BRIEFS - 'Feeling better'

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP):

Key Honduran players Wilson Palacios and David Suazo, who picked up injuries in a 3-0 loss to Romania in a friendly, say they are feeling better. Palacios told a Honduras television programme yesterday that the injury appeared to be a pulled muscle in his left leg. The midfielder added: "Thank God, everything is OK." He was taken off the pitch on a stretcher after the injury on Saturday.

Suazo told the newspaper La Prensa: "I already feel better" after the striker picked up a right-leg injury.

Hope for Robben

AMSTERDAM (AP):

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk says winger Arjen Robben is likely to join his team-mates at the World Cup in South Africa because his left hamstring injury isn't as bad as initially feared. Robben injured his left hamstring in a 6-1 friendly win over Hungary on Saturday. According to Dutch state broadcaster NOS, Van Marwijk says he has "decided not to summon any substitute for Arjen. I want to give him every chance to still participate in the World Cup."

Brazil won't take risk

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Brazil could be missing some regular starters when they face Tanzania in their final warm-up match before the World Cup. Brazil have had some injury scares since arriving in South Africa and there are fears the final match could cause more problems for the five-time world champions. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar injured his back in Brazil's warm-up against Zimbabwe on Wednesday, and a day later starting left back Michel Bastos left practice with a right ankle injury. None of the injuries are considered serious, but the players will be rested.

"Right now it's about getting prepared, not competing," Brazil coach Dunga said. "It's about putting into action what we have been training. Nobody is going at 100 per cent."

England will

RUSTENBURG, South Africa (AP):

Despite losing Rio Ferdinand to a tournament-ending injury in training, England coach Fabio Capello has no plans to rest key players for the team's final World Cup warm-up match. England takes on South African Premier League side the Platinum Stars - who are based near its Rustenburg training camp - today, with Capello keen to observe his planned starters for Saturday's World Cup opener against the United States.

"I have to play all the players that will play against the USA for 45 minutes or 60 minutes," Capello said. "I don't know if it is a major risk. I touch wood. We have to be careful about injuries but we have to prepare for that game."

Mikel out

JOHANNESBURG (AP):

Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel will miss the World Cup because he has not fully recovered from left knee surgery. Despite sitting out World Cup warm-up matches against Saudi Arabia and Colombia, the Chelsea player had been expected to play against South Korea yesterday.

"It is the same knee and I did not want to risk any further damage, also I think it is in the best interest of the team for me to withdraw rather than waste a slot," the 23-year-old Mikel said on Chelsea's website. "I wish the team good luck and I know that they will surprise people."