Buoyant Beckham lifts the Rooney blues

Captain David Beckham is predicting a bright World Cup future for England despite weeks of gloom over the injury to striker Wayne Rooney.

Mexico striker Fonseca denies clash with coach

Messi gives Argentina a lift, says Pekerman

Ballack back in training, could face Japan

Van der Vaart suffers fresh ankle injury

Rooney's foot tops the bill again

Wayne Rooney's broken foot, never far from the headlines, was back at the top of England's World Cup agenda again on Monday after Manchester United agreed to bring forward the striker's next scan by a week to June 7.

Torres' talent threatens to outshine icon Raul

Real Madrid icon Raul is already playing catch-up in Spain's pre-World Cup goalscoring and popularity charts with his cross-city rival at Atletico, Fernando Torres.

Adriano says he's feeling fine for World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo primed to light up World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to be Portugal's key player at the World Cup just like Luis Figo at Euro 2004 and Eusebio in 1966.

Morning call for Rooney's World Cup hopes

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson says the results of Wayne Rooney's scan on his broken foot will be known early on Friday, as a country waits to see if the striker will make the World Cup.

Cool Owen brushes off the pressure

As England wait nervously for the verdict on Wayne Rooney's broken foot, Michael Owen says he is ready to bear the striking burden at the World Cup.

Ibrahimovic's form vital to Sweden's World Cup bid