Portuguese winger Nani became the latest big name to drop out of the World Cup Tuesday, but there was no dampening the enthusiasm of fans pouring in and readying TV sets around the world. “I'm in Africa, I can't believe it. I'm just so sorry we're going to spoil their party Friday!” said a laughing Victor Fernandez, coming off a long-haul flight with the green flag of Mexico which plays host South Africa in Friday's opener. Like many of the more than 300,000 foreign fans expected for the tournament, Fernandez's first purchase was a “vuvuzela”, the ubiquitous trumpet blown by locals and variously likened to the noise made by a herd of elephants or swarm of bees. Fans, though, are aghast at an ever-growing injury list which is threatening to rob the tournament of some glamor on the pitch despite the exotic African backdrop. In a huge blow to Portugal's hopes of a first World Cup triumph, Nani was ruled out with a shoulder injury he picked up in training at home before flying to South Africa. “After tests we conclude he is unfit to participate in the World Cup,” the federation said. The winger had missed the squad's final home training session in Portugal Saturday after falling while attempting an acrobatic shot and causing a traumatism in his shoulder. He will be replaced by Benfica's Ruben Amorim, the federation added. The other main injury concern in the Portuguese squad is Pepe, who has been recovering from a knee injury he sustained in December. Other crowd-pullers like England's David Beckham, Germany's Michael Ballack and Ghana's Michael Essien pulled out long ago due to injuries. And Ivory Coast's Didier Drogba and the Netherlands' Arjen Robben are fighting not to join them. African Footballer of the Year Drogba needed surgery on a fractured arm, but it is unclear if the striker will be able to play for Ivory Coast, arguably the continent's best hope but heavily reliant on its talisman. Dutch winger Robben has hurt a hamstring but is hoping to join teammates later in the tournament to help a nation that has never won the Cup despite its famously skilful teams. Italian midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Australian winger Harry Kewell, Chilean striker Humberto Suazo, and South Korean forward Lee Dong-guk are others struggling to get fit. Torres on target Fernando Torres scored in Spain's 6-0 rout of Poland Tuesday as the Liverpool striker handed the European champion a timely World Cup boost. The 26-year-old, who underwent knee surgery in April, was on target in the 75th minute of the friendly international with a cool, sharp finish from a cross by Pedro after coming on as a second-half substitute. It was Torres's 24th international goal and came just 10 minutes after he replaced David Villa. Villa and David Silva had given Spain a 2-0 lead with goals in the 12th and 14th minutes with Xabi Alonso adding a third in the 51st. Cesc Fabregas added to the tally in the 57th minute before Pedro added the sixth in the 80th minute. Robben to miss opener Injured Netherlands winger Arjen Robben has been ruled out of his country's World Cup opener against Denmark Monday, Dutch media reported. The Bayern Munich winger suffered a thigh injury in last Saturday's 6-1 warm-up win against Hungary in Amsterdam which will keep him out of the Group E clash with Denmark at Johannesburg's Soccer City. However, the 26-year-old has been receiving intensive treatment for the injury back in Holland and it is hoped he will fly to South Africa Saturday to join up with his teammates in a bid to keep his World Cup dream alive. “Since the Champions League final (against Inter Milan on May 22) Arjen hasn't been ready to play a lot or train a lot. It would be wrong to believe he would be ready to face Denmark,” Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk told reporters. “His injury is serious and I don't know when he can join us. We will keep an eye on his progress. We don't want to take any risks. The team's objective is to go as far as possible in the tournament to allow Arjen to play with us during the World Cup.”
