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Union might strike
PARIS (AP) -- A small union of rail workers demanding better pay said Thursday they might strike during the World Cup. French truckers have also threatened to disrupt the tournament."I'd go by foot to Saint-Denis if there was a strike," said Michel Platini, head of the French organizers, said Thursday, referring to the new Stade de France outside Paris.
Remi de Bouteiller, of the Force Ouvriere union, said in a telephone interview that a strike could be called if the national railroad, the SNCF, doesn't speed up talks with the government over pay.
"No decisions have been taken yet by the SNCF, so the fight has begun" he said.
French truckers, seeking an increase in hourly wages from $7.20 to $9.30, and a reduced work week, are also threatening a walkout during the World Cup.
LEICESTER, England (AP) -- Alan Shearer is showing the strain.
Shearer, counted on to be England's most productive forward in the World Cup, has scored only two goals for Newcastle since returning from an injury that kept him out most of the season.
In Wednesday's scoreless tie against Leicester, Shearer kicked Leicester player Neil Lennon as the two scuffled for a ball. Somehow he escaped being ejected, though he surely would have been in a World Cup game.
TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese star midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata is so cool he has a reputation for brushing off autograph-seekers.
But now fans can have a smiling Nakata -- orange hair and all -- at a price of $75 in a new book.
The coffee-table book, put out by Tokyo publisher Magazine House, compiled photos of the national team's key player -- in in soccer action -- but in relaxed poses, playing with a dog and strolling the street.
All 10,000 copies of "The Face Before the Battle," have sold out in advance orders, way before they are scheduled to arrived at stores on June 3, publisher spokesman Mamoru Osada said Thursday.
PARIS (AP) -- A truce, please.
The battle to succeed Joao Havelange as head of FIFA is doing the World Cup no favor, said Michel Platini, head of the organizing committee for the June 10-July 12 tournament.
The vote for either Sepp Blatter or Lennart Johansson is set for June 8 in Paris, just two days of the opening game between Brazil and Scotland.
The battle has turned ugly over the past few months and Platini, an ally of Blatter, is caught in the middle.
He said it was fortunate the organization had already solved most problems since the two challengers were devoting less time to the World Cup -- Blatter as FIFA's secretary general and Johansson as the head of FIFA's World Cup organizing committee.
He promised that if Blatter won the vote June 8, he would make sure future elections get moved.
"The election should not be in a World Cup year," Platini said.
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany (AP) -- Olaf Thon says he'll recover from an ankle injury in time to make Germany's World Cup roster.
Thon, the Schalke sweeper, lore a ligament in his right ankle one week ago. He did not require surgery but is wearing a special brace.
Thon's injury has sparked a lively discussion in Germany on whether 37-year-old veteran Lothar Matthaeus should be recalled to the national team. He holds the German record with 122 international appearances.
Matthaeus, who has played well in recent weeks as sweeper for Bayern Munich, has repeatedly reminded coach Berti Vogts that he is available.
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- Veteran stars Doctor Khumalo and Mark Williams on Thursday cleared another hurdle to returning to South Africa's national soccer team for the World Cup in France.
Khumalo, a midfielder who played for the MLS MetroStars last season, and Williams, a forward, were selected for a training camp of 16 locally based players that will meet in Cape Town next week.
Both were dropped in December when longtime coach Clive Barker stepped down and Jomo Sono took over for a four-month stint. Sono went with younger players as South Africa finished runner-up to Egypt in this year's African Nations Cup tournament.
Since Frenchman Phillipe Troussier took over as coach in March, he has included Khumalo, Williams and other veterans in training camps.
NEXT ROUNDS: Round of 16 || Quarter-finals || Semi-finals
GROUP A: Brazil, Morocco, Norway, Scotland
GROUP B: Austria, Cameroon, Chile, Italy
GROUP C: Denmark, France, Saudi Arabia, South Africa
GROUP D: Bulgaria, Nigeria, Paraguay, Spain
GROUP E: Belgium, Holland, Mexico, South Korea
GROUP F: Germany, Iran, United States, Yugoslavia
GROUP G: Colombia, England, Romania, Tunisia
GROUP H: Argentina, Croatia, Jamaica, Japan