ROMAN Weidenfeller is ready to be Germany's number one at the World Cup if Manuel Neuer fails to recover from a shoulder injury.

Doubts persist about Neuer's fitness after he joined the national team with his arm in a sling last week. It is not yet known when or if the Bayern Munich custodian will be able to start training.

Borussia Dortmund’s Weidenfeller, who only received his first cap last November, is now primed to be promoted to a position he never would have thought possible a year ago.

BORUSSIA Dortmund midfielder Kevin Grosskreutz has been reprimanded by club and country for urinating in a hotel foyer following his side's DFB-Pokal final defeat, although his place in Germany's World Cup squad does not seem to have been jeopardised.

The 25-year-old expressed his regret at the incident in Germany's training camp in South Tyrol while Germany's general manager Oliver Bierhoff and coach Joachim Low appear set to forgive him.

“Let's not forget these are young lads and Kevin is very emotional,” said Bierhoff to Sport1. “He's a very passionate person and there was a lot of frustration after the final. Things like this can happen and these are the kind of people you want.”

Grosskreutz told reporters in northern Italy that he was "very sorry" for what he did after a "very disappointing" defeat to Bayern Munich.

FERNANDO Torres was a little surprised to hear coach Vicente del Bosqueinclude him in Spain's squad that will likely go to the World Cup.

The Chelsea striker was among 19 players chosen for the defending world champion's friendly against Bolivia on Friday. Del Bosque is expected to name the 23-man squad he takes to Brazil by June 2.

Torres, who has played in both European Championship finals and the World Cup final won by Spain, says the surprise comes from "it being a strange season for me" after scoring five league goals.

GERARD Deulofeu's season on loan at Everton has been credited with winning the teenager a call-up to the Spain squad.

And the forward is now in line for a place in the Spanish World Cup set-up after impressing coach Vincente Del Bosque while at Goodison.

Del Bosque has included Deulofeu in his 19 man squad for Friday’s friendly match with Bolivia and says the 19-year-old is top of his stand-by list should any of the senior players pick up injuries and be forced out of the tournament.

CROATIA’S World Cup plans have been rocked by the news that Niko Kranjcar is to miss the finals through injury.

Queens Park Rangers' on-loan playmaker limped out of Saturday's Championship play-off final, sparking fears that he would play no part in Brazil this summer.

Kranjcar lasted just 33 minutes against Derby County at Wembley before being forced from the field.

A hamstring problem prevented him from completing that contest, and has now dashed his World Cup dreams.