8.50am: Good morning and welcome to our daily sports news blog. Throughout the day we'll update this page with stories, links and what's expected to happen in the hours ahead. Time permitting, we'll try to post below the line, answering your questions and comments.
We'll let you know what's coming up today after our morning meeting, but why not start as we mean to go on: who do you think Liverpool should appoint as their next permanent manager? And who do you think they will appoint? JD
9.30am: As for the World Cup, ahead of tomorrow's pull-out guide publication and Sunday's Observer wall-chart of the finals, we've got our print-out, cut-out-and-keep sweepstake kit. And can we really read anything into Italy's warm-up defeat to Mexico last night? JD
11.15am: Apologies for the lack of entries. Just to let you know the England v Bangladesh second Test OBO is live with England currently 18-0. Andy Bull and Rob Smyth are in the hot seat. JD
11.20am: After England's first training session in South Africa, in which Gareth Barry returned to the fray, we're expecting to hear from Fabio Capello imminently. Elsewhere today, there will be the French Open men's semis, the second round of the Welsh Open, plus the Diamond League reaching Oslo on the athletics tour. JD
11.50am: If England v Bangladesh (where Andrew Strauss has just become the first England wicket to fall) looks like too much of a mismatch for you, then why not navigate your way to the virtual cauldron of our live county cricket blog, where you'll get a smattering of news from around the country as well as a bit of Test chat from Old Trafford? You can also keep up with all of today's scores on our Friends Provident t20 front (soon to be extended to all cricket fronts). AG
12.20pm: Hastily culled from the wires: England skipper Rio Ferdinand has suffered an injury setback during the squad's first training session in South Africa. The defender sustained a knee injury during the final couple of minutes and has gone to hospital to undergo a scan. England manager Fabio Capello is uncertain at this stage of the severity of the injury. But he confirmed:
"Rio picked up a knee problem in training. It happened near the end. He has gone to hospital for a scan and we will have to see how things are."
JD
1pm: First Rio Ferdinand, now Didier Drogba? The striker limped off in the first half of the Ivory Coast's warm-up match against Japan. Drogba went down under a heavy challenge from Japan defender Tulio after 15 minutes which left him spread-eagled on the pitch.
Oh, and my apologies. The Joy of Six has been postponed until early next week. Sorry. JD
1.50pm: So we're just in the process of following up reports from Switzerland suggesting that Didier Drogba has fractured his elbow. JD
2.29pm: Didier Drogba looks set to miss the World Cup after suffering a suspected broken elbow in Ivory Coast's World Cup warm-up match against Japan. The details are still a little sketchy but we'll have more news as it develops. GR
3pm: Rio Ferdinand has left hospital on crutches after suffering a knee injury in training this morning. The FA has yet to comment on the severity of the injury but Michael Dawson is on standby amid England's captain has suffered ligament damage and will miss the World Cup. AG
3.11pm: Blimey! Rio Ferdinand's out of the World Cup. Apparently he suffered the injury in a tackle towards the end of today's training session and is now on crutches. Here's what we have so far ... GR
3.43pm: So, is Ledley King the natural replacement for Ferdinand? And more importantly, is he fit enough to last the tournament? GR
4.10pm: Robin Soderling has made it through to his second successive French open final after coming back from two sets to one down to win 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. GR
4.30pm: Just in case you had any money on the Oaks you might like to know that the 9-1 shot Snow Fairy won it, guided home by Ryan Moore. You can read more on our live Talking Horses blog. GR
5.05pm: Just to call time on today's blog with news that Italy's Andrea Pirlo is now another doubt for the World Cup, having knacked himself against Mexico last night. On that note, have a great weekend, and we'll be back bright and early on Monday. Cheers. JD
