Concerned by a string of injuries to his national squad, Chinese soccer coach Bora Milutinovic has told players to save their energies for China’s debut in the World Cup finals, state media said. ‘‘I want to see a complete and healthy team when we meet together next time for training — no one even walking with the support of another,’’ the Serbian coach was quoted saying by the Huaxi Dushi Daily. ‘‘We must make sure that the national team is always in its best form,’’ he said. ‘‘Although the league means bread and butter to the players, there is nothing else that can compare with the honour of participating in the World Cup final round.’’ The Chinese Football Association has banned injured members of the national squad from playing in the last two rounds of the Chinese league after 11 of the 35-man lineup suffered injuries, according to state media. The injured include China’s No 1 striker Hao Haidong, captain Ma Mingyu and key midfielder Yu Genwei. ‘‘They should learn to protect themselves in the coming months before the opening of the World Cup,’’ Milutinovic was quoted as saying. China will be appearing in their first ever World Cup finals and are drawn in Group C of the tournament alongside Brazil, Turkey and Costa Rica. Samuel sidelined by injury As Roma’s Argentina defender Walter Samuel twisted his knee in training on Saturday and has been ruled out of Sunday’s Serie A match at Venezia said on their official website. Although the club did not give any details on how long Samuel is likely to be sidelined, the injury casts doubt over his chances of playing in Argentina’s friendly against Germany. World Cup trophy arrives in Sapporo The World Cup trophy was displayed today in Sapporo in Japan’s northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido, the last stop in Japan before being taken to South Korea as part of a tour of 20 host cities in the two countries. Deputy chief cabinet secretary Shinzo Abe said in a ceremony, ‘‘what is important is to make this World Cup one where the six teams that come to Sapporo and their supporters can go home thinking ‘it was really good’.’’
