Rooney broke a bone in his foot on Saturday but has refused to give up hope of playing some part in England's World Cup campaign, despite the scepticism of his Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson.

It will be at least six weeks before he can play again, effectively ruling him out of Sven Goran Erikkson's team during at least the opening stages in Germany.

Rooney's injury coupled with lingering doubts over strike partner Michael Owen's fitness are threatening to seriously undermine England's chances this summer and Eriksson's assistant Grip told The Sun: "It doesn't look hopeful as far as Wayne is concerned.

"We're working on Plan B now -- but just how that plan looks, I really don't know.

"Of course it's serious when our top two forwards are both injured.

"The situation with Owen is not so bad and we are much more optimistic he will play.

"With Wayne, we will have to wait and see -- but it doesn't look good at the moment.

"We will know more when our doctor, Leif Sward, meets United doctor Michael Stone for talks on Thursday."

Koller back in fold
Afp, Hannover

Czech international forward Jan Koller stepped up his bid to be fit for next month's World Cup making his first appearance in seven months in Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 win at Hannover on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old had been on the sidelines since sustaining a cruciate ligament injury in September last year but returned to action coming on as a substitute in the 71st minute.

Koller, a 12-million-euro signing from Anderlecht in 2001, came through the match unscathed and will hope to play in Dortmund's remaining two league fixtures to improve his match sharpness ahead of the finals.

The giant target-man is his country's record goalscorer with 44 goals in 66 internationals.

The Czech Republic, semifinalists at Euro 2004, are pooled with Italy, the United States and Ghana in World Cup Group E.

Unprecedented stadia TV coverage
Afp, Frankfurt

For the first time in the history of the World Cup all the stadia will be kitted out with giant hi-tech television screens to show live action at the finals in Germany.

The German Organising Committee for the 2006 World Cup, which begins next month on June 9, revealed Tuesday that all the 12 stadia at the finals will show live match action and replays of the key moments from the game.

At the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea the same service was available but not in all of the host stadia.

German organisers have also promised to screen other live games at the stadia so fans can watch another match on television in the stadium as well as watching their own team in action.