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
