select a team ---------- Europe: Belgium Croatia Denmark England France Germany Ireland Italy Poland Portugal Russia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey ---------- South America: Argentina Brazil Ecuador Paraguay Uruguay ---------- Africa: Cameroon Nigeria Senegal South Africa Tunisia ---------- Asia: China Japan Saudi Arabia South Korea ---------- CONCACAF: Costa Rica Mexico United States     Main page    Schedule    Stadiums

Final countdown begins

Zidane was taken off after a knock to his left thigh

TOKYO, Japan -- The final warm-up games ahead of the official start of the 2002 World Cup competition have been held, with Europe's leading teams all performing well.

France, Italy, Belgium, and Denmark all won their matches on Sunday, while England clinched a last minute goal to draw 2-2 with Cameroon.

But injuries continue to worry fans and managers alike, with some last-minute concerns for several teams and players.

France playmaker Zinedine Zidane was taken off after picking up a knock before halftime during a friendly against South Korea.

The world's most expensive player applied an ice pack to his left thigh as he sat on the bench after indicating to France coach Roger Lemerre that he wanted to leave the field.

France, who at one point trailed 2-1 won the game 3-2 but only thanks to a last-minute goal from Frank Lebouef.

The Republic of Ireland's delight with a 2-1 win on Saturday over J-League side Sanfrecce Hiroshima was tainted by injury worries over midfielder Jason McAteer.

McAteer was carried off on a stretcher following a 35th minute sliding tackle from a Hiroshima defender as he prepared to cross from the right.

He now faces medical tests amid concern that he could have damaged medial ligaments in his left knee.

Meanwhile, fears that David Beckham could miss the first two of England's group games have been dismissed by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Reports on Sunday suggested the Manchester United midfielder would not be fit to face either Sweden, on June 2, or Argentina, five days later.

England coach Eriksson said Beckham may be fit for the opening game against Sweden next Sunday

Eriksson, confident that Beckham's recovery from a broken foot is progressing well enough for him to be involved in England's opening game, said: "I really never thought that Beckham would not play. I think he will take part in the World Cup.

"We hope and plan to have him on the pitch next Sunday against Sweden. He was running today and is going to do some more work this evening. Hopefully by the middle of week he will be able to come onto the pitch and play football with us."

On the field, Belgium beat Costa Rica 1-0 thanks to a goal from Bart Goor in the 23rd minute following a free kick that was headed around and bounced back in the penalty area.

"Simply put, it was a tough match," said Belgium coach Robert Waseige. "Our opponents were quite aggressive and we had to substitute players for slight injuries."

Denmark beat Tunisia 2-1, with Jesper Gronkjaer and Ebbe Sand hitting the net for the Scandinavians and Tunisia's Ziad Jaziri scoring in the 62nd minute.

Italy's penultimate warm-up game, against Kashima Antlers, attracted more than 53,000 spectators who saw the Italians clinch a 2-1 victory over the J-League champions.

Italy will play Sendai Youth on Thursday before the finals kick off on May 31 in Seoul.

Meanwhile, the off-the-field drama surrounding the Republic of Ireland in which skipper and Manchester United star Roy Keane was sent home after a furious argument with national manager Mick McCarthy shows no sign of abating.

Both men used Sunday newspaper interviews in the UK to issue claim and counter-claim to restoke the animosity of recent days.

McCarthy described Keane's attitude in his tirade against him as "obnoxious, degrading to me and downright rude."

A defiant Keane told the same newspaper that he refuses to apologise.

He said: "I don't feel an ounce of guilt about my part in what has happened. Apologies? I don't think I should be apologising. If anything, I believe the apologies are for others to apologise to me."

Finally, FIFA has barred Argentina from retiring the number 10 shirt in honour of their former World Cup-winning captain Diego Maradona.

The decision, taken by FIFA's executive committee, goes against the recommendation of the body's World Cup organising committee, which said it had no problem with Argentina's proposal.

The Argentine number 10 shirt is now expected to be taken by third-choice goalkeeper Roberto Bonano for the World Cup tournament.

"It's a funny situation because Argentina's number 10 will be able to use his hands this time," joked FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Sunday, a reference to Maradona's notorious 'hand-of-God' goal against England at the 1986 finals.