Michael Owen will have his injured knee operated on by American specialists.

Luis Figo is speaking out prior to Saturday’s match, and he has mostly said the right things.
He reckons
England pose a real challenge but claims that his squad knows the English system well and can conquer it with determined play.
He says it’s an honor to play against England and that he and his teammates respect the [...]

This is just frickin’ weird.
Not that anybody can remember asking or giving a rip, but Sepp Blatter apparently doesn’t care for England’s form: “I am happy that play is very offensive. The only exception is England, who fielded just one striker in their second round match. That is not the kind of offensive [...]

1) Frank Lampard is apparently fit to play.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo apparently may not be.
3) Michael Carrick to be benched in favor of Owen Hargreaves (and, presumably, a fit Gary Neville).

In this interview, Gary Neville points out — rightly, I believe — that this is a special English team. I think he’s right. Becks likely won’t be a factor in South Africa, and who knows who will be filling the wings, the side of the center beside John Terry, etc.
Saturday suddenly [...]

Frank Lampard’s form in this Cup has been pretty appalling, and I say that as a Chelsea supporter.
21 shots (most in the tournament), 9 on goal (second most), no real scares for any opposing keeper, and, of course, no balls in the net.
Now he appears to have suffered an ankle injury within 48 hours of [...]

In a World Cup marred (as are most of them, let’s be honest) by inept reffing, Graham Poll, he of the three yellow cards to one player, may very well have been the worst thus far.
He knows it, too.
He has officially retired from international reffing.
Ok, which of us will volunteer to tell him that the [...]

This is only marginally related to the World Cup, but I can’t resist.
Eric Cantona has some tips for Wayne Rooney on how to have a long and brilliant career.
Next week: George Best speaks through a medium to counsel the lad on the finer points of French brandy…

All better from his very public tummy trouble, David Beckham says he’s prepared for the physical challenges of Saturday’s match.

Several Portugal players have declared that they don’t care for the tactics of the English press.
The end of that very long queue is waaaaaaaaay over there, fellas….