TICKETS almost all gone

All tickets for the World Cup, which kicks off in Munich on Friday, are expected to be sold despite a limited number going on sale after late returns from some soccer associations, Franz Beckenbauer said yesterday. “It is a pity that they were returned after the deadline, but I am sure they will all be sold,” Beckenbauer said.

He added that more than three million tickets have been sold while his vice-president Wolfgang Niersbach said the small number of returned tickets had been immediately processed for re-sale on the organisers’ Web site.

NO WORRIES, MATE

At least there’s one less thing for Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo to worry about at he prepares for the opening of the World Cup — his supermodel girlfriend she will never pose in the nude.

Raica Oliveira said in an interview published in a Brazilian paper yesterday said she intends to keep her close in front of the camera, despite inquiring minds. “I could not pose nude,” she said.

“Nothing against those who do, but I never felt right about it. It’s not something that would make me proud.” Oliveira said the couple planned to marry and to have children, but had no timetable set.

Ronaldo has been recuperating from blisters on both feet but resumed training with the team yesterday, Brazil’s squad doctor Jose Luis Runco told reporters in Germany.

The defending champions play their first game next Tuesday in Berlin.

WOUNDED ITALIANS

Italy defenders Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta were scheduled to have scans on nagging injuries yesterday as they struggle to regain fitness, the Italian Football Federation said. Zambrotta suffered a left thigh strain in training with the Azzurri two weeks ago and Nesta aggravated an old abductor muscle injury in the 0-0 friendly against the Ukraine on Friday. Both players are fixtures of Italy’s first-choice 11.

Ambrotta’s injury is thought to be the more serious and the 30-year-old Juventus player risks missing Italy’s Group E opener against Ghana on June 12. He is expected to return, however, for games against the US on June 17 and the Czech Republic on June 22.

Italy, aiming to win their first World Cup since 1982, are scheduled to arrive at their World Cup training base at Duisberg today.

If Zambrotta fails to recover, Italy coach Marcello Lippi is expected to replace him with Parma’s Daniele Bonera.

ANOTHER ONE DOWN

Paraguay striker Jose Cardozo has been pulled out of their World Cup squad through injury days before they face England in their opening match, the Paraguayan Football Association said yesterday.

“Cardozo has suffered an injury involving a pulled calf muscle on his left leg with a bruise in the affected area,” the Paraguayan FA said in a statement.

Paraguay open their campaign against England in Group B on Saturday in Frankfurt.