Ibrahimovic has groin strain

Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is doubtful for the final Group B match with England because of a groin strain.

Doctor Anders Valentin said the extent of the injury would not be clear until further tests, including an MRI scan, were conducted on the player. Ibrahimovic played only 45 minutes of Thursday's 1-0 win over Paraguay.

"Zlatan felt some pain in the left groin during warm-up and during the game the pain increased so we decided to take him off the pitch at half-time," Valentin said.

Klinsmann - still an apprentice

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann was reluctant to take the credit despite winning widespread praise with a new commitment to a fast-paced, adventurous style.

Klinsmann, 41, had never had a coaching job before he took over the German team in 2004. He receives valuable support from assistant Joachim Loew, goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke and team manager Oliver Bierhoff.

"We're a four-man coaching team and we share the role of leader," Klinsmann said yesterday.

"I'm still an apprentice. I have to learn quickly and that will continue after the World Cup is over."

Aussies work on secret plans

Australia coach Guus Hiddink took the Socceroos behind closed doors yesterday to start piecing together his master plan to beat world champions Brazil.

The Australians have been talking down their chances of beating Brazil in tomorrow's Group F match in Munich but are still quietly confident of pulling off an upset following their euphoric 3-1 win over Japan in Kaiserslautern on Monday.

"Obviously there is a little bit of respect because they are world champions, but you just go out there and you play to what you're capable of playing," Australia striker Harry Kewell said.

"You're not going to go into a game thinking you're going to lose. You're going to go in thinking you're going to win it, and that's how we are going to start."

Praise for England fans

England's fans, so often the pariahs of world football, are making headlines again at the World Cup - for all the right reasons.

Wolfgang Niersbach, vice-president of the German organising committee, told journalists that the behaviour of the England fans was one of the highlights of the World Cup so far.

"By our estimates there were 60,000 or 70,000 English fans in Nuremberg for the match against Trinidad and their exemplary behaviour was being discussed by many people last night.

"We would like to say we have tremendous praise for the way the English fans are behaving."

'Wanted ad'... one Kaka please

Despairing of Japan's lack of killer instinct at the World Cup, the country's soccer chief said the missing ingredient was obvious: 'We need a Kaka'.

Japan failed to press their goal advantage and suffered a late collapse in a 3-1 defeat by Australia in their opening game on Monday, leaving the Asian champions facing an early exit.

"We keep telling the players to take more shots but they seem to lack confidence," said Japan FA chief Saburo Kawabuchi.

The Japanese supremo added with a sigh: "If only we had a Kaka."

Bierhoff doesn't fancy England

Germany say they fear no one at the World Cup after winning their opening two games but the hosts would rather avoid possible rivals England in the second round.

"I'm convinced that we can beat anyone in the tournament," Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff said.

If Germany top the group they will face the second-placed team in Group B and Bierhoff hopes that will not turn out to be English.

"England are maybe still the favourites in that group," he said.

"I think Sweden might be better opposition for us at this stage but you always meet good opposition in the World Cup, even at the last 16 stage."

Half-nil win will do, says Big Phil

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari would settle for a half-nil win over Iran in today's Group D match. Portugal are expecting a tough match against opponents who went down 3-1 to Mexico in their first outing.

"In many ways, this is the most difficult of the three games," said Scolari. "I sense that there is less nervousness in our team than there was before the first game but I also feel there's a little more respect for Iran. The players expect more difficulties than in the first game.

"I think Iran have an excellent team and, as far as I'm concerned, if we win half-nil, that will be enough to reach our target."