Three more of Liverpool’s World Cup stars joined Harry Kewell and Jan Kromkamp in a well-earned rest as Spain were knocked out of the World Cup last night in Hanover.
Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Pepe Reina saw their country defeated in controversial circumstances – Thierri Henri clearly “simulating” in the lead-up to France’s second goal.
Xabi played the whole game with Luis appearing for a good chunk of the second half, but Pepe was once again left on the bench.
That leaves just the England boys who are involved in a quarter-final with Portugal at the weekend.
Not long to go now until all the players are back at Melwood, with the first pre-season game of the new season away to Wrexham less than three weeks away on July 15th.
Not coming back to training, if reports are to be believed, is the player once touted as “the next Zidane”. Bruno Cheyrou was one of the spectacular misjudgements made during the Gerard Houllier reign, but now Rennes say they hope to sign him by the end of the week. He’s spent most of his time at Anfield out on loan as Liverpool attempted to save some money on his huge wages.
Harry Kewell’s injury keeps changing. Once again unlucky with injury, he missed the game that saw Australia victims of injustice against Italy after arriving at the ground on crutches. At first feared to be another groin injury, it was later described as gout. Now Australian reporters are claiming it was in fact a badly infected blister on his toe. With a full pre-season behind him and an end to those injury nightmares, Harry will be hoping to bring even more improvements to his game than what we saw last season when he finally became a key player for the club.
Didi Hamann’s on-off move to Bolton seems to be back on, but Scott Carson’s possible loan move to Sheffield Wednesday seems to be off. Carson won’t have any trouble finding a club to move to on loan however should Rafa Benitez decide that’s what’s best for the goalkeeper.