Injury rules out Spain’s Guardiola

Spain mid-fielder Pep Guardiola will miss the World Cup for the second time in succession after tests on an injury to his right knee on Tues...

Spain mid-fielder Pep Guardiola will miss the World Cup for the second time in succession after tests on an injury to his right knee on Tuesday revealed ligament damage. “He has suffered damage to his collateral ligament and will be out until the end of July,” a spokesman for Guardiola’s Italian club Brescia told Reuters. After missing France ’98 because of a knee injury, former Barcelona captain Guardiola was hoping to make a late bid to be part of Jose Antonio Camacho’s squad. But he sustained another knee injury during Brescia’s 5-0defeat by Juventus in Serie A on Sunday and that has killed off his World Cup hopes. Spain face Slovenia, Paraguay and South Africa in Group B in the first round.

Nowotny doubtful after knee injury

Germany and Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny suffered a knee injury in Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final against Manchester United and could miss the World Cup finals. The Leverkusen captain was carried off on a stretcher after a clash with Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 10th minute of the second leg match.

Ortega all set to return into action

Argentine mid-fielder Ariel Ortega, who missed River Plate’s league match on Sunday with a thigh strain, said he would return on Thursday for their Libertadores Cup tie away to Brazilians Gremio. Ortega — sent off in his country’s quarter-final defeat by The Netherlands at France ’98 — limped out of last Wednesday’s second round first leg after only 12 minutes, having complained of a sore thigh the day before. He then sat out Sunday’s 1-0 win over Racing Club.

Pele’s choice: Italy, France, Argentina and England

Pele forecast on Tuesday that France, Italy, Argentina, and England would reach the semi-finals of the World Cup and said his own countrymen would be hard pressed to get past Turkey in the opening round.

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Pele, who retired more than 20 years ago but remains one of the world’s most admired sporting heroes, said that if the tournament were held today the three European countries and Argentina would be sure contenders for a place in the final. Close on their heels would be Brazil, Spain and Portugal, while Croatia, Russia and Nigeria could engineer an upset, he said.

Pele said Portugal, who knocked the Netherlands out of theWorld Cup qualifiers and held former World champions Brazil to a draw in an April 17 friendly, would be a force to be reckoned with.

Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, said, "The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada." (PTI Photo/ File)

Khalistani outfit SFJ threatens to ‘siege’ Indian consulate in Canada

India2 hr ago

Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice has called for a "siege" on the Indian consulate in Canada on September 18, accusing them of running a spy network to target Khalistan supporters. The group has also threatened the Indian consulates in Canada and released a poster with a target on the face of the Indian High Commissioner.

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