Harry Kewell fit as rival stars fall

* John Taylor
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* May 29, 2010 12:00AM


AS Socceroo maestro Harry Kewell shows encouraging signs he'll be ready for the World Cup, superstars from Australia's group opponents are falling like ninepins.

Continuing a perverse run of good fortunate for the Socceroos, Ghana's most influential player, Michael Essien, was yesterday ruled out of the finals in South Africa with a knee injury.

That news came hot on the heels of German captain Michael Ballack falling to injury, while Australia's third rival nation in Group D, Serbia, have also lost one of their key players in rugged defender Ivica Dragutinovic.

Fox Sports commentator and former Socceroo Robbie Slater said the extraordinary run of injuries to star players could only help Australia's cause, but he warned Pim Verbeek's men should not be lulled into a false sense of security.

"Germany have the depth to cover for Ballack but I am not so sure how Ghana will cope without Essien," Slater said. "And Serbia showed just how good a side they were in attack and defence in their European qualifiers. They also have depth. We'll still have to be on top of our game."

The good news for Australia is that Kewell - having been restricted to running in his ongoing battle with a groin injury - finally put boot to ball in the Socceroos' first full day on South African soil yesterday.

While it was nothing more than gentle volleys into the back of the net during Australia's second session of the day at St Stithians College in Johannesburg, it was a strong indicator he will be ready for the Socceroos' World Cup opener in Durban.

There was some concern when Kewell walked gingerly to the sideline after the completion of his personalised session. However, later at an official function, Kewell, 31, said he had pulled through the session well. "I'm fine. It feels good and it's getting better every day," Kewell said.

Ghana's Serbian boss Milovan Rajevac selected Chelsea midfielder Essien in his 23-man squad hoping he would play some part in the tournament. But the Ghana Football Association said: "An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July."

German coach Joachim Loew and Serbia's Radomir Antic also have their share of problems.

Loew lost his No. 1 goalkeeper Rene Adler [broken ribs] and midfielder Simon Rolfes [knee] before he named his squad and then suffered another huge setback when captain Ballack was fouled in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth just two weeks ago.

Lady Luck is not smiling on the Germans with midfielder Christian Traesch suffering ankle ligament damage in a warm-up game. He, too, looks likely to miss the World Cup.

Serbia haven't got out of the warm-ups lightly either, with Dragutinovic and young midfielder Bosko Jankovic out.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/harry-kewell-fit-as-rival-stars-fall/story-e6frey4r-1225872699429