WC2010 - Lee Dong-Gook set to miss opener

Lee Dong-Gook is set to miss South Korea's World Cup opener against Greece on June 12 due to a hamstring injury.

Lee, who now plays for Jeonbuk Motors after a spell with Middlesbrough, was left out of the 2002 World Cup by coach Guus Hiddink and missed the 2006 tournament through injury, and now looks likely to miss the Group B clash.

Coach Huh Jung-moo will name his final 23-man squad on May 31, the day after Korea face Belarus before rounding off their pre-tournament campaign against Spain on June 3.

Int'l - Advocaat confirmed as new coach of Russia

Dick Advocaat is set to be unveiled as the new coach of Russia.

Advocaat, who last month unexpectedly resigned as coach of Belgium barely six months after taking the role, confirmed four weeks ago that he had been approached by the Russian FA with a view to succeeding Guus Hiddink.

Advocaat's international coaching CV also includes spells in charge of Holland (twice), the United Arab Emirates and South Korea, while he has also guided Rangers and PSV Eindhoven and spent three successful years in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.

Hiddink led Russia to the semi-finals of Euro 2008 but his team failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup finals in South Africa.

WC2010 - Verbeek turn to youth

Australia coach Pim Verbeek has turned to youth with some surprise inclusions as he announced his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad in Sydney.

Youngsters James Holland, Nikita Rukavytsya, Shane Lowry, Tommy Oar and Dario Vidosic will join a near-full strength complement of established Socceroos stars at a Melbourne training base ahead of Australia's first pre-World Cup friendly against New Zealand on May 24.

There was no room for Mile Sterjovski, who played under Guus Hiddink in Germany and featured in many of Australia's qualifiers, and Sterjovski's Perth Glory team-mates Chris Coyne and Jacob Burns also missed out. Another A-League star expected to at least participate in the preliminary squad was Simon Colosimo, but his World Cup dream is over.

Brad Jones pipped Eugune Galekovic to the third goalkeeper slot behind Mark Schwarzer and Adam Federici, although Galekovic has been called into the training camp as a 31st player in case of injury to any of the other three 'keepers. Australia's most fiercely debated selection battle, that over the claims of attacking midfielders Nick Carle and Brett Holman, will rage on as both players were selected. They will compete for what will likely be one spot available on the plane to South Africa.

Aside from injured Leeds defender Patrick Kisnorbo and some potential fringe players, Verbeek's selection wasn't hampered by injury as first XI stars Harry Kewell and Mark Bresciano were included despite clouds over their ongoing fitness. The squad will be trimmed to 23 on June 1, but Verbeek said he would take three or four back up players to South Africa in case of injuries.

The squad

Michael Beauchamp, Mark Bresciano, Tim Cahill, Nick Carle, David Carney, Scott Chipperfield, Jason Culina, Brett Emerton, Adam Federici, Richard Garcia, Vince Grella, James Holland, Brett Holman, Mile Jedinak, Brad Jones, Josh Kennedy, Harry Kewell, Shane Lowry, Scott McDonald, Mark Milligan, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Jade North, Tommy Oar, Nikita Rukavytsya, Mark Schwarzer, Carl Valeri, Dario Vidosic, Luke Wilkshire, Rhys Williams

Int'l - Ivory Coast sack coach Halilhodzic

Halilhodzic took over in 2008 and steered them to World Cup qualification but the 57-year-old has paid the price for their quarter-final elimination by Algeria.

Speculation is rife Hiddink will steer the Ivory Coast in South Africa. The Dutchman is under contract with Russia until the summer, when he will take over as Turkey coach. However, Hiddink recently revealed Didier Drogba, who he managed at Chelsea last season, has pleaded with him to take charge.

Intl - Hiddink confirms Russia departure

Guus Hiddink has confirmed he will leave his position as Russia coach when his contract expires in the summer.

Manchester City, Liverpool, Juventus, Turkey and Heerenveen are all reported to have shown interest while Hiddink's representative recently claimed he would like to lead Nigeria in South Africa after the dismissal of Shaibu Amodu. There have also been suggestions he could be offered a role at Chelsea.