
Boban pessimistic
VITTEL: Zvonimir Boban8217;s hopes of playing against Japan in a World Cup Group H match in Nantes on Saturday are all but dashed. 8220;I just can8217;t go 100 per cent in training,8221; the AC Milan midfielder, who has a calf injury, said. 8220;I don8217;t really think he will be able to play,8221; added Croatia coach Miroslav Blazevic. Krunoslav Jurcic, on stand by to replace Boban, would probably be assigned the task of marking Japan playmaker Hidetochi Nakata. Croatia started their campaign with a 3-1 win over Jamaica while Japan gave Argentina a scare, losing only 1-0.
Calderwood out
London: Scottish defender Colin Calderwood said he was definitely out of the World Cup after breaking two bones in his right hand during the 1-1 draw with Norway. He said the bones were broken when Vidar Riseth8217;s knee caught him hard on the hand as he went down after a challenge with Havard Flo on Tuesday. 8220;I knew right away something was badly wrong because three fingers pointed one way and the other in adifferent direction. I learnt a lesson, because I had no idea until then that you use your hands so much in a game,quot; he said.
Calderwood, 33, has returned to London for surgery. quot;It hasn8217;t really hit me that the finals are over for me but when I was watching the Norway game again self-pity began to hit me,quot; he said. Although Calderwood is now out of the competition, Scottish coach Craig Brown has invited him to rejoin the squad after his operation.