Goethe Speed Wolf Druce News!

Reuters reports that the World Cup opening ceremony will feature "170 World Cup-winning players including Pele and Diego Maradona." Most interesting, however, is the reported attendance of "Juan Schiaffino, 80, who scored for Uruguay in the 1950 final." Schiaffino's attendace would be truly spectacular considering his death on the 13th of November of 2002.

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A great round-up of World Cup injuries is available at the World Cup Blog, but I've done my Googling too.

Germany's Michael Ballack out with a calf, and the lower half of his leg hurts too. What do you expect when you're out all night at the discotheque with a cow?

The Czech's claim to be hobbled, but Bruce ain't buying it.
Let's go to the list:
Midfielder Pavel Nedved - knee
Vladimir Smicer - Knee
Milan Baros fighting - foot
Tomas Rosicky und Tomas Galasek both dinged up

While Rooney may be back for England, Steven Gerrard is 50-50.

A two-fer for Italy as Gianluca Zambrotta is out und Nesta is doubtful. Both were seen rolling on the ground, holding their shins all day long.

French forward Djibril Cisse will miss the World Cup after his right leg buckled during Wednesday night's 3-1 win over China. Won't return until November.

Australia's Kewell says he's good to go

For the Netherlands, Philip Cocu, Wesley Sneijder und Giovanni van Bronckhorst all sustained injuries of unknown consequence.

Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson has a concussion.

Und the Croats aren't feeling so hot either.

Of course, the one scratch the must warrent genuine sympathy is that of Mexico goaltender Oswaldo Sanchez who has returned to Mexico after his father suffered a heart attack.

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From the US Soccer web log: "Guess who just dropped by the Studio 90 set again - Bruce Arena! He's made a habit of stopping in every afternoon to see how the group is holding up (fine, thank you very much). Plus, a Frankie Hejduk sighting in Hamburg.

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Der Spiegel takes a critical look at German coach Jay Goppingen, nea, Jurgen Klinsmann

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While in Germany, why not catch a humerous German play about Hitler and the World Cup? I can think of a few reasons, but taboos were meant to be broken.


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I can't help but notice that advertisers, broadcasters, and a/v techs world-wide seem intent on playing U2 during every prelude, interlude, and postlude possible.

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Club America vs Barca in Houston on Aug. 9, und Real vs. Real in Salt Lake on Aug. 12.


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Chivas takes its first out of six from the Galaxy, 2-1

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If you're longing for a little local action off the world stage, there is plenty to go around:

6/9 Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake
6/10 New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo und Columbus Crew vs. Kansas City Wizards
6/11 FC Dallas vs. Chivas USA und Chicago Fire vs. New England Revolution und Los Angeles Galaxy vs. D.C. United