Seoul: South Korea’s Lee Dong-gook will miss the World Cup after being told he needs surgery to repair torn knee ligaments, his K-League club said on Friday. The Pohang Steelers striker’s worst fears were confirmed by a specialist in Frankfurt on Thursday, where he was informed he had no option but to undergo surgery on his right knee.

“The ligaments have snapped so surgery was the only choice,” said Pohang media officer Shin Joo-hyun. “We expect that Lee will take four to six months to recover.

“He won’t be able to play any part at the World Cup.” Lee initially decided against surgery after suffering the injury in a K-League game on April 5, favouring a course of strengthening rehabilitation.

 

Kalou wins court battle

Amsterdam: Ivory Coast-born Salomon Kalou, denied the chance to represent The Netherlands at the World Cup, has won a court battle to have a spoof advert showing him playing for Germany withdrawn. In a TV spot for Dutch insurer Achmea, made without the permission of the Feyenoord winger, Kalou is announced as part of a German team facing the Dutch in a World Cup final. A look-alike of German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn then thanks The Netherlands immigration minister Rita Verdonk for failing to fast-track Kalou’s Dutch citizenship application.

(REUTERS)