02.06.2010- Bayern's Turkey star Altintop extends contract

02.06.2010- Barcelona make official bid for Arsenal's Fabregas

02.06.2010- Marseille ready to splash out on Forlan: report

02.06.2010- Former Croatia defender Kovac hangs up his boots

02.06.2010- Redknapp expects Cole to snub Spurs

02.06.2010- Real's Mourinho eyes Gerrard: report

02.06.2010- Bent anguish at England axe

02.06.2010- Red Knights decide to halt United takeover bid

02.06.2010- Cannavaro signs for Dubai's Al-Ahli

02.06.2010- S.Africans learn tongue twister national anthem

01.06.2010- Donovan enjoys World Cup boost after 2006 struggle

01.06.2010- Eto'o sending off eases Portugal win over Cameroon

01.06.2010- Brazil fever sweeps Harare ahead of warm-up game

01.06.2010- 'Oranje' squash Ghana in World Cup friendly

01.06.2010- Lippi ditches Rossi, Borriello and Cassani

01.06.2010- No Beck as Loew announces Germany squad

01.06.2010- Uruguay send World Cup warning to France

01.06.2010- Walcott axed as England name final World Cup squad

01.06.2010- Slovenia name final World Cup squad

01.06.2010- Kennedy goal sees Australia past Denmark

01.06.2010- Serbia name final World Cup squad

01.06.2010- World Cup outsiders N.Korea arrive in Johannesburg

01.06.2010- SA looks to World Cup to heal racial divide

01.06.2010- 3 axed from S.Korean World Cup squad, Lee survives

01.06.2010- Killen gives up honeymoon for NZ World Cup duty

01.06.2010- 'Rebel' Domenech on last mission for France

01.06.2010- Tough times for tournament team Germany

31.05.2010- USA coach Bradley expects great World Cup

31.05.2010- S.Korean defender Kwak out of the World Cup

31.05.2010- Gilardino believes his time has come to shine

31.05.2010- Nigeria drop Everton striker Anichebe

31.05.2010- Thierry Henry happy with joker role

31.05.2010- 'Two-goal' Tulio lifts Japan despite England loss

31.05.2010- North Korean footballers bank on suprise element

30.05.2010- Rajevac names Ghana World Cup squad

27.05.2010- Tweeting is out for Spain's World Cup players

27.05.2010- Buffon plays down Italy repeat chances

27.05.2010- Fewer African fans for World Cup: FIFA

27.05.2010- Late Dunga warns Brazil stars to play as a team

27.05.2010- Torres back in training with Spain

27.05.2010- Lahm named German captain - reports

27.05.2010- S.Korea's high hopes for S.Africa W.Cup

26.05.2010- Lula sees Brazil side before World Cup trip

26.05.2010- France squeeze past Costa Rica in World Cup warm-up

26.05.2010- Australia first World Cup qualifiers to arrive

26.05.2010- Germany's rivals will be tough, warns Ballack

26.05.2010- No Bayern player will win World Cup, says Van Gaal

26.05.2010- New Zealand's Brown 'needs surgery'

25.05.2010- Irish edge Paraguay in World Cup warm-up

25.05.2010- Honduras arrives at Austrian training camp

25.05.2010- Barry's World Cup fate still not decided after scans

25.05.2010- Serbia arrives in Austria for World Cup training

25.05.2010- Johnson relishes scrap for World Cup places

25.05.2010- Rooney raring to go despite neck injury

25.05.2010- We're no golden oldies, says veteran Zambrotta

24.05.2010- Spain train for first time but without Torres

24.05.2010- Argentina cruise in Canadian friendly

24.05.2010- Portugal held by minnows Cape Verde

24.05.2010- Johnson wonder strike lifts England over Mexico in friendly

24.05.2010- Bulgaria give World Cup hosts South Africa reality check

24.05.2010- Chilean striker Mancilla's title joy turns to World Cup despair

24.05.2010- Verbeek lashes Grella, Cahill over tackles in Aussie win

24.05.2010- Japan coach keeps job after loss to South Korea

24.05.2010- Australia snatch World Cup warm-up win over N.Zealand

24.05.2010- Capello hoping for injury-free Mexico friendly

24.05.2010- England's Barry given time to make W.Cup flight

23.05.2010- Euro 2004 winners look to World Cup to lift Greek morale

22.05.2010- France's Diarra ruled out of World Cup

22.05.2010- Zuma opens World Cup showpiece stadium Soccer City

21.05.2010- Messi hands Argentina injury scare

21.05.2010- Kaka, Fabiano boost Brazil

21.05.2010- Boateng gets Ghana green light

21.05.2010- Greece squad departs for Swiss training

21.05.2010- Brazil kick off World Cup training

21.05.2010- Gallas on France comeback trail

20.05.2010- Our World Cup has started, says hopeful Maradona

20.05.2010- FIFA wants to charter 200 buses to fill small World Cup stadiums

19.05.2010- Essien on course to make World Cup

19.05.2010- Evra slams France critics, eyes World Cup glory

19.05.2010- Carragher makes case for World Cup ticket

19.05.2010- Nigeria confirm World Cup warm-up matches

19.05.2010- Financial analysts bank on England to win World Cup

18.05.2010- Argentina unsure on Maradona the manager

18.05.2010- Referees to target penalty feints at World Cup

18.05.2010- S.Africa expects 300,000 World Cup visitors

18.05.2010- Swiss lose key defender ahead of World Cup

18.05.2010- S.Africa rounds up poor, prostitutes ahead of World Cup

17.05.2010- S.Africa and FIFA combat World Cup ticket touts

17.05.2010- England squad arrive in Austria for World Cup training

17.05.2010- Valbuena jubilant at France selection

16.05.2010- Mexico edge Chile in World Cup warm-up

16.05.2010- World Cup hosts South Africa thrash Thailand

16.05.2010- Two late goals see S.Korea home against Ecuador

16.05.2010- Injured Ballack left to sweat on World Cup fate

16.05.2010- Blanc quits Bordeaux post: players

16.05.2010- Loew handed post-World Cup decision deadline

16.05.2010- Japan must try harder in World Cup: Honda

15.05.2010- Ronaldinho shrugs off Brazil World Cup snub

15.05.2010- Gazans can't go to S.Africa, so 'World Cup' comes to them

15.05.2010- Paraguay penalty edges out North Korea

15.05.2010- Germany's Jansen on course for World Cup place

14.05.2010- Van Marwijk trims Dutch squad to 27

14.05.2010- Zamora admits he had to call time on World Cup hopes

14.05.2010- Ferdinand insists he is fit for World Cup

13.05.2010- North Korea call up three foreign-based stars

11.05.2010- Ronaldinho omitted from Brazil's World Cup squad

11.05.2010- S.Africa's Soccer City to host first match on May 22

11.05.2010- S.African football officials suspended

11.05.2010- Ninety percent of World Cup tickets sold: organisers

11.05.2010- Nigeria preliminary World Cup squad announced

11.05.2010- World Cup-bound Mexico beat Senegal 1-0

10.05.2010- Pepe given World Cup lifeline by Queiroz

10.05.2010- Uncapped Barca keeper Valdes enters World Cup equation

10.05.2010- Japan announces World Cup squad

07.05.2010- Essien in preliminary Ghana World Cup squad

06.05.2010- World Cup call rolls back the years for Butt

06.05.2010- World Cup teams to get S.African police guard: official

06.05.2010- Mandela welcomes World Cup trophy to S.Africa

06.05.2010- Germany veteran Butt gets World Cup call-up

05.05.2010- Italy coach Lippi remains coy over future

04.05.2010- No surprises in Algeria's pre-World Cup squad

04.05.2010- US star Davies loses battle for World Cup fitness

04.05.2010- Broken ribs end Adler's World Cup dream

04.05.2010- 'I'll be ready' for World Cup: Gallas

04.05.2010- Van Nistelrooy not out of World Cup picture: coach

04.05.2010- India's coach resigns: reports

03.05.2010- Leekens returns to Belgian hotseat

03.05.2010- Veteran Van Nistelrooy out in the cold for World Cup

03.05.2010- FIFA gives S.Africa's World Cup workers free tickets

28.04.2010- World Cup hosts S.Africa back on winning trail

28.04.2010- World Cup dream over for Amanatidis

28.04.2010- Platini tips England among World Cup favourites

28.04.2010- Okada seeks Wenger advice on Cameroon

27.04.2010- Sorensen expects to make World Cup despite Kalou clash

22.04.2010- Germany's Jansen optimistic of making World Cup

22.04.2010- Don't expect England to win WC, says John Barnes

16.04.2010- World Cup ticket apology for S.African fans

14.04.2010- S.Africa's informal vendors sidelined by FIFA

09.04.2010- For teams camping on coast, worries of altitude at World Cup

09.04.2010- Parreira fumes at S.Africa World Cup build-up

08.04.2010- Fabregas will make World Cup, say Arsenal

04.04.2010- I leapt at Ivory Coast World Cup chance, says Eriksson

04.04.2010- South Africans suffer jolt to W.Cup preparations

24.03.2010- Sports betting under review in Malaysia

17.03.2010- USA face Czechs in World Cup warm-up

15.03.2010- N.Korea 'helps S.Africa prepare' for World Cup

10.03.2010- China World Cup mascot factory defends itself

05.03.2010- Blatter confident on World Cup security

03.03.2010- England confirm Mexico and Japan World Cup warm-ups

02.03.2010- S.Africa celebrates 100 day countdown to World Cup

02.03.2010- World Cup front-runners enter home straight

24.02.2010- 100 days to World Cup, South Africa still wooing fans

15.02.2010- Japan's World Cup preparations under fire

02.02.2010- Japan held to goalless draw by Venezuela

02.02.2010- Ghana's Addy completes dream move to FC Porto

31.01.2010- Supersub Gedo the hero as Egypt retain African crown

29.01.2010- Ghana sweat on skipper Kingson

29.01.2010- Ugly wins are beautiful for Ghana coach Rajevac

28.01.2010- Ghana down Nigeria, into Africa Cup of Nations' final

28.01.2010- Ghana target Nigeria in west African derby

27.01.2010- Bayern chief slams FIFA over World Cup decision

26.01.2010- English hooligans banned from travel to World Cup

26.01.2010- World Cup maestro Bora lends Ghana support

24.01.2010- Ghana into semis as Angola's Cup party ends in tears

23.01.2010- Ghana protest raises temperature ahead of Angola clash

22.01.2010- Ghana upset at disgraceful Angolan intimidation

22.01.2010- Chelsea's Essien out for six weeks

22.01.2010- WC crime story triggers free speech debate in S.Africa

20.01.2010- Ghana breathe easier, Mali protest, Togo keeper stable

19.01.2010- Ghana edge 10-man Burkina Faso, into Nations Cup quarters

19.01.2010- Beckenbauer slams World Cup ticket prices

18.01.2010- Ghana sweat on Essien for must-win Nations Cup game

18.01.2010- Huge blow for Ghana as Essien ruled out

17.01.2010- Ghana star Essien injures knee at training

15.01.2010- Ivory Coast reach Africa Cup quarter-finals

15.01.2010- Injury-ravaged Ghana bank on Essien against Ivorians

12.01.2010- Late arrival Essien uncertain for Ivory Coast

11.01.2010- Inamoto set for another move to seal World Cup place

08.01.2010- Essien boost for Ghana

05.01.2010- ESPN to bring World Cup in 3-D

05.01.2010- England set for pre-World Cup altitude camp in Austria

03.01.2010- Ghana coach faced with injuries for Nations Cup

01.01.2010- Japan getting more serious about World Cup dream

20.12.2009- Torres warns pressure could hurt Spain at World Cup

04.12.2009- It won't be easy, warns Domenech

04.12.2009- Sky brightens for Argentina after kind draw

04.12.2009- Spain wary of Brazil or Portugal in last 16

04.12.2009- S.Africa are not afraid, says Parreira

04.12.2009- Don't under-estimate us, USA warn England

04.12.2009- England bask in luck of the draw

04.12.2009- Germany's Bierhoff glad to avoid France, Portugal

03.12.2009- Clubs to get World Cup windfall

02.12.2009- France, Portugal miss out on World Cup seedings

30.11.2009- 2010 WCup stadiums almost ready - S.African officials

19.11.2009- Uruguay qualify for World Cup

18.11.2009- Controversy as French seal World Cup spot

18.11.2009- Slovenia stun Russia to reach World Cup

16.11.2009- Japan pick lucky town as World Cup base camp

14.11.2009- Cameroon coast to record sixth World Cup appearance

14.11.2009- Martins winner takes Nigeria to World Cup

14.11.2009- Greece looks to rediscover 2004 magic touch

10.11.2009- Cameroon Lions roar back under French magician

08.11.2009- Australia warns of unauthorised World Cup tickets

10.09.2009- Cannavaro hails Italy's step forward

10.09.2009- Japan coach holding tight to World Cup dream

07.09.2009- African teams bie to complete W.Cup line-up

06.09.2009- Ghana qualify for 2010 World Cup finals

01.09.2009- 68,000 fans seek volunteer jobs at SAfrica's World Cup

15.07.2009- World Cup construction workers to end strike

09.07.2009- No fear of losing for Japan in World Cup build-up

08.07.2009- Strike at S.African World Cup stadiums

05.07.2009- Egypt revive World Cup hopes by defeating Rwanda

04.07.2009- Captain Hassan insists Egypt can qualify for World Cup

03.07.2009- Talks to avert WC2010 workers strike resume

10.06.2009- Jordaan says South Africa beating doubts on World Cup

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien was on Thursday ruled out of the World Cup after failing a medical on the knee injury he suffered on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January.

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) announced that the 27-year-old star midfielder had failed a joint evaluation by medical staff from the GFA and his club, Chelsea.

Essien is not expected to make a full recovery from the injury until the end of July.

"The Ghana Football Association wishes him full recovery and a quick return to football action," the GFA statement added.

The midfielder was hoping to make his second World Cup appearance following his debut four years ago in Germany.

Ghana open their World Cup campaign in Group D against Serbia on June 13.

Essien had been included in Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac's preliminary 30-man squad for South Africa this month despite not playing since injuring his knee in training before the Black Stars' Cup of Nations quarter-final win in Angola in January.

He had been continuing his rehabilitation at Chelsea's training ground and had expressed confidence at being declared fit to be named in Ghana's squad for South Africa.

Essien had sounded optimistic about his chances of playing for his country next month when he told Chelsea's website last week: "I feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago so I am keeping my fingers crossed that all will be well."

His absence is a huge blow for Ghana even if Rajevic's men did succeed in making it to the Africa Cup of Nations' final without him where they were beaten by defending champions Egypt.