All the latest World Cup news with just 4 days to go

Robben sweating on scan results

THE Netherlands manager Bert van Marwijk will find out today whether Arjen Robben will be fit for the finals.

The Bayern Munich winger came on as a half-time substitute in Saturday’s 6-1 thrashing of Hungary and scored two goals before being forced off with a hamstring injury.

The 26-year-old remained in Holland for scans when the rest of the team flew to South Africa.

It was expected the results of the scans would be revealed yesterday but the Dutch FA (KNVB) last night admitted they will not be released until today.

The initial fear was that Robben would not be able to play in the finals and Van Marwijk is concerned he will be deprived of arguably his most creative player.

“I would rather have lost the game and still be able to take Arjen,” he said. “He felt a sharp sting and that does not bode well. But I have not yet lost hope.“

Holland’s first game is on next Monday against Denmark, while they also face Japan and Cameroon.

French criticised for opulent hotel

FRANCE have picked a World Cup hotel which is far too flashy and they will have to account for it if they make an early exit, the country’s sports junior minister said yesterday.

France, whose popularity at home has reached a depressing low after a string of uninspired performances, arrived at the Pezula Resort, a luxury hotel at Knysna on the scenic Western Cape coastline on Saturday.

“Personally I would not have chosen that hotel,” junior minister Rama Yade told French radio station radio J. “I had asked football authorities to show decency. In times of crisis, you need to think about it.

“If the team’s results do not meet our expectations, the (French Football) Federation will have to account for this, she added.

The former world champions are not considered one of the favourites for the tournament, unlike Spain, who are staying at more modest accommodation.

“Spain, who belong among the favourites, have chosen a university campus,” she said, referring to the North-West University where the European champions are staying.

Midfielder Alou Diarra sounded slightly irritated by the junior minister’s comments. “Many people must be jealous,” he said. “We’re very well looked after but that’s not a secret.

“The minister has her opinion but we must not worry about such things. We are here to prepare for the World Cup and we must focus entirely on that.”

Blatter not keen on technology

USING technology in soccer will only serve to damage the passion and emotion felt for the sport, Fifa president Sepp Blatter said yesterday.

The sport’s world governing body continues to resist using technology to aid decisions on controversial incidents during matches, including helping referee’s to judge whether a ball has crossed the goal line.

Blatter said the sport should keep its human element, allowing everyone to have their say.

“When you are in a football match there is no social level, everybody is the same and everybody in the stadium and at their television is an expert,” he said at a media briefing with South African President Jacob Zuma ahead of the start of the World Cup on Friday.

“Everybody is an expert and that is why we are not going into technology on the field of play, because if you have technology on the field of play, then there are no more experts.”