BRIEFS - Messi alone won't do

CHICAGO (AP):

Former playing great, Mario Kempes, says Argentina cannot rely solely on Lionel Messi if they want to win the World Cup.

The reigning FIFA player of the year can be decisive in some games, Kempes said yesterday. But it's the teams that surround their best players with other talent that win tournaments and Kempes says coach Diego Maradona has to find the right combination before Argentina open against Nigeria on June 12.

Messi has been sublime for Barcelona, leading the Spanish league (34) and Europe (47) in goals. Argentina also have Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito, Sergio Aguero and Martin Palermo up front.

Kempes, whose goals helped Argentina to win the World Cup in 1978, says that's a talented group of goalscorers.

Mueller injured

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP):

Germany forward Thomas Mueller has been cut on the chin and has scraped his knee after falling off a mountain bike. The 20-year-old Bayern Munich upstart was riding his bike yesterday as part of a training session at Germany's camp in northern Italy. Mueller arrived in the camp a day earlier, having played in the Champions League final for Bayern.

The German football federation says Mueller needed stitches on his chin, but his bones and muscles are fine and he would still be playing in the World Cup.

Fabregas' focus

MADRID (AP):

Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas says he is only focused on the World Cup rather than his rumoured move from Arsenal to Barcelona. Fabregas says he has recovered from a fractured leg sustained last month but that his "legs are a little heavy".

He added that "in time I'll be OK. We've got two weeks to get in shape".

Spain play Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Saturday and open Group H play in South Africa against Switzerland on June 16.

Essien's absence

ACCRA, Ghana (AP):

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac says the World Cup will be hurt if Michael Essien does not recover from injury in time to play in the tournament. The Chelsea midfielder is a major doubt for the June 11 to July 11 showpiece after not playing since December because of knee and ankle injuries.

Rajevac says Essien is one of the world's best players and that "Ghana want him there, the organisers want him there and the world want him there".

Essien is expected to link up with the Black Stars for training tomorrow and Rajevac says he thinks Essien will be fit. Ghana are in Group D with Germany, Australia and Serbia.

Ballack warning

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP):

Injured Germany captain Michael Ballack is warning home fans against high World Cup expectations. Ballack said group rivals Australia, Serbia and Ghana are all "athletic, robust" teams.

"People should know that we could lose against anyone in the group stage," Ballack told Stern weekly in an interview released yesterday. "Our team will have to play at its limit to beat the big nations in the knockout stage. That was so before my injury and remains so now."

He added: "Our team has a good mentality. It won't back down. It will go to its limit. (Coach) Joachim Loew will draw the maximum from the team, I am sure. In the last two tournaments, we were second and third, why can't we do the same now?"