Rooney recovering

LONDON: Hopes that Wayne Rooney will be fit in time for the World Cup

finals are on the rise based on the latest medical update on his broken foot.

England team doctor Leif Sward said that the reports on his recovery had been “very, very positive.” The Manchester United striker was seen riding a bike around the club’s Carrington training ground on Friday as part of his recovery from breaking the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot.

Ghana name squad

ACCRA: Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic on Friday named his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals. He also named a five-man reserve list. The squad include goalkeepers Samuel Adjei, Richard Kingston and George Owu; defenders John Paintsil, Addoquaye Pappoe, Samuel Kuffour, John Mensah, Hans Sarpei, Issah Armed, Shilla Illiasu, Habib Mohammed, Dan Quaye; midfielders Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah, Eric Addo, Otoo Addo, Sulley Muntari, Haminu Dramani, Derek Boateng; attackers Matthew Amoah, Asamoah Gyan, Alex Tachie-Menson and Razak Pimpong. Among the reserves were Philemon McCarthy, Aziz Ansah, Yusif Chibsah, Baffour Gyan, Baba Armando.

No WC for De Santis

ROME: Italian referee Massimo De Santis will not be going to the World Cup

in Germany, the Italian football federation (FIGC) said on Saturday. The FIGC have sent a letter to world football’s governing body FIFA telling them that they have revoked De Santis’ accreditation for the tournament. De Santis is one of 24 Italian referees under investigation

by a Naples prosecutor for suspected sporting fraud.