NANI OUT AS WORLD CUP CURSE STRIKES AGAIN

Manchester United and Portugal winger Nani is the latest player to fall victim to an emerging World Cup curse, after being ruled out of the showpiece event.

Portugal confirmed the news in a team statement saying, "After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup."

The 23 year-old suffered a shoulder injury in training on Friday and tests have confirmed he will not be fit for the tournament.

England skipper Rio Ferdinand has already been ruled out of the World Cup while Côte d'Ivoire captain Didier Drogba is touch and go after suffering a broken arm in a warm-up game against Japan. The African nations have suffered badly with injuries with Drogba's club mates John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien having been ruled out of action for Nigeria and Ghana respectively.

The fitness of Dutch winger Arjen Robben remains a major concern for Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk after the Bayern Munich winger limped out of his side's 6-1 win over Hungary last week.

However it is better news for Honduras midfielder Wilson Palacios who has been passed fit to play, as has Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar. Initial fears that both would be unable to make the tournament have proven unfounded.

ENGLAND UNSCATHED AND UNDERWHELMING IN PLATINUM STARS VICTORY

England cruised to a 3-0 win over South African club side Platinum Stars as they completed their warm-up for the World Cup.

Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe got England off to a great start when he tapped home Steven Gerrard's lay-off in the third minute of the game but the Three Lions struggled to find their form in the first half.

The Platinum Stars had a chance to level from the spot shortly after Defoe's strike but Bradley Grobler fired his penalty harmlessly over the crossbar.

Joe Cole, the only England player to complete the whole ninety minutes, got the second after a quick break from Wayne Rooney before Rooney got himself on the score sheet as he volleyed home James Milner's cross to round off the best move of the match.

The match had many pundits and fans fearing the worst due to the close proximity of England's opening game against the USA on Saturday but the team managed to come through the game without picking up any injuries.

Many questions remain unanswered as to Capello's preferred starting line-up with few England players doing anything to confirm their place on the team sheet in this final warm-up game.

All four strikers got forty five minutes on the pitch with Spurs striker Peter Crouch partnering his club mate, Defoe, in the first half before the pair were replaced by Emile Heskey and Rooney at half time.

This leaves the question unanswered as to who will partner Rooney against the USA with neither Crouch nor Heskey having an impact on the game. It would be something of a surprise should pint-sized Defoe make the first eleven as that would surely see Rooney play a deeper role to support his strike partner, something Fabio Capello has shied away from in the past.

There also remains questions as to who will start on the flanks for England with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aaron Lennon both desperate to fill the right midfield berth. However Joe Cole's performance may have done enough to convince Capello he is worthy of starting on the left with Steven Gerrard moving into the middle to partner Frank Lampard.

Ledley King seems set to partner John Terry in defence after Rio Ferdinand's heart wrenching injury in training, while it still remains a mystery who will wear the gloves for the Three Lions.

Joe Hart started today's game and was replaced by Rob Green at half time although neither were given much of a chance to prove their worth. Portsmouth's David James is the most experienced of the three and has been handed the No. 1 by Capello which would make him the favourite to start in Rustenberg.

There's certainly plenty of decisions left for Fabio to make.

COUNTING DOWN THE HOURS

100 hours to go...

WORLD CUP VIEW FROM...SOUTH KOREA

Tim Alper writes for Best 11, a South Korean monthly football magazine, and is a producer for tbs eFM, South Korea's only English-language radio station. He will be producing the 2010 World Cup Update show for the station.

What is the mood in South Korea now with the team's opening match against Greece just five days away?

It's close to fever pitch out here. The World Cup has been a huge deal in South Korea ever since they co-hosted it back in 2002. Just about every major square and sports stadium in Seoul has been decked out with massive TV screens, and people are set to go wild with excitement here. Korea is a pretty exciting place to be when the World Cup rolls around.

Has the Korean Football Association set any particular target for the team at South Africa 2010?

I am not aware that they have. However, the public perception is that, after the disappointment of 2006, when they were knocked out in the group stages, reaching the second round would be a massive achievement. I don't think anyone dares dream of getting further that that.

The level of expectation amongst the fans was clearly very high four years ago following the amazing run to the semi-final on home soil in 2002. Has the sobering experience of Germany 2006 tempered expectations this time?

Certainly. South Korean fans are pretty realistic. They know that 2002 was not a template for future success, it was just one glorious moment in Korean sporting history. But this time, they just want the team to make a real fist of it, and push for the round of 16.

Who do you think are the two most important players for South Korea as this World Cup?

It's hard to narrow it down to two, South Korea's squad in 2010 is quite possibly the best squad they have ever sent to a World Cup. I would say watch out for Celtic's Ki Seung-Young, he is one of the most creative players Korea have in their side. Also, a lot of responsibility lies in the hands of their veteran goalkeeper, Lee Woon-Jae. It either of these players underperform, South Korea will struggle.

The balance of South Korea's group (Group B) is perfect on paper as it contains four teams from four different confederations. Do you think the Korean team is more suited to playing teams from a particular confederation?

If the World Cup were being played anywhere but Africa, I'd say African teams. A lot of teams from Africa see South Korean players as lightweights who they can muscle off the ball easily. But where a lot of teams that play against South Korea come undone is when it comes to underestimating the energy levels of East Asian sides. I doubt there are many sides that can outdo Korea when it comes to basic fitness. A lot of the time, African sides play at really high tempo and run out of steam in the final third of the game. If it weren't for the 'home advantage' of playing in Africa, I'd say that sides like Nigeria, who South Korea will be playing against, would be perfect opponents.

On paper the most difficult of the three group matches looks to be the middle one against Argentina. How important do you think the order in which you play the teams in your group is?

I don't think it makes much difference. South Korea will be going out to win all three, though personally, if I were Huh Jong-Moo, I'd want an early crack at Argentina. Player for player, they look frightening, but I don't think Maradona has the coaching skills or the tactical nous to win them the World Cup.

So, how far do you think South Korea will go?

I would say the second round is realistic. As long as they can take a point or more from their first game, I think they'll do it. If they lose against Greece, they may struggle to qualify.

Looking at the tournament as a whole, which four teams would you expect to reach the semi-finals?

England, Germany, Brazil, Italy.

And the winners?

It's tough to say, as this is the first ever African World Cup. I think it might come down to team spirit and self-belief, and Germany or Italy have those qualities in spades. Spain are easily the best side, if you look at their squad, but I think they may get vertigo when they get to the later rounds. You have to remember that before they triumphed at EURO 2008, they were labelled along with the Dutch as perennial bottlers. I can see the wheels coming off if they go a goal behind against a big, confident side like the Brazilians or the Italians.

THE WEIGHT OF HISTORY

For the likes of Holland and England, the weight of World Cup history inescapably bears down on the shoulders of the current teams. The echelons of world football are fairly firmly established, as can be clearly seen when we delve into the histories of the 18 previous tournaments. The old guard generally rules; heritage appears to count for much when the ultimate goal is at stake. Every four years the opportunity to challenge the established order presents itself to nations such as England and Holland, but with each passing failure, the burden of history intensifies and the pressure to deliver grows.

England fans are long-suffering and ever-optimistic, but the reality is that 44 long years have passed since the founding country of football stood at the summit of the world. That glorious Saturday afternoon at Wembley Stadium way back in 1966 and the accompanying images of English celebrations are all the fans have had to live off for nearly half a century. Creating new images of glory by winning the thing again in the modern era has become a national obsession. But the game has changed so much, and English football - like many other aspects of English life - has failed to keep pace with the rest of the world. The 'weight of history' is all too often evident on the faces of the players, who have become past masters at talking the talk, but do not convince you that deep down they believe they are good enough.

As for the Dutch, they have no previous World Cup triumph to haunt them; instead they have a psychological barrier that afflicts many great sides - the clearing of the final hurdle. Twice they stood on the brink, twice they could not cross the threshold. Instead they labour under the label 'best team never to have won the World Cup'. On both the occasions they reached the Final - 1974 and 1978 - they had the armoury to see off the opposition (West Germany and Argentina respectively), but could not find the indefinable quality that transforms potential into victory. Since that era Holland have continued to produce teams of exquisite latent ability, yet at too many subsequent tournaments the 'weight of history' has been apparent in the manner in which they seemed to take a perverse joy in refusing to unite, leading to the self-destructing of their own dreams.

This is not to say that the weight of history does not effect the members of the higher rank of world football. To the likes of Italy, Germany and Brazil - who have all tasted the sweetness of the ultimate victory on several occasions - history weighs on them, too. For sure. Between them they have won 12 of the 18 World Cup tournaments that have taken place, and each has won it at least once in the last 20 years. Success creates expectation, but the prolonged lack of success of the likes of the Dutch and the English fosters growing desperation.

The statistics tell the story. In the last seven World Cups (1982-2006) only FIVE different nations have played the Final - Germany (four times), Italy (three times), Brazil (three times), and Argentina and France with two appearances each. In this same period, the semi-finals have been graced by Poland, Belgium, Sweden, Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey and South Korea. The point? The old guard rules. Ultimate success - and particularly in recent years - is the reserve of a select few.

Spain may be another side whose continued failure to deliver may start to feel this burden that the passing of the years can bring. Two years ago they won the European Championships in style, and in doing so crossed their own personal 'psycological barrier' of how to deliver their potential when it really counts. But on the only truly global stage that is the World Cup, there is a still higher mental level to summount. Arguably Spain were not tested sufficiently two summers ago in Austria and Switzerland. That will not be the case in South Africa. Their World Cup record is poor - it's a staggering 60 years since they reached the last four. And there are those who still claim they are weak when it comes to the really big games, and point to the EURO 2008 quarter-final with Italy as an example, where they had to rely on a penalty shootout to get through.

A new weight of history for Spain begins now. The tag of pre-tournament favourites usually belongs to Brazil, but they will be very happy for Spain to carry it for them this time and deal with the pressure that goes with it. Based on results and first team selection, the favourites label appears justified. The Spanish fans believe, and with good reason, that their team is the best in the world. The key question is whether the players will have the same self-assurance when they play a Holland, an Italy, or a Brazil in the cauldron of a World Cup knock-out encounter.

South Africa 2010 will be upon us shortly. Is the safe bet to rely on what recent history tells us, that Cup pedigree should feature heavily in our suppositions of what may happen in this latest chapter of World Cup history? Will the tournament provide the means for an England or a Holland to alleviate themselves of the burden of the weight of history? Will Spain break the trend of recent tournaments and become the first Finalist outside the big five for 32 years? Will an outsider write themselves into the annals of international football folklore? Or will the Usual Suspects rule again? The page is blank. The answers are coming. The Cup is here.

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.