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.