King Out of World Cup

[Biggs]

Ledley King will reportedly miss the rest of the World Cup.

The Tottenham defender, drafted in to the England side after Rio Ferdinand's knee injury, lasted only 45 minutes of England's first Group C game against the USA on Saturday.

King suffered a groin injury in the first half in Rustenburg, and while he struggled on until half-time, was replaced by Jamie Carragher.

While the injury obviously has nothing directly to do with King's long-standing knee problem, his inability to train as a normal footballer does means he generally takes longer to recover from other knocks.

Reports suggest it would take between two and three weeks for King to fully recover from the current problem, which would make him doubtful for even potential quarter and semi-finals, assuming England get there. Which, given their current problems, is quite a big assumption.

Capello was optimistic about King's fitness immediately after the game, saying King would "probably" be fit for England's second game against Algeria on Friday, and that it was "only a little problem."

However, if the reports on Monday are correct, he will have to decide between Carragher, Matthew Upson and Michael Dawson to partner John Terry.

All three present their own problems, given how Carragher's lack of pace was exposed on a couple of occasions by the Americans, while Upson has had an uneven season for West Ham and Dawson has yet to play a minute of international football, and was of course left out of the initial 23-man squad.

If this is true, i am gutted for him

[Chelmsford_yid]

It was always a Risk, Step up Dawson.

[Chelmsford_yid]

They now say, hes training and not going home.

[RiffHard]

He's out http://www.skysports.com/football/world-cup-2010/story/0,27032,12098_6206610,00.html
I'm really disapointed because I think that England's chances are getting slimmer and slimmer. As much as I would like to see Dawson get a place in starting XI, it is not going to happen. All centre-backs are slow and that is probably going to be a problem. Let's face it, Carragher is as agile as my dead grandmother, Dawson is inexperienced on international level and not very fast either and Upson is an inconsistent and overrated muppet.

[Chelmsford_yid]

I thought he was out for Fridays game, and they are looking at him on a day to day basic hmm?
 
I think they will play Carragher, not much pace but good exp.

[Biggs]

There saying hes out for 3 weeks now

[SomersetYiddo]

Hes out for 3 weeks so hopefully we win the group and progress and then he will be fit enough to get back on the pitch because if he misses out i will be gutted. Dawson wont be picked to fill in but he bloody should be ahead of the scouser and that other muppet.

[dedleysting]

Ledders apparently did some "light training work" today