World Cup news

England's goal in their 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday was confirmed by FIFA yesterday as an own goal by Paraguay captain Carlos Gamarra.

FIFA's Technical Study Group reviewed the goal, scored when Beckham's flighted free-kick went into the Paraguayan net off the head of Gamarra.

Camarra said afterwards his touch was minimal and he did not think it changed the direction of the ball.

FIFA had said it would review all so-called "dubious" goals with the aim of awarding them to an attacking player where possible, rather than as own goals. But the Technical Study Group decided the own goal would stand, FIFA said at a news conference.

Rooney could return on Thursday

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said striker Wayne Rooney could be fit to return ahead of schedule against Trinidad & Tobago on Thursday.

Rooney, who team-mate Rio Ferdinand said was desperate to come on as a substitute in Saturday's 1-0 win over Paraguay, has been recovering from a broken foot sustained on April 29.

Asked whether the 20-year-old had a chance of playing some part on Thursday, Eriksson said: "I'm very optimistic, always. I'm born like that."

It would be Rooney's World Cup debut. Such a move would not be popular with Man. United, who have made it clear they do not want a player who cost them nearly £30 million appearing before the second round on June 24 or 25.

Ballack to return for Germany

Germany captain Michael Ballack will return for the hosts' second World Cup Group A game against Poland on Wednesday, coach Juergen Klinsmann said yesterday.

"Michael will play in the second game," Klinsmann told a news conference. "You can take that for granted."

Ballack was left out of the team for Germany's 4-2 win over Costa Rica in the opening match of the World Cup on Friday over concerns that his calf strain had not healed completely.

FA concerned over water issue

England's FA will approach FIFA after match officials in their Group B opener against Paraguay prevented players getting all the water they needed during the match.

Despite sweltering temperatures of up to 29 degrees Celsius on Saturday, England's players were at times denied access to water by officials at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt.

"We're certainly going to make some kind of communication with FIFA - not any kind of complaint - but I know the medical staff were concerned," FA spokesman Adrian Bevington said yesterday.

"I think we went through 70 litres of water during the course of the game on Saturday. We normally go through somewhere in the region of 20 litres."

Power cuts dampen spirit

Switch off lights, water heaters and fridges, prepare dinner before the match and do not think about using an electric kettle to make a cup of tea. Just some of the tips for football fans published by Uganda's energy ministry, "so we can all watch World Cup 2006".

The east African nation has been suffering a crippling power crisis for months. Residents in the capital Kampala only receive electricity for 24 of every 48 hours, and demand is spiking as thousands more viewers tune into the tournament.

"The situation is terrible, but I can't really tell you anything that would be printable. I'm too annoyed," said the owner of a small bar showing the games on satellite television.

Schaefer set to land Togo job

Winfried Schaefer, the experienced former Cameroon coach, is ready to take charge of the troubled Togo World Cup team after their trainer quit over a players' pay dispute.

"I'm just about to drive to (Togo team base) Wangen to meet management and players. We already talked last night. I will take the job if everything is in order, if they are disciplined," Schaefer told Reuters on the telephone yesterday.

"It (the pay dispute) has to be settled. That's a condition."

On Saturday, assistant coach Kodjovi Mawuena found himself hastily promoted to the top coaching job after his predecessor and former boss Otto Pfister walked out, saying he could not do his job with a pay row between players and officials unresolved.

Defender Martinez ruled out

Costa Rica defender Gilberto Martinez is out of the World Cup with a knee injury, a team official said yesterday.

The right-back aggravated a knee injury during his side's 4-2 defeat by hosts Germany on Friday in their group opener.

The 26-year-old has returned to his club Brescia in Italy for assessment.

New contract for Lemerre

Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre has signed a new contract to stay with the north African side until at least 2008. France's Lemerre joined Tunisia in 2002 after he coached France at the World Cup in Asia.