Blow for Slovakia as Miroslav Karkhan is ruled out from finals

Slovakia midfielder Miroslav Karhan will miss the World Cup due to an Achilles tendon injury.

Karhan, who first played for Slovakia in 1995, has 13 goals in 96 appearances for his country. He currently plays for German club Mainz.

"There's a little tear which means I can't take part in the tournament," said Karhan, according to a report on FIFA's website. "I have a three-week break ahead of me and the World Cup begins in two weeks. So my withdrawal is final."

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Slovakia plays New Zealand on June 15 in its World Cup opener, and also plays Italy and Paraguay in Group F.

Fabio Cannavaro to quit International football after World Cup.

Fabio Cannavaro captain of the Italian side is hoping for a glorious end to his international career at the World Cup in June.

Cannavaro has announced he will retire from international football after captaining Italy at the World Cup. The 36-year-old, who lifted the trophy in 2006, has been capped a record 132 times for Italy.

"They already say I'm too old, so I can only imagine what they would say in August," Cannavaro said.

The Juventus veteran defender took over the captaincy after Paolo Maldini left the national team in 2002. Cannavaro missed Euro 2008 because of injury but is returning to the side for this summer's tournament in South Africa. He has played for the national team for 13 years, with his greatest moment coming four years ago in Germany when leading Italy to the title.

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Even better for Cannavaro was that he was voted the Fifa World Player of the Year.

"We're hoping to bring home the cup again, this time to keep it," said Cannavaro, who has been involved alongside 28 Serie A players in a three-day training camp held by the Italy coach, Marcello Lippi, in Rome.

Italy will face Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia in Group F in South Africa this summer.

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Marcello Lippi hints Balotelli unlikely to make World Cup

Italy's coach Marcello Lippi has hinted that Inter Milan star striker Mario Balotelli is unlikely to make the 2010 World Cup in South later this year.

Lippi believes the 19-year-old striker has bags of potential but has suggested that the under-21 international still has a great deal to learn.

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"Balotelli is a lad that has great potential," he said. "I am certain, that once his path to maturity is complete, something which Inter are managing very well, he will be able to bring in his quality to the national team."

Balotelli was a surprise omission from the Inter squad which travelled to London to take on Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday evening following reports of a rift with coach Jose Mourinho.

Nesta says no Italy return

Veteran Italian striker Allessandro Nesta has ruled himself out of selection for Italy at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta has decided against coming out of international retirement for Italy at this summer's World Cup finals

Nesta quit the international scene in 2007 as he wanted to focus on his club career after a number of injury problems.

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Italy coach Marcello Lippi had wanted Nesta to come out of retirement to boost his squad ahead of the trip to South Africa.

However, the 33-year-old has opted to resist Lippi's overtures and the Italy coach respects the defender's decision.

"He told me, I think definitively, that he doesn't feel it," said Lippi.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to give a boost (to the team), but I respect his decision."

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