Rooney Cleared to Play for England
From News Services
Thursday, June 8, 2006; E10

England striker Wayne Rooney was cleared to rejoin his country's World Cup squad after having his broken right foot examined in Manchester, England, FIFA's Web site reported yesterday.

Rooney boarded a flight to Germany late yesterday after having scans on the foot, which he broke on April 29.

There was no official confirmation from either the English Football Association or his club, Manchester United, about the results of the scans on his metatarsal bone which took place at an exclusive hospital. But the 20-year-old striker was all smiles as he left the hospital, the British Press Association reported. . . .

Germany forward Michael Ballack, who became soccer's highest-paid player on joining Chelsea from Bayern Munich last month, failed to finish yesterday's training session because of a calf injury and may miss the opening game against Costa Rica
----------------------------
Hooligans Get In
There has already been a glitch in the massive security crackdown to prevent fan violence at the World Cup: Three British hooligans somehow slipped into Germany.

Despite efforts by Germany and England to prevent troublemakers from making it to the soccer tournament, which starts tomorrow, Michael Waldheckler of the ZIS police agency said the three have already been spotted. Their movements are being monitored by police, he said.

Waldheckler said the three were among the 3,500 British hooligans ordered to surrender their passports prior to the tournament. So far, 180 of those have not done so.
------------------------------------
Cisse Out of Tournament
French forward Djibril Cisse will miss the World Cup after his right leg buckled during last night's 3-1 win over China.

"Everyone is devastated," France Coach Raymond Domenech said. "He is in the hospital. He is being operated on. I'm not a doctor. I don't know the exact nature of the injury."

Cisse chased the ball down the right flank in the 10th minute and was knocked off balance. As he fell, Cisse's leg twisted under him.