German midfielder Sebastian Deisler has been ruled out of the World Cup finals after re-injuring a knee, German coach Rudi Voller announced yesterday.
Deisler was stretchered off the pitch during Germany's warm-up victory over Austria on Saturday after a tackle from Austrian striker Rolf Landerl and had suffered sharp pain in his knee since then.
He had only returned to competitive football on May 4th after a leg muscle injury and before that had been out from October to March after requiring knee surgery.
"I'm incredibly disappointed that I won't be at the World Cup, but there's nothing I can do about it," said 22-year-old Deisler. "I wish the team a good and successful World Cup."
His absence deals another blow to Voller's injury-ravaged squad and puts more responsibility on the shoulders of midfield partner Michael Ballack.
Voller has already had to do without Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Mehmet Scholl, who has ruled himself out because of lack of fitness, and Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny, who has torn right knee ligaments, while Hertha Berlin defender Marco Rehmer is still struggling with an ankle injury.
Ballack, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen, and Deisler, who played this season for Hertha Berlin, will form the nucleus of a rebuilt Bayern Munich next year.
Portugal's World Cup planning suffered another setback yesterday when midfielder Luis Figo was reported to be ruled out of his team's friendly against China in Macau on Saturday.
The Real Madrid star, who put in a disappointing performance in the Spanish club's 2-1 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League final last week, has been suffering from an injury to his right ankle since mid-February.
The friendly with China is Portugal's final warm-up match before they begin their World Cup campaign on June 5th against the United States.
Liverpool have decided not to sign on-loan striker Nicolas Anelka from French club Paris Saint Germain.
Anelka, who was left out of Roger Lemerre's World Cup squad in favour of Auxerre's Djibril Cisse, joined Liverpool in December. A fee, believed to be £12 million, had already been fixed between the clubs.
But after mulling the move over, Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier decided not to to go ahead with the deal.
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce yesterday confirmed his interest in signing Nigeria captain Jay Jay Okocha.
The 28-year-old midfielder, who will skipper Nigeria at this summer's World Cup finals, will become a free agent in the summer when his contract with Paris St Germain expires.
Manchester City have completed the £4 million purchase of French defender Sylvain Distin from PSG.
The 24-year-old signed a four-year deal.
