CUPDATES

Injured playmaker Rafael van der Vaart will miss the Netherlands8217; final World Cup warm-up match against Australia on Sunday.

Injured Van der Vaart out of Dutch warm-up

Rotterdam: Injured playmaker Rafael van der Vaart will miss the Netherlands8217; final World Cup warm-up match against Australia on Sunday. The midfielder, who had ankle surgery in April, suffered a new ankle injury during training. Coach Marco van Basten believes Van der Vaart will be fit in time for the competition proper, however, and is not considering replacing him. 8220;Rafael is doing fine right now but it wouldn8217;t be wise to use him on Sunday,8221; said Van Basten. 8220;He is a player with specific qualities and will have to earn his spot in the team during the training sessions.8221;

Rebrov set to miss two Ukraine friendlies

Kiev: Veteran striker Serhiy Rebrov, down with an hip injury, is to miss one and possibly two of Ukraine8217;s final tune-up friendlies ahead of their first World Cup campaign in Germany. 8220;I8217;m feeling a bit better, though for the moment I8217;m not joining in training sessions,8221; Rebrov said as the Ukrainians left for their final training camp in Switzerland.Rebrov sustained the injury at the team8217;s earlier training camp in Turkey and missed a 4-0 thrashing of Costa Rica on Sunday. Doctors had initially described the injury as not serious.

Raul will silence critics, says Spanish coach

Madrid: Spain coach Luis Aragones has defended his captain Raul as he looks set to alter his tactics to incorporate the striker for the World Cup warm-up match against Egypt in Elche on Saturday. 8220;Raul8217;s statistics speak for themselves,8221; Aragones said. 8220;Maybe it hasn8217;t been his best year. He is possibly missing a little sharpness after his injury but I am sure he will silence his critics,8221; Aragones added. Raul started on the bench for last weekend8217;s friendly against Russia with Aragones preferring the youth and pace of David Villa, Fernando Torres and Luis Garcia. But the indications are that Aragones will make space for the 28-year-old by shifting from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 with Raul playing behind Villa and Torres at the head of a diamond formation in midfield.

Rooney kicks ball, sparks betting spree

Carrington: Wayne Rooney kicked a ball at their training ground on Friday and sparked a betting spree on his fitness for England8217;s World Cup bid. Reporters spotted Rooney running, turning and kicking the ball during the squad8217;s training. Punters became suddenly optimistic. 8220;News that Rooney is running and kicking a ball in training has sparked a punting plunge on him to play a part in Germany,8221; bookmaker William Hill said.