Ballack skips training

BERLIN: Skipper Michael Ballack and top scorer Miroslav Klose missed Germany’s training session on Tuesday but are expected to be fit for Friday’s World Cup quarter-final with Argentina. Ballack and Klose, the leading scorer at the finals with four goals, sat out training to do individual fitness work, but the German Football Federation (DFB) medical team stressed both would be fully fit for the Argentina game. The 29-year-old Ballack sustained a minor foot injury in the 2-0 second round win over Sweden.

Controversial words

BERLIN: One of China’s leading TV commentators sparked controversy when he abandoned all neutrality in Italy’s close-run win over Australia. “Viva Italia,” Huang Jianxiang shouted after Franceso Totti’s penalty in the final seconds ended Australian hopes on Monday. “There is no need for them to go home because most of them live in Europe. Goodbye,” he added. Opinion is divided on Chinese Internet discussion sites about his clear support for Italy. Some viewers want him sacked, others approve.

‘Minister to blame’

THE HAGUE: Dutch legend Johan Cruyff knows who is at fault for the Netherlands’ elimination — the country’s Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk. Her ministry refused to naturalise FC Feyenoord striker Salomon Kalou who was born in Ivory Coast. The striker who has just been snapped up by English big spenders Chelsea would have been selected if he had a Dutch passport.

“A minister is supposed to serve the interests of their country, and she clearly has not,” Cruyff, who led his country to the 1974 final in which they lost to West Germany, said in De Telegraaf newspaper on Tuesday.

Streller furious

COLOGNE: Switzerland striker Marco Streller was furious with the crowd in Cologne as his nation was eliminated by Ukraine in a penalty shootout on Monday. “People were singing ‘Lukas Podolski’ or ‘Germany is heading for the final’. They showed a total lack of respect,” Streller fumed. He said FIFA was to blame for selling, in his words, “95 per cent of the tickets to Germans, while Swiss fans had trouble finding any”. Streller’s criticism might guarantee him a rough ride when the club season starts — he plays for FC Cologne.