A leading FIFA official insisted that the 2002 World Cup will not be transferred to England from Japan and South Korea, despite the economic crisis in South-East Asia. Vice-President Lennart Johansson said hosting the tournament could even help the co-hosts' finances. "There is absolutely no doubt that Japan and South Korea will organise the first World Cup in Asia," Johansson said. "Preparations are going ahead as scheduled and FIFA is in full agreement with both of the organising national associations."

British Sports Minister Tony Banks has been reported as saying England were prepared to take over the 2002 tournament if necessary. But he warned that any suggestions that the Football Association was involved in manoeuvrings to takeover the event could jeopardise England's bid to stage the following World Cup in 2006. Banks insisted claims England could step in were a tribute to the strength of the country's sporting credentials. "Of course we couldstep in to stage the tournament, because we are a country which could stage a World Cup," Banks said.

"But the suggestion that I have ordered officials to prepare for the possibility of us staging the 2002 World Cup is entirely fictitious."

Cuts And Blows

England without Ince

CASABLANCA: England will be without key mid-fielder Paul Ince, who is now in doubt for the World Cup finals, when they face Morocco on Wednesday in a double-header at the Hassan II tournament here. The four-team tournament also sees France taking on Belgium on Wednesday as the four finalists continue their build-up to the Cup, which kicks off in Paris on June 10. Ince has already been sidelined for three weeks with the ankle injury he sustained in a challenge with Arsenal striker and England teammate Ian Wright at Anfield during the final week of the English season.

Coach Glenn Hoddle tried to play down the significance of the injury, claiming that it was "nothing mega-drastic," and that Ince being rested up was "aprecautionary measure". Morocco, meanwhile, will be without defender Noureddine Naybet, attacking midfielder Mustapha Hadji and striker Mustapha Moustaoudaa for the Hassan tournament. All three are nursing minor injuries and will be rested.

The Moroccans also suffered a blow Tuesday when striker Khalid Raghib was forced to withdraw from their World Cup squad with a groin injury. Raghib will be out of action for at least a month, said Morocco's French coach Henri Michel.

The French Cuppa

Quick Sips

Cutlet to victory

TOKYO: Japan's World Cup footballers left on Wednesday for their final camp training in Europe boosted by the news that group rivals Croatia would be without ace striker Alen Boksic. After failing to win in four matches, Japan needed some good news. Head coach Takeshi Okada has set a target of one win, one loss and one draw from Group H to make the last 16. With Argentina favourites to top the group, Okada sees fellow Cup newcomers Croatia as their main rivals for the secondqualifying place.

The Japan Airlines jumbo jet had a giant sign on both sides of its rear fuselage, reading "Ganbare (Hurrah), Japanese National Football Team!". The footballing samurai from J-League were to be treated in flight to Japan's traditional culinary send off for soldiers going to war -- a boiled sea bream and a bowl of rice topped off by a fried pork cutlet. The cutlet is called "katsu", phonetically identical to a Japanese word meaning victory.

Back in the new-old world: Lothar

HELSINKI: Lothar Matthaeus will complete one of football's most unlikely comebacks on Wednesday night when he plays for Germany for the first time in well over three years. Matthaus will face Finland in a World Cup warm-up match in Helsinki -- his 123rd international appearance. The former captain has slipped back into the national squad like a hand in a well-worn glove and is looking forward to his return to the field. "I am back in a new-old world," the 37-year-old defender said. The last he played for hiscountry was against Albania in December 1994.

Chile's chosen ones

SANTIAGO: Chilean coach Nelson Acosta on Tuesday named a 22-man squad to contest next month's World Cup finals in France. Striker Juan Carreno, doubtful through injury, failed to make the final selection. Chile are drawn to play alongside Italy, Austria and Cameroon in Group B.

The team: Goal: Nelson Tapia, Marcelo Ramirez, Carlos Tejas, Defenders: Cristian Castaneda, Moises Villarroel, Javier Margas, Pedro Reyes, Ronald Fuentes, Miguel Ramirez, Francisco Rojas, Mauricio Aros, Midfielders: Fabian Estay, Clarence Acuna, Nelson Parraguez, Luis Musrri, Marcelo Vega, Jose Luis Sierra, Fernando Cornejo, Strikers: Marcelo Salas, Ivan Zamorano, Manuel Neira, Rodrigo Barrera.

Boost for Blatter

NEW YORK: CONCACAF, football's governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, has thrown its weight behind Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency. CONCACAF President Jack Austin Warner cited the"Eurocentric" stance of Blatter's rival Lennart Johannson as one reason for the decision. "We believe that Mr. Blatter offers continuity of thought and action and a continuation of the work of Dr. Havelange," Warner said.

Pickpocket scare

PARIS: On the eve of the World Cup, official figures have shown an alarming increase in petty crimes on the streets of Paris.

Pickpocketing has risen by 31 per cent with 2,500 more offences committed in the first four months of the year than in the same period in 1997.