INJURY CURSE CONTINUING TO STRIKE KEY PLAYERS

Arjen Robben is the latest in a string of key players bound for the World Cup in South Africa to suffer a worrying injury.

The Dutch winger limped out of Holland's 6-1 win over Hungary earlier today after appearing to pull a hamstring.

Holland are scheduled to depart for South Africa tonight, but no decision will be made on Robben's inclusion until more is known about the nature and extent of the injury.

Despite the morale boosting victory, Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk stated that he "would rather lose this match and have Arjen stay fit" as reported by The Guardian.

Meanwhile, the defending World Champions Italy have concerns over the fitness of Andrea Pirlo who suffered a calf problem during the warm up defeat to Mexico. Pirlo, who played a key role four years ago in his country's success, is not currently with the squad and his progress is being closely monitored.

South American giants and five-time winners Brazil have worries over goalkeeper Julio Cesar who is struggling with a back problem and is currently unable to train.

The USA, whose opening Group C match against England is just a week away now, today beat Australia 3-1 in their final warm up game, but a notable absentee from the starting line-up was Jozy Altidore. The striker is nursing a sprained ankle but is expected to recover in time for the start of the tournament.

DROGBA HOPES HANGING BY A THREAD

Didier Drogba's hopes of taking part in the World Cup remain very much in the balance following confirmation that he broke his arm in yesterday's friendly against Japan.

It is understood that permission from the medical staff at Drogba's club Chelsea may be required for the player to undergo immediate surgery in a last ditch bid to be fit to play some part in the Ivory Coast's campaign.

The importance of Drogba to the Ivory Coast's hopes cannot be understated; 45 goals in 70 internationals is a superb return, and his presence in the dressing room and on the pitch is one of a natural leader from whom team-mates derive inspiration.

Drogba recently stated his desire to take the golden boot at South Africa 2010. You could sense in his words a sense of responsibility not only to his own country, but to the African continent as a whole, who desperately hope to have at least one or two representatives in the latter stages of the competition.

Many thought that - in spite of being drawn in the toughest group (G) with Brazil, Portugal and North Korea - the Ivory Coast represented Africa's best chance of being represented in the semi-final. That is a view which may be revised if Drogba doesn't make it. The sad reality may be that the injury impairs his performance level even if he is passed fit.

Meanwhile Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel - one of Drogba's Chelsea team-mates - has definitely been ruled out of the World Cup following an ankly injury.

Drogba's misfortune was one of two high profile injuries yesterday; England captain Rio Ferdinand was ruled out of the tournament following an accident in training resulting in knee ligament damage.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Michael Dawson - who was planning his summer holiday - got the dramatic call last night informing him that his country would indeed need him after all, and had about an hour to pack his suitcase and get to the airport. He arrived in South Africa this morning and has joined up with the squad at their base in Rustenburg.

CUP FEVER GRIPS THE WORLD

World Cup Fever is in full swing across the globe and the final countdown well and truly on, with squads and fans arriving in South Africa for the showpiece event of world sport.

The opening match between the host nation and Mexico is only 150 hours away and will kick-off the tournament which will see 64 matches played over a period of 31 days.

In five weeks time the world will be reflecting on the triumph and heartache of the semi-finals, and building up to match number 64 which will determine the nation who will enjoy the status of World Champions for the next four years.

For the hosts South Africa this is the culmination of a dream which began six years ago when they were awarded the World Cup, beating Egypt and Morocco for the right to host the tournament - the first to take place on African soil.

For the other 31 competing nations there are a range of expectations and dreams; for some, a victory in the group stages would represent an admirable acheivement, for others, a place in the second round. And for one or two nations, only the winning of the greatest prize in sport would satisfy the dreams and expectations of delirious fans.

The colour, pride, passion and drama of the World Cup is almost upon us again, and there truly is nothing to compare. They call it the greatest show on earth. Let the show begin.

RIO FERDINAND'S WORLD CUP HEARTACHE

England skipper Rio Ferdinand's has been ruled out of the World Cup.

The defender's tournament is over before it has even begun following a ligament injury sustained to his left knee during the first full training session of the England squad this morning in Rustenburg.

Ferdinand was photographed leaving a local hospital on crutches on Friday afternoon following the incident, which happened towards the end of the training session and which coach Fabio Capello called an "accidental injury". The player has been ruled out for 4-6 weeks, which means any involvement in the latter stages of the competition would not be possible.

The news represents a serious blow to Capello's build up to England's Group C opener against the USA a week tomorrow, and indeed their hopes of landing a first World Cup since 1966.

Spurs defender Michael Dawson is due to fly to South Africa tonight as Ferdinand's replacement, and Steven Gerrard has been confirmed at the man who will now captain the England side.

Meanwhile Ivorian Coast striker Didier Drogba has suffered a suspected fractured elbow in his country's last warm up match against Japan, leaving his hopes of appearing at the tournament in doubt.

It was initially thought that Drogba would be likely to miss out, but The Guardian reports that the star striker will undergo an emergency operation tonight in a desperate bid to be fit for the Ivorians opening game against Portugal on June 15.

ITALIAN GRAVEYARDS

1950...Sao Paolo
a 3-2 group defeat to Sweden.

1954...Basel
a 4-1 play-off loss to hosts Switzerland.

1962...Santiago
Host nation hoodoo strikes again, 2-0 to Chile.

1966...Middlesborough
One of the great World Cup shocks, North Korea 1 Italy 0.

1970...Mexico City
Beaten by the best. 4-1 to Brazil in the Final.

1974...Stuttgart
Poland 2 Italy 1, out in the group stages again.

1978...Buenos Aires
2-1 defeat to the Dutch in the final group game of the second stage, with a place in the Final awaiting the winners.

1986...Mexico City
2-0 to France in the second round.

1990...Naples
So close to the Final, but beaten to it by the golden boy of Naples - Maradona - and Argentina, who marched on to Rome via a penalty shootout.

1994...Los Angeles
Penalties again, this time in the Final, with hero turned villian Roberto Baggio missing the decisive kick.

1998...Paris
Three in a row: penalty exit again to hosts France in the quarter-finals.

2002...Daejeon
Merging of two hoodoos: hosts and the Korean peninsula! Out in the second round, South Korea 2 Italy 1, evoking memories of 1966.

WORLD CUP NUMBERS

32 participating nations in the 2010 World Cup
31 days of World Cup football
30 the total number of goals Uruguay scored in qualifying for South Africa 2010
29 the age of Aaron Mokoena, captain of hosts South Africa
28 the average age of the England squad
27 the FIFA World ranking of dark horses Ivory Coast
26 the number of international goals Brazilian superstar Kaka has scored
25 the record number of World Cup appearances - by German legend Lothar Matthaus
24 years since Argentina last won the World Cup
23 players in each nation's final squad
22 the total number of games played in the 1950 World Cup
21 the total number of goals Portugal have conceded at the World Cup Finals
20 the squad number of Mexican midfielder Jorge Torres
19 the total number of World Cup matches that Germany have lost
18 previous World Cup tournaments, and number of European coaches at South Africa 2010
17 the number of goals Holland scored in qualifying for South Africa 2010
16 the number of participating nations in eight of the previous World Cups
15 the record number of goals scored by one player - Ronaldo - at the World Cup Finals
14 the number of times Argentina have played at the World Cup Finals
13 the record number of goals scored by one player in one tournament - Just Fontaine, 1958
12 years since the last of the seven World Cup winners - France - joined the prestigious list
11 the shirt number of Argentinian ace Carlos Tevez
10 the total number of World Cup goals England striker Gary Lineker scored
9 the number of times a European team has won the World Cup
8 years since an African side reached the quarter-finals
7 previous winners
6 African nations competing at South Africa 2010
5 combined number of coaches at South Africa 2010 that come from either Argentina or Brazil
4 years of waiting are over...
3 Asian nations competing at South Africa 2010
2 teams that will face each other in Johannesburg, Sunday July 11
1 winner, at the end of it all...

WALCOTT OUT AS CAPELLO SWINGS THE AXE

Strong rumours out of Wembley today suggest that Arsenal winger Theo Walcott will not be making England's 23-man squad for the World Cup Finals.

The youngster has been a fixture of Fabio Capello's team since the Italian took charge of the national side and repaid his manager's faith with a magnificent hat-trick against against Croatia in Zagreb during the qualification stages.

However that glowing performance has faded over time and his inability to command a regular spot for his club appears to have seriously shaken his confidence and his form for England has perhaps made the decision to leave him off the plane somewhat justified.

Manchester City midfielder Shaun Wright-Phillips seems set to take his place on the plane whilst his teammate Adam Johnson appears to have lost out to Chelsea's Joe Cole in the battle for the left midfield berth.

Others expected to be excluded from the squad are Sunderland striker Darren Bent and Everton left-back Leighton Baines who has been suggested to have suffered from home sickness.

News is yet to be confirmed over Gareth Barry, the only man to play in every qualifier for England, who has been suffering with injury over the past couple of weeks.