keepers.”

Rio Ferdinand has of course been ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury so the other centre-back position alongside Terry has not been confirmed, although Ledley King was given the nod by Capello to start in Monday’s friendly.

It was the first time the pair had started in an international game, although they played together as youngsters for Sunday league side Senrab, and the Chelsea captain believes the partnership can work at the highest level.

“It was important we got 45 minutes together in a real competitive game with Ledley,” Terry said.

“We had a good understanding. We used to play together at Senrab many years ago. The understanding has always been there and we’ve worked a few times in training.”

England also face Algeria and Slovenia in Group C and a nine-point accumulation in the group stages in the England specials markets is favourite at 7/4, with a seven-point total next best at 15/8.

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Schwarzer admits Aussie concerns

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Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is nervously watching the clock as the fitness clouds hanging over the Socceroos (15/2 to win Group D) continue with three weeks to the World Cup.

Several players went into what is sure to be a gruelling pre-tournament training camp lacking full fitness – notably Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill.

Schwarzer admits the situation is a worry, and hopes that time will be a great healer.

“It’s always a concern when guys are injured heading into a big tournament,” Schwarzer said.

“You want to have as many of your players fit as possible, especially your experienced players.

“But we’ve still got three weeks or so until the beginning of the World Cup, so it still gives players the opportunity to find their fitness, to overcome any niggles or injuries they’ve had over the season.

“Hopefully come the first game they’ll all be fit.”

Kewell’s groin injury is the most talked-about fitness concern ahead of Australia’s World Cup opener against Germany in Durban on June 13.

He trained lightly with the team at their first training session at Melbourne’s AAMI Park.

But he is likely to be eased through as the intensity rises with double sessions each day in the lead-up to the friendly against New Zealand (12/1 to qualify from Group F) on Monday night.

Schwarzer and his teammates are expecting Pim Verbeek to employ the same sort of physically demanding training schedule previous coach Guus Hiddink used ahead of the 2006 tournament.

“It will be very intense – from last time I can tell you it will be a very intense situation,” Schwarzer said.

“The first week is usually a bit lighter because of the many commitments we have here in Australia.

“But once we knuckle down, get away from the outside world a little bit, and get down to concentrate on training it becomes quite intense.”

Meanwhile, Cahill believes Australia’s work ethic and experience from 2006 will be the keys to their performance in South Africa next month.

And he has also stressed the importance of Australia getting their first-choice players in peak condition to tackle the World Cup.

“First of all we have to keep players fit and then try to get the consistency,” Cahill said.

“If we prepare right and try and be as fit as we can for this World Cup like we were for the last World Cup, our natural talents will hopefully shine through.

“We’ve got great character, great work ethic within the team and a team that sticks together.”

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South Africa boss has fitness concerns

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Carlos Alberto Parreira claims fitness issues could hamper South Africa’s chances of success in the summer’s World Cup (South Africa 6/1 to win Group A).

The Brazilian manager has named a 29-man preliminary squad for the hosts, which includes 19 South African-based players and ten overseas members.

South Africa are seen as outsiders for the competition despite having the support of fanatical home support and have to face Mexico, Uruguay and France in the group stage.

Parreira is set to reduce his squad to 23 players before South Africa open the tournament with against Mexico on June 11th (South Africa 15/8 to win, Mexico 6/5. 11/5 draw on match bets)

He claims integrating local players with those who play in top leagues across Europe could be a real problem as they prepare for the World Cup as the ranging physical conditions could make things “rather difficult”.

“Some of them have played too many games – like Steven Pienaar who has played 27 games since November, some have played half of what Pienaar played while others started in one or two,” said Parreira.

“So they will come here in different fitness levels, which will give our physical trainer a lot of headaches to put them in good shape for the competition.”

The South Africans recently embarked on a training camp in Brazil and Germany, where Parreira named a predominantly home-based squad with only two overseas players.

These players managed only a 1-1 draw against world minnows Namibia and Bafana Bafana fans will be hoping for an improvement in performances when their side play World Cup warm-up games against Argentina and Denmark.

South Africa’s Group A rivals France (16/1 – World Cup Outright) were recently urged to leave their egos at home when they leave to join the World Cup squad by Raymond Domenech.

The French coach saw his side only scrape their way into the World Cup after a controversial win over Ireland in the play-offs.

He told French newspaper L’Equipe that his squad need to realise that “the only thing that matters is the team, not them” and he is expecting a struggle when he names his 23-man squad for the World Cup on May 11th.

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