Oxygen treatment for Rooney
AFP, Manchester
Sir Alex Ferguson has said injured England striker Wayne Rooney will use an oxygen chamber in a bid to boost his chances of playing in next month's World Cup finals in Germany.
Rooney is facing at least six weeks on the sidelines, after sustaining what turned out to be a double fracture of his foot in Manchester United's 3-0 defeat away to Chelsea last Saturday, which gave the London club back-to-back Premiership titles.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has vowed to take the 20-year-old Rooney with him to Germany even if the former Everton striker has only the slimmest chance of playing in the tournament.
And although United boss Ferguson has been scathing of Eriksson's approach, saying it placed too much pressure upon Rooney, he promised the club would do everything possible to help the striker, with an oxygen chamber at their Carrington training complex being the latest development.
"An oxygen chamber will arrive here this afternoon," said Ferguson Thursday.
"There is no conclusive evidence that it does improve injuries but there is no evidence against it. It won't do any harm and everything is worth a try at this stage." Italy's big bonus
INTERNET, undated
Italy's World Cup squad have been promised a win bonus of almost 200,000 pounds each if they triumph in Germany this summer.
The Italian Football Federation are understood to have made just over 4 million pounds available as prize money for the 23-man Azzurri party if they are crowned champions.
Having not lifted the trophy since 1982, the FIGC are keen to do all they can to motivate the players and are ready to hand out 178,000 pounds each if necessary.
This summer's figure is considerably larger than what was on offer four years ago when the individuals involved in the 2002 campaign were promised 120,000 pounds. The Azzurri will net a bonus for finishing as runners-up too, but for the first time will also receive around 75,000 pounds if they end up third.
Nevertheless, other nations are also preparing to dig deep into their pockets in a bid to aid their respective assault on the Finals.
The Spaniards, eternal underachievers at this level, will somewhat amazingly be handed 385,000-pounds-a man according to some reports.
Hosts Germany, who came second in the last tournament, will be awarded 215,000 pounds for lifting the Cup for the fourth time in their history.
Oddly enough, tournaments favourites Brazil will have to make do with 'just' 115,000 pounds if they retain their crown.
Terry fit for finals
INTERNET, undated
A scan on John Terry's injured ankle has provided England coach Sven Goran Eriksson with some positive news.
The Chelsea skipper missed his first match of the Premiership season when the champions slipped to a rare defeat at Blackburn Rovers in midweek, perhaps illustrating his importance to the side.
The commanding centre back needed stitches in a wound caused by a late challenge from Wayne Rooney at Stamford Bridge on Saturday but played on, despite his obvious discomfort.
There was some concern he could have made the injury worse, but the 25-year-old will be fine for the World Cup finals in Germany this summer.
"He will resume running and he should be fine," explained Chelsea doctor Bryan English. With major doubts over Ledley King and Rooney, plus fears regarding Michael Owen and Ashley Cole, at least Terry should be available to figure in the warmup games after the scan showed there was no deep bruising on the bone.
Hosts to announce
squad on May 15
REUTERS, Frankfurt
Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann will announce his squad for the World Cup on Monday, the German Football Association announced on Thursday.
May 15 is deadline day for the 32 teams to name their 23-man squads, after FIFA rejected requests from some coaches, including Klinsmann, to put back the date to nearer the start of the June 9-July 9 tournament.
The Germans get the World Cup underway with a Group A game against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9. Hargreaves hopeful
AFP, Munich
Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves admits he is hopeful of securing a place in England's World Cup squad after national coach Sven Goran Eriksson came to watch him in Bayern's 3-1 win over VfB Stuttgart on Wednesday.
"It is a good sign that he (Eriksson) was in the stadium, " said Hargreaves. "I am glad that we won the game and he had something to see."
The 25-year-old Hargreaves produced one of his best displays of the season in front of the England manager who must name his final 23-man squad on May 15.
England are strong in midfield with Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and captain David Beckham but the versatility of Hargreaves, who can play anywhere in midfield as well as right back, could see him picked for next month's finals.
Hargreaves, a Champions League winner with Bayern in 2001, was part of Eriksson's squad at the 2002 World Cup but an injury cut short his tournament.