Barcelona: Argentina forward Manuel Lanzini’s World Cup dreams are over after he suffered a serious knee injury Friday while training here with his national team. The West Ham player ruptured his cruciate knee ligament, Argentina confirmed on their official Twitter page. “Manuel Lanzini suffered, in today’s (Friday) morning training, the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee,” Argentina tweeted on their official page. Lanzini will return to London for treatment. Argentina have not yet confirmed who they will call up as his replacement.
Flintoff effort in vain
London: Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff and Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson released an unofficial World Cup song Thursday but it’s safe to say it hasn’t won the praise of England fans. The unlikely duo has done their own version of Boney M’s Rasputin, dedicated to captain and talisman Harry Kane. The re-working of the 1978 No.2 hit features lyrics including, ‘there lived a certain man in England long ago, he was big and strong, he played football like a pro,’ and leads to the chorus of ‘Ha Ha, Harry Kane, England’s greatest goal machine.’ “That Ricky song is enough for us to face expulsion before a ball is even kicked!” one supporter wrote while another wrote that they would rather “burn out my eyes and ears” than listen again.
Rio backs Wilshere omission
London: Former English defender Rio Ferdinand has supported England coach Gareth Southgate’s decision to omit Jack Wilshere from his World Cup squad. Ferdinand has claimed Southgate was right to leave Wilshere out of his squad. “Why would you take him?” Ferdinand said according to the Metro. “I didn’t disagree with the midfield choices he took. He can count on all the others physically. I don’t think there’s an argument. He hasn’t played enough football and hasn’t influenced enough games in the way that those guys have over a sustained period of time,” said Ferdinand. agencies