Doing World Cup rounds

Here is NSC's overview of all the tournament injury situations:

Group A

France

in doubt: William Gallas (bum calf; played last two friendlies)

ruled out: Lasanna Diarra (sickle cell anemia)

Mexico

in doubt: Guille Franco (ankle; back in training, Rafa Marquez (leg muscle; training to side)

ruled out: n/a

South Africa

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Andile Jali (heart condition diagnosis)

Uruguay

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Group B

Argentina

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Greece

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Nigeria

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Victor Anichebe (shin), Onyekachi Apam (knee), John Obi Mikel (ankle), Ikechukwu Uche (knee)

South Korea

in doubt: Park Chu-Young (dislocated shoulder; expected ready for opener), Park Ji-Sung (hamstring; expected ready for opener)

ruled out: n/a

Group C

Algeria

in doubt: Habib Belaid (mystery injury; back in training), Madjid Bougherra (knee; played last friendly), Karim Matmour (thigh; played last friendly), Antar Yahia (thigh; played last friendly), Hassan Yebda (hamstring; doubtful for opener)

ruled out: Mourad Meghni (thigh)

England

in doubt: Gareth Barry (ankle; will miss opener against USA)

ruled out: David Beckham (Achilles), Rio Ferdinand (knee)

Slovenia

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

USA

in doubt: Josmer Altidore (ankle; back in training), Oguchi Onyewu (knee; playing, but sorely lacking match fitness)

ruled out: Charlie Davies (multiple injuries), Jermaine Jones (leg)

Group D

Australia

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Germany

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Rene Adler (rib surgery), Michael Ballack (ankle), Simon Rolfes (knee), Christian Traesch (ankle), Heiko Westermann (broken foot)

Ghana

in doubt: Richard Kingson (shoulder; doubtful for opener), Sulley Muntari (thigh; back in training)

ruled out: Michael Essien (knee)

Serbia

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Ivica Dragutinovic (Achilles), Bosko Jankovic (knee)

Group E

Netherlands

in doubt: Arjen Robben (thigh muscle tear, doubtful for tournament and certain to miss opening match)

ruled out: n/a

Denmark

in doubt: Nicklas Bendtner (groin injury, doubtful for opener); John Dahl Thomasson (groin, hopeful of making opener); Simon Kjaer (knee injury, doubtful for opener); Thomas Sorensen (dislocated elbow; tournament doubt)

ruled out: n/a

Japan

in doubt: Makoto Hasebe (hip injury, doubtful for opener); Yasuyuki Konno (knee injury, certain to miss opener); Shunsuke Nakamura (injured ankle and fitness concerns, doubtful for prominent playing time)

ruled out: n/a

Cameroon

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Jacques Zoua (hamstring)

Group F

Italy

in doubt: Mauro Camoranesi (left knee injury, hopeful of making opener); Claudio Marchisio (slight injury doubt); Angelo Palombo (slight injury doubt); Andrea Pirlo (calf injury, will miss at least the opening two games)

ruled out: n/a

Paraguay

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Salvador Cabañas (gunshot wound/head injury)

New Zealand

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Slovakia

in doubt: Marek Hamsik (muscle injury, hopeful of making opener); Martin Skrtel (ankle swelling, doubtful for opener)

ruled out: n/a

Group G

Brazil

in doubt: Julio Cesar (back injury, slight doubt for opener)

ruled out: n/a

Korea DPR

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: n/a

Ivory Coast

in doubt: Didier Drogba (broken bone in forearm, tournament doubt)

ruled out: n/a

Portugal

in doubt: Pepe (longterm knee injury and fitness concern, hopeful of making opener)

ruled out: Nani (collarbone)

Group H

Spain

in doubt: Fernando Torres (recovering from knee surgery, doubtful for opening matches)

ruled out: n/a

Switzerland

in doubt: n/a

ruled out: Christoph Spycher (knee); Marco Streller (thigh muscle)

Honduras

in doubt: David Suazo (slight leg knock, hopeful of making opener); Wilson Palacios (shin injury; doubtful for opening games)

ruled out: n/a

Chile

in doubt: Humberto Suazo (hamstring, tournament doubt and certain to miss opener)

ruled out: n/a


- Johannes de Jong & Greg Seltzer