Ouch! The Captain Goes Down; France Gets "Woked" Over

It hasn't been a good day for Prem League reps for the WC.  First, Didier Drogba broke his arm when Tanaka of Japan inadvertently kicked his arm.  Drogba has reportedly told teammates that he is out of the Cup, but Cote d'Ivoire manager Sven-Goran Erickson has said it's a wait and see situation.

Then the photo seen 'round the world of Rio Ferdinand exiting a hospital on crutches.  The England team has confirmed that a knee injury suffered in his first full training in SA will keep him from captaining the English side.  The medical reps have indicated he will be out for at least six weeks, so Steven Gerrard will take over the armband.  His replacement in defense will be Michael Dawson, who missed the cut for SA, but has caught a plane to join his teammates. 
Rio has had a year-long battle with injuries, mostly dealing with back spasms.  I'm not sure he will be in the mix for the next WC four years away, so this has to be a cruel blow for Rio.  Get well!!!
This also gives a valuable lesson on being gracious in defeat.  Michael Dawson and six others were telephoned a few days ago to say, "thanks for your dedication but we won't need you in SA."  Now if Michael had been ticked off and mouthed off like the Mexican NT family (one son was selected while the other was left home...the father said the other son should leave SA and come home...whatever), he would feel like a real idiot when he "missed" the call from his NT manager because of commente he had made.  Well done, Michael...good luck in securing your first cap!

Rio leaves the England camp in SA on crutches

I watched the friendly on Reunion Island between the 2006 WC runners-up France against China.  The first half seemed blahhhh for both sides and I almost just turned off the feed...but then a few substitutions in the second livened the game a bit.  Then the Chinese took the lead with a rocket shot freekick.  The ball dipped one way, then darted back the other, giving French keeper Hugo Lloris no chance to palm it away.
After that goal, the French seemed to feel the fire on their derrieres and had several great chances to score.  I have to say that I don't think France lost because they were disorganized, just unlucky.
MOTM:  Yoann Gourcuff.  He had control of the midfield and played like he was in the WC final.  It's too bad his teammates didn't feel the same urgency.

Gourcuff (r)

Jean-Louis Triaud, president of Girondins de Bordeaux, has pointedly said that Arsenal have not bid for Gourcuff's services next year.  Triaud, who is still bitter over the free departure to Arsenal of Marouane Chamakh, blamed the hubbub on the media:

"Today, I have received no offer for Gourcuff or anybody else for that matter. We know what the English tabloids are like...Fabregas was going to Barcelona, everything was done, and I just saw Wenger say that Fabregas will stay in London. I will not be drawn into this game."

Knickers in a twist are they Jean-Louis? 
The only person he has to blame for Marouane going to Arsenal for free is himself.  If he hadn't dragged his feet last summer he would have secured 8-million pounds for Chamakh.
After Laurent Blanc's departure (to head the French NT) I can't see Yoann wanting to stay...plus he is missing Marouane, his on-pitch partner in crime!