Tuesday 26 August 2014

Reports on Michael Sam's Showering Habits at Rams Training Camp (ESPN)

All reports out of St. Louis seem to show Rams defensive end Michael Sam has been a good fit in the locker room so far while he tries to become the first active gay player in NFL history.
Now that final roster cuts are quickly approaching, Sam will be under even more intense scrutiny moving forward.
On Tuesday, ESPN's Josina Anderson gave a report from Rams training camp. One of the subject matters: Sam's showering habits.

Update: Aug. 26 at 3:20 p.m. ET
St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long has responded to ESPN's report regarding Michael Sam's showering habits. 

Anderson said an unnamed defensive player claimed Sam was waiting to take a shower "as to not make his teammates feel uncomfortable," which the player found as a way of "respecting our space."
Anderson said Rams defenders Kendall Langford and Alec Ogletree told her that they hadn't noticed and weren’t tracking his showering habits.

Argentina winger Angel di Maria has arrived at Manchester United’s Carrington training complex to complete a British record £59.7million transfer from Real Madrid.

The 26-year-old flew in from Spain on Monday night and will undergo a medical on Tuesday before signing a long-term contract to join Louis van Gaal’s side.
It will complete a deal that smashes the previous British transfer record of £50million paid by Chelsea to Liverpool for Fernando Torres in 2011.
Gary Neville believes that Angel Di Maria will be a good thing for Juan Mata at Manchester United.
Sky Sports’ journalist and Spanish football expert Guillem Balague broke the news on Saturday that United had moved for Di Maria after the player told Real Madrid he wished to leave the club this summer.
United moved swiftly and directly for his services to such an extent that it was even agreed in advance he would wear the club’s number seven shirt – worn by the likes of David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Cristiano Ronaldo, George Best and Bryan Robson.
After United disappointingly drew away to Sunderland on Sunday, boss Van Gaal remained silent on the transfer but it later emerged Di Maria was to arrive in Manchester the following day to finalise his personal terms.
The Revista panel believe Angel Di Maria will be a big miss to Real Madrid whilst Guillem Balague gives all the details on his transfer to Manchester Unite
And on Monday Night Football, former Reds defender and Sky Sports’ football expert Gary Neville said it was a great piece of business for the club.
“This fits the bill if they can get him,” he said. "It’s good business. United just need to get the right players in and this one is.
“He'll get pace into the game and get from box to box. He’s the right signing. You could argue they need other players in other areas but they definitely need a wide player.
"The fans say a central midfielder or a centre-back is needed more, but I don't see any difference with a winger in that they need all three. This is the first part of that.”
Is the reported £60m fee for Angel di Maria...

England: Frank Lampard has decided to retire from internationals

Frank Lampard has announced that he has decided to retire from international football after making 106 appearances for England.

The 36-year-old former Chelsea man, who recently joined Manchester City on loan from New York City FC, scored 29 goals during a distinguished 15-year international career.
He played at the last three World Cups and was named England player of the year in 2004 and 2005.
However, he has now decided to follow his long-time midfield partner Steven Gerrard into international retirement, two weeks before qualifying begins for Euro 2016.
Lampard released a statement which read: “I have taken the decision to retire from international football.
“It has been a very tough decision for me to make, which is why I have given it so much thought since the World Cup.
“I have always been exceptionally proud and honoured to represent my country and have to say, looking back, I have enjoyed every minute of wearing the England shirt."
Lampard left Chelsea at the end of last season after a trophy-laden 13-year spell with the London club.
And he added: “Due to my club career now going in a different direction, it is of the utmost importance for me to consider my family first and also to concentrate on how I can perform consistently to the best of my abilities over my next few years in club football.
"I have always been exceptionally proud and honoured to represent my country and have to say, looking back, I have enjoyed every minute of wearing the England shirt."
Frank Lampard
“It is now the time to move forward and I feel very confident that, with Roy Hodgson in charge, the young players that we have coming through, and the changes that are being made throughout the development of the youth system in this country, we will have success in the future and a team that this country deserves.
“I would like to thank all the managers that I have worked under, all the players that I have been fortunate enough to play alongside, and all the England fans for their support, not only at home but particularly on their travels with the team around the world.
“I now look forward to continuing to support the team as a fan and wish them every success for the upcoming campaign towards France 2016.”
Lampard made his debut for England in a friendly victory over Belgium in October 1999 and scored three goals in four matches as they reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
He played every minute at the 2006 World Cup but was one of three players to miss a penalty in the quarter-final shoot-out loss to Portugal.
England exited the 2010 tournament at the second-round stage after a 4-1 loss to Germany, during which Lampard famously had a shot which replays showed crossed the goal-line when it bounced down off the crossbar, only for the officials to fail to award a goal.
He was named vice-captain of the squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil and made his one appearance when he led the side for the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica which concluded their campaign, as they crashed out at the group stages.
Lampard retires as England's ninth highest scorer of all-time and the fifth most-capped outfield player.
Roy Hodgson's side will now have to move on without Gerrard and Lampard, and the manager will name his next squad and a new captain on Thursday, ahead of a Wembley friendly against Norway (3 September) and the first Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland (8 September).

Tennessee uses Beyoncé to recruit top football prospect (All Time News)

Tennessee is pulling out all the stops to recruit ESPN 300 defensive tackle Shy Tuttle

Tuttle, the No. 31 recruit in the ESPN 300 who also holds offers from fellow SEC schools Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina, tweeted this inventive recruiting poster from the Vols. 

Apparently, BeyoncĂ© is in on rebuilding the Vols #BrickByBrick, as they say in Knoxville. 


Friday 13 June 2014

Spain open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands

Holders Spain open their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands on Friday in a repeat of the 2010 final with the Dutch out for revenge.
Andres Iniesta's strike four minutes from the end of extra-time in the Johannesburg final crowned Spain as world champions for the first time and now, four years later, the European giants clash again at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova in the mouth-watering opening match of Group B.
With South American dark horses Chile and Australia still to come, a win for either side would set the group's agenda.
Captain Robin van Persie, Arjen Robben, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel De Jong and Dirk Kuyt are the five survivors from the 2010 final in the current squad and the Dutch have made no secret of their desire for revenge.
"It was a big chance for us to win the World Cup and we were really close," said Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar.
"It should always burn inside to make something right. To play against them now in the first game is a great challenge."
Veteran midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who will win his 100th cap in the match, said the wounds of that defeat were still raw.
"It's like a scar that hasn't yet healed. It always gets me down when I think about it," said the Galatasaray star.
As the double European and reigning world champions, Vicente del Bosque's Spain are bidding to join Brazil and Italy as the only teams to have enjoyed back-to-back World Cup wins.
The ever-loyal Del Bosque is expected to make just one change from the side which started and won the Euro 2012 final with Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta coming in for Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back.
Cesc Fabregas should start up front for Spain with Brazil-born Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa expected to make a second-half appearance from the bench.
"We don't have any fear. But we do have respect," said del Bosque.
"Holland are a well-organised team, well-coached, and I am sure they will make things difficult for us."
Spain can expect a hostile reception in Salvador, judging by last year's Confederations Cup when they were widely booed on their run to the final where they lost 3-0 to hosts Brazil.
Van Persie is expected to be fit, despite arriving in Brazil as an injury concern after sustaining a groin problem in last week's 2-0 friendly win over Wales in Amsterdam.
Coach Louis van Gaal has experimented with a 5-3-2 formation designed to close down Spain's potent attack and counter-attack hard.
But the future Manchester United manager used a 4-4-2 formation against the Welsh to keep the Spanish guessing which system he will use in Salvador.
Much relies for the Dutch on their attacking triumvirate of Van Persie, Arjen Robben and Sneijder, while their defence has been criticised as the team's weak link.
Spain are wary of their opponents' ability to hit them on the break, warned midfielder Sergio Busquets.
The 25-year-old Barcelona star, who played in the 2010 final, said while most of the team that won the World Cup remained, Holland now have a lot of new young talent.
"We have practically the same players whereas they have had an infusion of new players and a new coach (Louis van Gaal)," said Busquets.
"They have deployed a different system of playing, with five defenders and relying on hitting their opponents on the counter-attack.
"We have to thwart their counter-attacks and also keep a close eye on their most effective players such as Arjen Robben, Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder.

Thursday 12 June 2014

Japan captain Hasebe ready after injury

Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has declared himself "ready to go" for his team's World Cup Group C opener against Ivory Coast in Recife at the weekend, shrugging off worries over a knee injury.
"There is no problem (with the knee) and I have been taking part in full training," the Eintracht Frankfurt defensive midfielder said after Wednesday's workout at Japan's World Cup base camp in Itu, near Sao Paulo.
"Obviously it is the coach that decides but I am ready to go," the 30-year-old said about the chance of his making the first team for the match which kicks off at 11pm local time on Saturday (0200GMT Sunday), according to Kyodo News.
Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has shown great faith in Hasebe since taking over the Blue Samurai after the 2010 World Cup, depending on him to help fulfil the goal of at least a quarterfinal spot in a team studded with talent, including Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa and AC Milan midfielder Keisuke Honda.
Hasebe suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee playing for his former club Nuremberg in a January friendly.
He underwent surgery twice on the knee but played the full 90 minutes in Nuremberg's final game of the season and played the second half in Japan's 1-0 friendly win over Cyprus at home on May 27.
But he sat out Japan's last two warm-up matches in which they beat Costa Rica and Zambia at their training camp in Florida.
Hasebe and Stuttgart defender Gotoku Sakai had been the only real injury concerns for Zaccheroni but the Italian tactician now has a fully fit squad.
Japan have shown attacking flair, scoring seven goals in the Florida friendlies, but their leaky defence yielded four.
Hasebe said Ivory Coast have similar problems.
"Ivory Coast are strong in attack but on the other hand they are a bit flimsy in defence," he said. "We are both attacking teams and I think it will be the team with the highest levels of concentration that will come out on top."
Japan will also face Greece and Colombia in Group C.

J-Lo, 'iron man' suit star in ceremony

Pop superstar Jennifer Lopez, hundreds of dancers, drummers and gymnasts, and a paraplegic who will kick a football in a robotic suit will deliver a pre-match extravaganza on Thursday to open the World Cup.
After the delays that have hampered Brazil's preparations, organisers had one overriding message for fans ahead of the 3:15 pm (8.15pm CAT) opening ceremony: Don't arrive late.
"Please, get there early," pleaded Brazilian singer Claudia Leitte. She will perform the official World Cup song, "We Are One," along with Lopez, rapper Pitbull and Brazilian drumming collective Olodum in the ceremony's grand finale.
There were last-minute doubts over whether Lopez, who media reports say recently broke up with backup dancer and boyfriend Casper Smart, would attend.
Fifa said on Sunday the singer had pulled out of the ceremony over "production issues."
But with two days to go, the world football body said she would perform after all.
"We Are One" has been viewed more than 75 million times on YouTube, though some critics have panned it as a disappointing follow-up to World Cup classics like Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life" in 1998 and Shakira's "Waka Waka" in 2010.
More than 60 000 fans will be in Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, including 12 heads of state and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and around one billion people are expected to watch the opening ceremony and match on TV.
The 25-minute ceremony will feature more than 600 artists, including acrobatic gymnasts, trampolinists, marshal arts-style capoeira performers and stilt walkers.
"The opening ceremony is a tribute to Brazil and its treasures: nature, people football," Belgian artistic director Daphne Cornez said in a statement.
She said one of her goals was to showcase the diversity of the sprawling South American country of 200 million people.
But Cornez has kept most other details under wraps.
Performers have had to surrender their cell phones before rehearsals to prevent any surreptitious selfies.
In all, more than 1, 200 people have worked on the ceremony.
Organisers said 20 hours of artistic work had gone into every minute of the performance.
The center of the show will be a giant LED ball made up of more than 90 000 light clusters.
But that will be one of the few large-scale technical wonders, since Cornez and team were under orders to avoid placing too much strain on the pitch where Brazil and Croatia will face off at 5pm (10pm CAT).
There will be no political speeches this year, not even from Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff, though messages of peace from Pope Francis and other religious leaders will be read out as doves are released.
The most powerful moment may come when a paraplegic, whose identity has been kept secret, gives the first kick to Brazuca, the official World Cup ball, by donning an Iron Man-like robotic suit controlled by brain signals.
The cutting-edge exoskeleton was designed by Brazilian neuroscientist Miguel Nicolelis.
It will also be a special day for several youths from Itaquera, the lower-class neighborhood where the stadium was built in a process plagued by protests, delays, overspending and construction accidents that killed three workers.
"We reached a deal with Fifa for three young people from our neighborhood to participate in the ceremony," said local priest Rosalvino Moran, who runs the charity that chose the youths.
"It was the least they could do. If they hadn't agreed, the kids would have camped out in front of the stadium and protested the World Cup."

Who Agrees Spain to win World Cup - study

Defending champions Spain look set to win the World Cup thanks to the interlocking qualities of their squad, which will allow them to outgun Brazil, statisticians said on Wednesday.
The Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory said it had taken an in-depth look at the career trajectory of all 32 squads due to lock horns in Brazil from Thursday.
"This approach has allowed us to predict a hypothetical scenario for the outcome of the competition, suggesting that Spain will beat Brazil in the final, with Argentina in third place and France in fourth position," it said.
CIES Football Observatory's experts, who apply econometric methods to all aspects of the game, number-crunched a vast haul of data.
They took into account league matches and goals during each player's career to date, as well as in the last two years, plus national team caps since 2012 and the total number of World Cup games ever played.
Based on that recipe for success, they combed through all eight World Cup groups to assess who was likely to reach the last 16.
They tipped Brazil to beat The Netherlands in the first knock-out round, while Japan would lose to Italy, France would oust Nigeria, and Portugal would dump out Russia.
In the four other last-16 games, the analysts said that Spain would defeat Croatia, England would elbow out Colombia, Ecuador would lose to Argentina, and that Germany would show Belgium the exit.
That would set up a series of tasty quarterfinals, with Brazil knocking out Italy, France beating Portugal, Spain defeating England, and Germany losing to Argentina.
Brazil would then go on to beat France in the semifinals, while Argentina would lose to Spain.
It also said that the most competitive groups, statistically, would be Group C, pitting Japan, Colombia, Ivory Coast and Greece, and Group G, made up of Portugal, Germany, the United States and Ghana.

Messi, Ronaldo duel for Cup stardom

One is the world's best known footballer, the other the most valuable. They have scored the same number of Champions League goals and are loaded down with titles. But superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are stuck in a World Cup dead end.
Between them Messi and Ronaldo have monopolised the past six world player of the year awards. But each have attended the last two World Cups and failed to even get near the trophy. Messi has scored just one goal at the finals, Ronaldo only two.
Now though, the weight of Argentinian hopes rests on Messi's slight shoulders. Portugal are desperate for Ronaldo's goals to get out of one of the most difficult groups in the contest.
The Brazil World Cup could finally decide whether the name of Messi or Ronaldo is etched into football legend alongside the Peles and Diego Maradonas and Zinedine Zidanes. It is the competition which transforms reputations.
The softly-spoken Messi is 26, just 1.69m tall and 67kg in weight. But his goalscorer record and brilliance pack the same weight as the 29-year-old Ronaldo – 1.85m and 80kg – who revels in his glamour lifestyle.
Messi captured three Champions League wins with Barcelona while Ronaldo responded by adding a crown for Real Madrid last month to his earlier success with Manchester United.
Both average more than 50 goals a year in all competitions for their clubs.
Ronaldo is the world's most recognisable and marketable footballer, according to the Repucom, a sports marketing research company.
But Messi remains the world's most valuable footballer on the market, according to the Swiss-based CIES Football Observatory. It put the Argentine's value at 216 million euros, while because of his age, Ronaldo was worth just 114 million euros.
The case for the elevation of Messi and Ronaldo to the almost deified heights of Pele and Maradona would surely be unanswerable were either to lift the trophy on 13 July in Rio.
"Both players are incredibly great athletes and both have outstanding qualities. Both can win a match in their club or national team on their own," said Ottmar Hitzfeld, the respected German coach who will be in charge of Switzerland at the World Cup.
But the World Cup, high pressure over one month, is vastly different from the Spanish league and Champions League duties which Messi and Ronaldo so brilliantly execute week in, week out.
Maradona is adamant that "Messi doesn't have to win the World Cup to be the best in the world."
For the 1986 world champion, "one world title more or one less can't take anything away from anything (Messi) has achieved to be where he is today."
With Messi having enjoyed a less than stellar campaign with Barcelona this season – and having seen Ronaldo take the Fifa Ballon d'Or for the world's best player away from him – the World Cup is his chance to crown a loaded career trophy haul.
Ronaldo, in contrast, comes into the World Cup on the back of Real's first Champions League win in 12 years – though his exploits have taken a toll as he struggles with thigh and knee problems.
Yet none other than Pele has in recent months spoken of how he believes Ronaldo is now even more effective than Messi.
Judging players from different eras is an impossible task, but Pele says he could have been even better had referees given strikers the protection they get in the modern game – a point which could equally be applied to Maradona.
"In my day we just didn't have the same protection as there is today. I reckon with today's rules I could have scored 1 000 goals more," opined Pele, who famously netted a tally of 1 281.
Even a World Cup coronation for Messi or Ronaldo will not entirely end the debate – the Portuguese famously said two years ago of their rivalry that "you cannot compare a Ferrari with a Porsche because it's a different engine."
But it would remove the main argument of those who maintain that until either man captures that missing trophy they cannot elbow Pele and Maradona aside.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari tells Brazil to sharpen up

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on Monday urged his troops to sharpen up a day before their World Cup warm-up with Panama.
Scolari blasted his side after a Sunday training session which he said he "didn't like at all" owing to poor marking and perceived sloppiness.
And with only 10 days to go to their opening World Cup match against Croatia in Sao Paulo, the man who led the Selecao to glory in 2002 insisted it was time to crack the whip.
On Sunday, "the marking was sloppy, we left spaces in the middle of the park and took up questionable positions," Scolari observed.
"We cannot let our attitude slip a week before the Cup. We cannot lose the identity which we forged at the Confederations Cup," the dress rehearsal his side won almost 12 months ago.
Tuesday's test at the Serra Dourada stadium in Goiania, some 200 km from the capital Brasilia, is the penultimate chance for Scolari to look at options in reserve.Friday against Serbia in Sao Paulo is his side's final friendly outing before the real thing starts with the Croatians in a Group A also comprising Mexico and Cameroon.
Scolari, calling for more inventive subtlety and tactical nous from his charges, said the players know full well what he demands and expects.
"I urged them what I always do - to be serious and play each match as if it were the last."
Scolari can make up to six substitutions in the game against the Panamanians and said he would use the chance to run the rule over the options at his disposal.
Even so, against Croatia he will essentially keep faith with the players who saw off Spain in the Confederations final.
Scolari, who said he would have liked a few more days to prepare for the 12 June opener at Sao Paulo's Corinthians Arena, said Panama were not to be underestimated.
"They are a good side - we have been following their work. We have to take the game seriously and see how we are coming along."
Scolari stressed no side in Brazil's group would be easy to beat, noting Cameroon are coming off a friendly draw with Germany, no less.
Some 20 000 fans were on hand to see Brazil train under Scolari's watchful gaze and jostle to catch a glimpse of the likes of Neymar.
Resting skipper Thiago Silva, plus midfielders Paulinho and Fernandinho, Scolari is set to give Ramires a start ahead of Hernanes and Dante.
Hulk is also set to start in a 4-2-3-1 formation, completing, along with Oscar and Neymar, a trident supporting spearhead Fred.

Cesar Azpilicueta believes Spain can benefit from Brazil pain

Spain fullback Cesar Azpilicueta believes his team can benefit from the experience of losing last year's Confederations Cup final to Brazil as they bid to retain the World Cup.
Spain have also won the previous two European Championships and qualified for this month's tournament in Brazil by taking 20 points from a possible 24.
They were, however, outplayed in the Confederations Cup final by the host nation.
"It's in Brazil and Spain won the last one so obviously it's a massive tournament which everybody is looking forward to. We have experience from last year when we played in the Confederations Cup in Brazil," Azpilicueta said.
"The World Cup is obviously different but we know what we can expect although we will have to adapt to the conditions very quickly," he told the website of his English club Chelsea.
Azpilicueta has joined up with the Spain squad on the back of a strong finish to the season with Chelsea in which he was named the team's Players' Player of the Year.
Spain play their first World Cup match against the Netherlands in Group B on June 13 and Azpilicueta knows the importance of a good start.
"In the last World Cup Spain began by losing against Switzerland which nobody expected," he said.
"That tells you every game is very difficult, you can't look any further than the first game, which for us is against Holland and that's all we can focus on for now."
It will be the first major international tournament for the 24-year-old and he feels his versatility is a bonus for the Spain squad.
"When you have a group of 23 and a lot of games it helps having players who can play in different positions," he said.
"It helps you in terms of bringing other players into the group who play in different positions, that maybe you need more. This is what I've been working towards and I'm happy to play where the manager needs me."

Friday 30 May 2014

Germany national Lahm, Neuer concerns dismissed

Germany national team coach Joachim Loew moved to play down concerns over the fitness of captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on Friday.
Bayern Munich defender Lahm, who's working his way back from an ankle injury, was seen grimacing after his participation in Friday's session at the team's pre-World Cup training camp in the Italian Alps was cut short.
However, Loew allayed fears over Lahm's condition.
"It was a precationary measure. He will rest this afternoon and do some more ball work on Saturday," Loew said at a press conference.
Lahm's fellow Bayern teammate Neuer was on the practice field for the second day running but again protected his troublesome right shoulder.
"He did a number of exercises. He still has another week of work and we're thinking he will be back in goal by (next) Friday," said Loew, without giving any indication whether his first-choice keeper would play in Germany's final pre-tournament friendly against Armenia on June 6.
The squad will return to Germany on Saturday ahead of a friendly with Cameroon in Moenchengladbach on Sunday, the day after which Loew will be required to cut three players from his squad before finalising his 23-man list for Brazil.
Following next Friday's friendly against Armenia, the Germany squad will fly out to Brazil the following day.
Germany start their World Cup campaign against Portugal in Salvador on June 16 and also face Ghana and the United States in Group G.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe blow for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo, who is still feeling the effects of a thigh injury, and Real Madrid teammate Pepe will both miss Portugal's World Cup warm-up match against Brazil-bound Greece on Saturday.
"Ronaldo will be with us but will not play... and Pepe will also not play," Portugal coach Paulo Bento said Friday.
Ronaldo sustained the injury late in the season, but Bento said there was no specific timetable to get the Portugal captain back on the pitch.
"We're not going to set down a calendar for his return to competition," Bento said, adding that he wanted to take "no risk".
Central defender Pepe, making his comeback after a calf injury, trained on Thursday and Friday, having remained on the bench during Real's Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid last Saturday, Ronaldo having played all 120 minutes in that match.
Portugal leave Monday for the United States where they will play Mexico and the Republic of Ireland in friendlies.
The Portuguese have been drawn in Group G at the World Cup and will face Germany on June 16 in Salvador, the United States a week later in Manaus and then Ghana on June 26 in Brasilia.

Wenger issues Ghana respectful threat

Ghana has got a respectful prod from Arsene Wenger, who warns Germany and Portugal to be careful.
The Arsenal boss has warned the two countries not to underrate Ghana at the 2014 World Cup.
The Black Stars, for the seasoned Frenchman, have the capability to do massive damage to the huge egos of the Group G favorites.
“Germany and Portugal might be the favourites, but be careful of Ghana!” Wenger wrote in his Eurosport World Cup preview column.
“They almost reached the semi-finals in South Africa. They have a good team.”
Ghana play USA first in Natal on 16 June before the two powerhouses make dates with them.

Thursday 29 May 2014

Injury forces SKorea into change

German-based defender Park Joo-ho was called into the South Korea World Cup squad on Thursday after first choice left back Kim Jin-su was forced to drop out of the 23 because of an ankle ligament injury.
Kim, 21, suffered the injury playing for Japanese club Albirex Niigata earlier this month with the Koreans deciding against surgery in the hope he could recover in time ahead of their opening game in Brazil against Russia on June 17.
But those hopes were dashed late on Wednesday, leaving Mainz defender Park to battle Yun Suk-young of Queens Park Rangers for the starting place in Brazil.
"Unlike knee ligament injuries, those around ankles do not necessitate surgery so we opted to go through treatment without surgery," team doctor Song Jun-seob told reporters in Seoul on Thursday.
"We did our best to treat the injury till yesterday but we concluded after a meeting last night that one of the ligaments won't be healed till the World Cup."
The Koreans received more positive news about central defender Hong Jeong-ho, who was forced off in the 13th minute of Wednesday's 1-0 home loss to Tunisia with an ankle problem.
Hong left the field on a stretcher but, after scans on Thursday, Song said he expected the Augsburg defender to be back within a week.
"He has a bruise under his skin. He was hit hard by the tackle and thankfully his ankle was not twisted," the doctor said.
The Koreans will be thankful their leaky defence, which was badly exposed by the Africans, was not hit further.
Forward Zouheir Dhaouadi was given far too much freedom as he burst through the heart of the hosts from deep to score the only goal shortly before halftime to upset the 50 000 home fans who had come for the Seoul send off.
Yun started the match at left back despite fears of jet lag after arriving late from England because of club commitments, but Park will be hopeful of usurping him in Brazil, where the Koreans also face Algeria and Belgium in Group H.
The Mainz defender had a strong first season in Germany after switching from Swiss side Basle and his initial snub from the World Cup squad was one of the main talking points among fans and local media.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo said he left the 27-year-old out because he had been suffering foot inflammation since the conclusion of the Bundesliga season earlier this month.
Song said that was all cleared up now and the fullback would be ready to play in their final pre-World Cup friendly against Ghana in Miami on June 9.
"What is important about this injury, cellulitis, is whether it would recur or not and at the time the entry was made public the medical team was not sure if it'd relapse," he said.
"But after one week after the entry was announced on May 8, we removed the stitches as it was fully healed and since then Park has been working on the rehabilitation program under the guidance of our medical team and it's been successful."

Germany Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm start training

Germany keeper Manuel Neuer and captain Philipp Lahm kicked off their belated World Cup preparations on Thursday with light training after missing the start of the camp through injury.
Neuer did not do any goalkeeping training and only some light running as he races to recover from his shoulder injury in time for the tournament start next month.
There was more good news for coach Joachim Loew at their northern Italian training camp with Lahm training in part with the team for the first time on Thursday as he also recovers from a foot injury picked up in the German Cup final two weeks ago.
"At the moment they cannot be fully fit with us but it looks good for both of them," defender Jerome Boateng told reporters. "For Manuel it may take a bit longer but it will all work out."
Neuer has been the undisputed No 1 for four years and there have been concerns in recent days about whether he will be fully fit for Germany's first match on June 16 against Portugal.
Team officials said midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, also back from injury recently, upped the tempo during training on Thursday as well and looks on track to be fully fit for the tournament start.
Injured left back Marcel Schmelzer was the only absentee.
Germany, drawn in Group G along with Ghana, the United States and Portugal, have had to deal with a string of injuries to key players in recent weeks as they look to end an 18-year wait for an international title in Brazil.

Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi visits Italy camp

Former Italy coach Marcello Lippi has drawn comparisons between the current Azzurri squad and the one he led to the World Cup title in 2006.
Lippi is visiting Italy's training camp near Florence and was present at practice on Thursday morning.
He says "it was very emotional. There is a certain similarity between my group in 2006 and this one."
Lippi also managed Italy during the 2010 World Cup, where the defending champion suffered an embarrassing group-stage exit.
He was criticised for relying heavily on veterans and failing to put his trust in young players such as United States-born forward Giuseppe Rossi.
Lippi adds "I told (Rossi) that for the first time in my career I regret something, that is not having taken him to the World Cup in South Africa."

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Rossi doubtful for World Cup 2014

Injury-plagued striker Giuseppe Rossi remains the biggest dilemma for Cesare Prandelli as the deadline looms for the Italy coach to trim his World Cup squad to 23 players.
Prandelli admits he has been moved by Rossi's effort to prove that he is ready for the tournament, yet still appears to be cautious about gambling on the player who, when fit, is arguably Italy's most prolific and consistent scorer.
Italy's provisional 30-man squad have been training outside Florence for the last week and, with little real news, Italian media have speculated endlessly on who will be among the unlucky seven.
Many other coaches have saved themselves the headache, and tension, by announcing their definitive 23-man squad well ahead of the June 2 deadline.
However, after Italy repeatedly ran out of gas during matches at Euro 2012, Prandelli is closely monitoring the players' fitness to make sure that those he takes to Brazil are capable of outlasting the opposition.
The latest consensus is, that of the seven forwards in the provisional squad, Mario Balotelli, Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci are certain to make the cut, Antonio Cassano has a good chance and Lorenzo Insigne is likely to be dropped.
That would leave Rossi vying with AS Roma's Mattia Destro, who has also battled back from injury, for the fifth and final spot.
Rossi would certainly get the sympathy vote. The United States born forward's troubles began when he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Villarreal in a Spanish league match against Real Madrid in 2011.
He fought desperately to be fit for Euro 2012, only to re-injure the knee in training and miss the tournament.
He made an excellent comeback with Fiorentina this season, scoring 14 goals by early January to make him Serie A's leading scorer.
However, he then suffered a less serious injury, a second degree sprain to the medial collateral ligament, in the same knee which sidelined him until the start of this month.
"He is a talent with great quality, one of the best in Italy," said Prandelli. "He is determined, hungry and made a thousand sacrifices to be here in the running for the World Cup.
"He is the proof that champions need to have character and he can set the example for everyone. Clearly, he has to be in good shape and that's what we want to see.
"His determination, his desire to make all the sacrifices to be here is a demonstration that even the great players have to put in effort. This is a good lesson for the whole group."
Team doctor Enrico Castellacci said on Tuesday that Saturday's friendly against Ireland in London could be crucial for Rossi.
"Clinically, he is fine but he will be evaluated during the game, and then, of course, it is up to Prandelli to decide whether or not to call him up."
Elsewhere, eight of the current 10 midfielders are likely to make the trip.
Andrea Pirlo, Claudio Marchisio, Thiago Motta, Riccardo Montolivo, Daniele de Rossi and Antonio Candreva are regarded as certainties, leaving Romulo, Marco Verratti, Marco Parolo and Alberto Aquilani to battle for two more places.
Of the five central defenders in the provisional squad, Juventus trio Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli should be safe and Gabriel Paletta is also expected to make the cut at the expense of Inter Milan's Andrea Ranocchia.
That leaves three places for full backs. Milan's Mattia De Sciglio, who can play on either side, is given a good chance of getting in. Ignazio Abate, Christian Maggio and Matteo Darmian are in a fairly even battle for two more places and Fiorentina's Manuel Pasqual is seen as a rank outsider.
 

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