England keeper Green to miss the World Cup

READING, England, May 26: England keeper Robert Green is virtually certain to miss the World Cup after suffering a serious groin injury in a 'B' international against Belarus.

''It's bad news -- almost for sure he is out of the World Cup,'' coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said of England's third-choice keeper behind David James and first-choice Paul Robinson.

''They're going to do a scan on him tomorrow but it's just to confirm that he's out. It's a bad groin injury,'' Eriksson told a news conference after his team's 2-1 defeat yesterday.

Liverpool's Scott Carson, England's standby keeper for Germany, took over between the posts at Reading and will now be promoted into the World Cup squad.

Green suffered the injury as he tried to take a goal kick in the 50th minute, five minutes after taking over from James for the second half. He collapsed in agony as his left leg gave way and he left the pitch distraught on a stretcher.

His miscued kick went to Belarus forward Vitaly Kutuzov who, with Green lying flat out in the box, knocked the ball into an empty net -- to boos from an angry crowd.

The goal cancelled out a 35th minute strike by Jermaine Jenas and was followed by late winner by substitute Sergei Kornilenko, despite Belarus being reduced to 10 men after a 73rd minute red card for Sergei Omelyanchuk.

''It's always disappointing to lose a game but it was not that important today,'' said Eriksson, who was already looking ahead to their World Cup opener in Group B on June 10.

''The important thing is to win against Paraguary. I think it was much more positiive than negative.'' Eriksson was pleased with striker Michael Owen and Arsenal defenders Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell -- all looking for match fitness after lengthy injury layoffs.

As for his captain for the night, the Swede said: ''One hour for Michael Owen -- very good. He seems very fit and doesn't feel anything after the game, so that's good.'' It was only Owen' second game since breaking a bone in his foot on Dec. 31.

''The youngsters played well,'' Eriksson said, adding that promising winger Aaron Lennon ''showed why he is in this squad.

He played very very well.'' As for 17-year-old forward Theo Walcott, making his first appearance in an England shirt, he said: ''The youngest man in the squad showed he is ready for it -- not shy at all.'' ''So I'm happy - even if we lost this game.''

REUTERS