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Fights, flights and injuries ruin plans

Flashpoint: Keane, left, is not happy while McCarthy takes note

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Bust-ups, fights, injuries and travel chaos have wrecked preparation in several World Cup camps.

Now several coaches are frantically drawing up fresh plans as their strategies fall apart.

Ireland are a player short after captain Roy Keane was sent home by coach Mick McCarthy. The midfielder had launched an outspoken attack on the team's preparations then "insulted" McCarthy as a clear-the-air meeting degenerated into a slanging match on Thursday. (Full story)

And there is tension in the Swedish camp after striker Fredrik Ljungberg and defender Olof Mellberg had to be pulled apart by teammates when they started fighting during a training match. (Full story)

England, their first opponents on June 2, are struggling to find enough players. On Friday midfielder Danny Murphy became the latest injury casualty after being diagnosed with a cracked bone in his foot. He will miss the whole tournament. (Full story)

Also absent for a training session the day before were captain David Beckham, defender Ashley Cole and midfielders Nicky Butt and Kieron Dyer. England also lost key midfielder Steven Gerrard and defender Gary Neville before the squad set off.

France, already without Robert Pires, are now waiting to see if top striker Thierry Henry will shake off a knee injury. Henry had complained that European-based stars had been asked to play too much football during domestic seasons.

Meanwhile Cameroon, Olympic champions and winners of the African Cup of Nations in February, finally arrived at their training camp in the Japanese village of Nakatsue on Friday -- five days late. (Full story)

Their departure from Paris was reportedly delayed because players refused to fly as part of a pay dispute. They finally flew out on Wednesday but then suffered flight delays in Bangkok.

Belgium should have been sky high as they set off for the finals on the back of a 2-1 win over 1998 champions France in Paris. But coach Robert Waseige chose the moment to announce he was quitting after the finals.

"There are people who are saying it was a bad moment, but if I had announced it on Christmas Eve, that would have also been a bad moment," Waseige told Belgian radio RTBF. "I told the team when I got into the bus, that was all. There have not been any nervous breakdowns yet."