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Zach Johnson now has a plaid jacket to go along with his green one, after an extended wait before slipping on his prize at the Colonial.

Johnson won at Hogans Alley with a tournament record 21-under 259, sealing his victory with a pair of birdies in the short span of play in between two late weather delays Sunday.

When Johnson drained a 14-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole to take a two-stroke lead over Brian Davis, he had a wide smile on his face and emphatically pumped his fist. But the real celebration had to wait.

“As far as momentum and a big putt, that was a big one,” said Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion. “I didnt have a number in my head, but I figure if you get to 21, you have got a pretty good chance.”

Johnsons closing 6-under 64 left him three strokes ahead of Davis, who had a closing 68.

“Zach won the tournament, I didnt lose it,” Davis said. “It was a weird feeling walking up 18 knowing you cant win.”

When the horn sounded to suspend play the first time, Johnson was approaching his tee shot at No. 15 that had landed in the right rough short of a bunker. After that delay, he hit his approach onto the green and made the putt to get back to 20 under.

By time play was stopped again 31 minutes later, before he teed off at 18 for a closing par, Johnson was ready for the plaid jacket.

“Quite frankly, the biggest one, I thought, was probably on 15,” he said. “It calmed me down.”

The delays were because of threatening weather. Light rain fell despite sunny skies after the second delay lasted 46 minutes, a minute shorter than the first one.

Jeff Overton and Ben Crane both shot 67 to finish tied for third at 17 under. Scott Verplank (65) and Bryce Molder (70), who led after the second and third rounds, were another shot back.

Davis was again contending for his first PGA Tour victory, six weeks after the 35-year-old Englishman called a two-stroke penalty on himself on the first hole of a playoff at Hilton Head.

At Colonial, Davis was 19 under with a two-stroke lead after a 5½-foot putt at the seventh hole. But that was his last birdie of the day. A 9-footer at No. 17 slid just past the cup, then he finished with a bogey.

It is the seventh PGA Tour victory for Johnson and first since winning in San Antonio last May. His best finish through 12 tournaments this season had been a tie for 12th at the Sony Open in Hawaii the second week of the season.

Along with the plaid jacket, Johnson got a $1.116 million check.

“Going into the back nine, my mindframe was I dont care if I win this, I dont care if I lose it, Im content with whatever happens,” he said. “Im going to go out fighting, Im going to go out aggressive.”

Johnsons clinching shot at the 381-yard 17th was his fifth birdie on the back nine, though he gave back one of those with his only bogey over his last 2½ rounds.

Three of those birdies came on putts of at least 22 feet in a four-hole stretch. He took the lead for good when he drained the longest of the three, a 25-footer at the 427-yard 15th hole soon after the initial weather delay.

Kenny Perry was 19 under in both of his Colonial victories, in 2003 and 2005. The next-lowest score before this week was 17 under by a trio of players last year when Steve Stricker won on the second playoff hole.

The Colonial score was the lowest on the PGA Tour for a four-round tournament since Geoff Ogilvy won the season-opening SBS Championship in Hawaii at 22-under 270.

At Hilton Head in April, Davis made a birdie on the 72nd hole to get into a playoff with Jim Furyk. Davis ticked a loose reed in a hazard during a backswing in the playoff and immediately called over a rules official to point out something that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. A television replay confirmed the violation.

Davis tied for 57th at New Orleans and missed the cut his last three tournaments before getting to Colonial.

“If you would have said at the start of the week after three missed cuts you are going to finish second, you would be delighted,” he said. “Obviously, I had a chance today, I couldnt quite get over the hump.”

Molder led alone halfway through the tournament and shared the lead with Davis at the start of the final round, but his final birdie Sunday came on the 10th hole, the same as Saturday, when he finished with eight consecutive pars instead of being able to lower his score.

This time, he had bogeys at Nos. 16 and 17.

“You certainly learn,” said the four-time All-American from Georgia Tech who is still looking for his first PGA Tour victory nine years after turning pro. “This is the closest Ive been to winning. … Zach put the pedal down and he really kept going. Thats what you have to be able to do.”

Divots

Johnson and Phil Mickelson are the only players who have PGA Tour wins in each of the past four seasons (2007-10). Mickelson missed the cut at Colonial at 4 over when he could have been the No. 1 player in the world with a victory. Ian Poulter, the No. 6 player in the world, shot 76 Sunday in the first group off. His 7-over total was the worst among the 76 players who made the cut. Stricker finished at 8 under, tied for 38th, in his first event after a six-week hiatus because of a chest injury.

Venus Williams celebrated corset went under wraps Sunday, and now its out of the French Open.

Playing with a long-sleeve top over her black lace outfit on a chilly afternoon, Williams lost in the fourth round to Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 6-3.

Williams came into the tournament seeded No. 2 behind her sister Serena, but Petrova spoiled the possibility of a sibling showdown in the final.

“Im obviously disappointed,” Williams said. “I feel like I had a day where I wanted to hit the ball cross-court and it went down the line. It just wasnt a good day.”

Petrova she beat Serena in the third round at Madrid less than three weeks ago.

“Todays match was just about going out there and performing my best,” Petrova said. “I was mentally focused, and I kept my nerves calm.”

Justine Henin rallied in a winner-take-all set that seemed like a final, outslugging Maria Sharapova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The two former No. 1s returned to center court following an overnight suspension of the third-round showdown after two sets.

In mens play, top-ranked Roger Federer reached the quarterfinals in his bid for a second successive title, beating Olympic doubles partner Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

Federer will next play No. 5-seeded Robin Soderling in a rematch of last years final. Soderling advanced by beating No. 10 Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

No. 4 Andy Murray was upset by No. 15 Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. Berdych will next play No. 11 Mikhail Youzhny, who advanced when No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a hip injury trailing 6-2.

Berdych and Youzhny are first-time Roland Garros quarterfinalists.

Joining Petrova in the womens quarterfinals were No. 3 Caroline Wozniacki, No. 5 Elena Dementieva and No. 17 Francesca Schiavone.

On a damp, windy afternoon, Petrova and Williams bundled up. Only the flounce of Williams buzz-generating corset was visible, while Petrova wore long sleeves and tights under a frilly skirt.

Petrova, like many others in recent days, offered a review of the corset.

“I must say: The dress that Venus wore, you must have a little guts to do that,” she said.

The Russian controlled rallies with steady play from the baseline and finished strong, a problem for her in the past. Petrova swept the final four games and wobbled only once, shanking an overhead when leading love-30 in the final game.

She collected herself and won the final two points, closing out the match with an emphatic forehand winner.

“I dont think she did anything super special, but I think she just played a little bit more consistently,” Williams said. “The conditions arent that easy with the rain and the wind.”

Williams converted only one of seven break-point chances. In the second set she lost serve three times after taking a 2-love lead.

Serena Williams wore her playing outfit while watching her sisters defeat from the stands. They later teamed up in a third-round doubles match, beating Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-1, 6-2.

Petrova, seeded 19th, is a two-time semifinalist, but shes into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. The victory was her first against Venus in their five meetings.

Williams came into the tournament with the best record this year on the womens tour, but tricky footing has always made clay her worst surface. In 14 French Open in 2002, when she lost to her sister in the final. She has advanced beyond the fourth round just once in the past six years.

Henin and Sharapova played the seesaw final set after the match was suspended late Saturday because of darkness. The pivotal moment came when Henin fell behind 0-2, love-40, then overcame four break points to hold.

She soon led 4-2, broke to go ahead 5-3 and served out the victory.

“I kept my chances to win this tournament,” said the four-time champion, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2007. “I will give my best and enjoy it. It was a really good test.”

The victory extended Henins winning streak at Roland Garros to 24 matches. It was the first meeting between the two rivals since Henin spent 20 months in retirement before mounting a career comeback this year.

Henin next plays No. 7 Sam Stosur.

Federer struggled with the wind at times and fell behind 4-2 in the second set, but the No. 20-seeded Wawrinka couldnt hold the lead and missed an easy volley at 5-all in the tiebreaker.

When Wawrinka lost the set he mangled his racket, and Federer quickly pulled away after that. The defending champion has won all 12 sets he has played so far.

“Im happy with the way things are going,” Federer said. “Im serving well, Im moving well. Everything is fine.”

Wozniacki, enjoying her best run at Roland Garros, needed three hours to beat No. 14 Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-2. Dementieva beat unseeded Chanelle Scheepers 6-1, 6-3. Schiavone defeated No. 30 Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4.

Sergio Garcia dribbles through the defense as if soccer, not golf, is his natural calling. He nimbly passes to Rafael Nadal, who serves it to Dwight Howard towering in front of the net. Howard heads home the ball.

GOAL!!!!

Fantasy for sure. Yet all three of these athletes - and many others from a wide spectrum of sports - have visions of World Cup glory.

And while some of them will be busy with golfs U.S. Open or Wimbledon, theyll be paying attention to the planets most popular sporting event.

“I love football,” Nadal says. “Sure, Im going to watch the World Cup.”

And root, of course, for his native Spain which, like Nadal, is a favorite in any tournament. Nadal and top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland, whose mother was born in South Africa, plan to see as many matches as they can - in between their own matches, including Wimbledon later in June and early July.

“I think Spain has an unbelievable team, a complete team: the goalkeeper, the defenders, and the attack is unbelievable. We have a chance to win,” Nadal says. “But at the same time, when you play matches … anything can happen.”

And when it does, Orlando Magic center Howard, the NBAs defensive player of the year, will be watching. Perhaps even in person.

“I went to Africa last summer and I had a chance to see where the teams are going to be playing. Its going to be great. It should really be a lot of fun,” says Howard, who traveled to Africa with the NBAs Basketball Without Borders program last summer.

Would Howard make an imposing striker, particularly on headers, given his 6-foot-11, 265-pound frame and his athletic ability? Or perhaps he fits best guarding the net?

“One time, I was running around by myself one day and some guys were having a soccer game and they needed a goalie, sort of like a pickup game,” he says. “I had never played. They said, Hey, you want to play goalie for us? I played and let in, like, five goals.”

Howard could team up with the 6-3, 300-pound Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 overall NFL draft choice in April, by the Detroit Lions, and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos (6-7, 315) to form an imposing trio on the pitch.

Suh has been to a World Cup match, in 1994 when the United States hosted the tournament. He wont be getting to South Africa, though.

“Its definitely exciting. I wish I could go out there and check it out. But unfortunately Ill probably be training,” he said.

“Thats going to be amazing. Ill definitely watch it on TV when I get the chance. I dont know if Ill be up late at night watching; Ill probably have to get the reruns.”

He has a special rooting interest. Two, actually.

“My World Cup pick is definitely Cameroon,” says Suh, whose father is from that African nation and whose first name means House of Spears. “The U.S. is a close second.”

For Roos, a second-team All-Pro last season, the plan was to go to the World Cup and follow Italy. But he found the planning logistically impossible and decided to stay home to watch on television.

Born in Estonia, Roos became a soccer fan playing the game as a child before his mother moved her family to Vancouver, Wash., in 1992. Roos doesnt play anymore.

“I still enjoy watching it. Its not as mainstream here in the U.S. as it obviously is in the rest of the world,” he says.

“Ill definitely try to watch as many as I can. I dont know if Ill watch any at 4 a.m … but theres obviously a lot of good teams in there. I dont even know if theyve set a time for the U.S.-England game, but Im sure Ill watch that regardless of where Im at.”

The time is 1:30 p.m. in Nashville on June 12, Michael.

Trevor Pryce, someone Roos has had to block many times, certainly will be watching. Pryce, a defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, is from a Jamaican family, so soccer has been a primary sport for him and his relatives. His sister, Nandi, was an All-American at UCLA.

Like Garcia, Pryce regularly plays in pickup games in Denver, and he talks so much about the sport that hes gotten many NFL teammates interested, including Ravens star safety Ed Reed.

“Theres always soccer balls in the locker room now,” Pryce says with a laugh. “I play with some Somolian guys, and they play real hard. They refuse to speak English to me, and they dont pass me the ball.”

Pryce says he has three teams to root for: the U.S., England and Ivory Coast. He laments the opening matchup is between the Americans and English.

“Yeah, U.S.-England, I wish it wasnt in the first game, but those are three teams I am kind of pulling for,” Pryce says. “I dont think any of them will win; theres only a handful of teams that can win it.

“But its not so much about winning the World Cup for the U.S. When we got to the (quarterfinals) in 2002, that was such a great showing. Non-soccer countries that are able to do well is a victory itself.

“I will watch every game I can. Whoever is playing and whatever, I am watching.”

—

AP Sports Writers Howard Fendrich in Paris, Teresa M. Walker in Nashville, Larry Lage in Detroit and Antonio Gonzalez in Orlando contributed to this story.

Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo said Monday there was no animosity between him and Kaka after a misunderstanding during practice led to speculation that the two were not talking to each other.

Some Brazilian media reported that Kaka was upset with Felipe Melo after a hard challenge during a practice session at the teams camp in South Africa, but the Juventus player said he was not involved in the play and was unjustly accused.

The misunderstanding occurred after a photograph was published showing Kaka apparently not wanting help from Felipe Melo to get up after the tackle. It was actually Robinho who went in hard on Kaka.

Felipe Melo was upset with the newspapers and websites that published the story, and said he was considering a lawsuit. A Brazilian newspaper ran the story and the photo, which were later picked up by some Italian and Brazilian websites.

“Im not a bad person,” Felipe Melo said. “The way they had it, it seems like Im a bad person. If I go hard in a challenge, its because its the way I play, but not because Im a bad person. … I have family, they see this and they will come to me asking why Im doing this to Kaka.”

The Brazilian football confederation said in a statement on its website that the incident between Felipe Melo and Kaka, who are expected to start in Brazils midfield, did not take place.

“Felipe Melo felt he was unjustly blamed for something that never happened,” the confederation said. “He is Kakas friend.”

Felipe Melo said he later talked to Kaka and explained what happened.

“(Kakas) only word to me was, unfair,” the defensive midfielder said.

After Mondays practice, it was clear there were no hard feelings. When Kaka went down hard after a challenge from Daniel Alves, Felipe Melo quickly approached the playmaker and gave him a hug. Laughing, both players turned to the journalists to make sure they were watching.

The Brazilians have been practicing hard since arriving in South Africa last week. Kaka and Luis Fabiano are coming off injuries, but coach Dunga has not asked players to go easy on them or any others.

“On the contrary,” striker Luis Fabiano said. “He is asking us to play hard and dedicate ourselves. Its a tough competition and it will require a lot from us. We need to be ready.”

Dunga again practiced the starters against the reserves on Monday, keeping Elano in midfield and Michel Bastos at left back. The coach seems to have his starting lineup set for Brazils opening World Cup Group G match, against North Korea on June 15.

Brazil will then face the Ivory Coast on June 20 and Portugal on June 25.

The five-time champion will play a warmup against Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants the country to unite for the World Cup and end the debate over the squad that coach Dunga has assembled for the tournament.

Silva is a passionate football fan and made the plea Monday speaking on his weekly radio program “Coffee with the President.”

This years Brazil teams includes fewer stars, and Dunga has been criticized for not picking players like AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho. Five-time champion Brazil plays in Group G and faces North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal.

“I want us to win the World Cup,” Silva said. “I believe Dunga has called up the best players we have at the moment. Its not just a team of great individuals, but rather a team that works together and is motivated.”

Silva said he expected to visit five African countries in July and anticipated attending the World Cup final on July 11.

“If its God will, it will be Brazil against some other team.”

Brian Davis is seemingly done penalizing himself. And now he gets another chance to challenge for his first PGA Tour victory.

After a second consecutive bogey-free 65 Saturday, Davis shares the lead with Bryce Molder at 16-under 194 going into the final round of the Colonial.

When Davis got into a playoff last month at Hilton Head with Jim Furyk, Davis called a two-stroke penalty against himself on the extra hole that ensured a victory for the fifth-ranked player in the world. Davis then finished 57th the following week at New Orleans and had missed three consecutive cuts before Colonial.

“What happened during the playoff threw me off balance a little bit. I lost my focus. … Missing three cuts in a row, I wasnt exactly happy coming in,” Davis said. “Ive had to adjust my thinking a little bit. Not everybody can play well every week. You have to take the rough with the smooth some times.”

The 35-year-old Englishman and Molder, the second-round leader who finished his 67 Saturday with eight consecutive pars, are hoping for a little plaid to signify finally winning on the PGA Tour. The Colonial champion gets a plaid jacket along with a check of more than $1 million.

Molder has four top-10s this season, but the four-time All-American from Georgia Tech has only one p on the Nationwide Tour in 2006.

It was another hot but ideal scoring day at Hogans Alley, where there again were only light breezes. The forecast Sunday calls for nearly identical conditions.

“I dont know if Fort Worth has seen four calmer days in a row,” said Molder, who expects the winning score to be at least 20 under. That would break Kenny Perrys tournament-record mark of 19 under, which he set when winning in 2003 and 2005.

There are 17 players at 11 under or better going into the final round this year.

“I have no illusions about [Sunday],” Davis said.

Zach Johnson (64) was a stroke behind the leaders. Ben Crane (64) joined first-round co-leaders Jeff Overton (66) and Jason Bohn (68) in a tie for fourth at 14 under.

“This is a golfers dream to have the wind lay down like this,” Crane said. “Certainly this one of the best courses in the world and the greens are receptive.”

Crane got to 14 under when he made an eagle from 143 yards at the par-4 17th hole. He had a hole-in-one Friday.

Molder shot a career-best 62 Friday to take the halfway lead, then set another personal mark Saturday with nine consecutive one-putts. He made putts ranging from 4 to 34 feet from hole Nos. 2-11, a stretch that included five birdies and a double bogey.

Then on the closing 441-yard 18th hole, Molder slid a 10-foot birdie try just past the cup.

Davis, who hasnt had a bogey since the ninth hole in the opening round, needed a couple of save shots Saturday.

At the par-5 11th, Davis made a 16-foot par putt after hitting from a fairway bunker to the rough and then over the green. He overcame a bad chip at the 430-yard 15th hole with a 21-foot par-saver. When he hit his second shot of the day from a fairway bunker and then went over the green at the only other par 5, he pitched to 2 feet on No. 1.

Johnson had birdies on both backside par 3s, making a 22-footer at No. 13, then an 8-footer at No. 16. He made a 4-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to get to 15 under.

Phil Mickelson missed the cut and a chance at being the No. 1 player in the world, so he wasnt around for the Colonials second “Pink Out” to raise awareness of breast c from the clothing worn by most golfers, officials and spectators to signs and ribbons.

The first “Pink Out” was during the third round a year ago when Mickelson wasnt here to defend his 2008 title soon after finding out his wife, Amy, had breast cancer. Weeks after that, he found out his mother also had the disease.

Mickelson said he would be wearing pink at home Saturday in San Diego while spending the weekend with his family. Amy Mickelsons birthday is Monday.

K.J. Choi teed off at No. 18 with a chance to match the course record of 61 with a birdie, but instead had a quadruple-bogey 8. He hit his tee shot into the rough, flubbed his first chance to get out and then hit the next into the water. The 40-year-old South Korean knocked his drop through the green, chipped another one off the green and finally made an 8-foot putt.

“Everything went all right before that hole,” Choi said through an interpreter. “I knew that was a tough hole. In my mind, I thought bogey would be good. But things didnt go right.”

At about the same time Choi was struggling at No. 18, Molder was sinking a 34-foot putt at No. 8, his second consecutive birdie getting him to 15 under. That stretch also made up for a double bogey at the 481-yard No. 5, when he hit his approach to the par 4 out of bounds.

Divots New to this years “Pink Out,” title sponsor Crowne Plaza pledged donations for each birdie and eagle during the third round. Bolstered by six eagles on par 4s, that netted $36,600 for Susan G. Komen For The Cure. The only player over par through three rounds is Ian Poulter, the No. 6 player in the world. A 73 on Saturday put him at 1 over. Fourth-ranked Steve Stricker , the defending Colonial champ, and No. 8 Paul Casey are both 8 under. Another hole-in-one at No. 13: Paul Goydos aced the hole with a 5-iron from 195 yards.

Venus Williams celebrated corset went under wraps Sunday, and now its out of the French Open.

Playing with a long-sleeve top over her black lace outfit on a chilly afternoon, Williams lost in the fourth round to Nadia Petrova, 6-4, 6-3.

Williams came into the tournament seeded No. 2 behind her sister Serena, but Petrova spoiled the possibility of a sibling showdown in the final.

Petrova she beat Serena in the third round at Madrid less than three weeks ago.

Justine Henin rallied in a winner-take-all set that seemed like a final, outslugging Maria Sharapova 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. The two former No. 1s returned to center court following an overnight suspension of the third-round showdown after two sets.

Then came Williams-Petrova, with both players bundled up on a damp, windy day. Petrova wore long sleeves and tights under a frilly skirt.

She controlled rallies with steady play from the baseline and finished strong, a problem for her in the past. Petrova swept the final four games and wobbled only once, shanking an overhead when leading love-30 in the final game.

She collected herself and won the final two points, closing out the match with an emphatic forehand winner.

Serena wore her playing outfit while watching her sisters defeat from the stands. They were to team up in a doubles match later Sunday.

Venus converted only one of seven break-point chances. In the second set she lost serve three times after taking a 2-love lead.

Petrova, seeded 19th, is a two-time semifinalist, but shes into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2005. The victory was her first against Williams in their five meetings.

Henin and Sharapova played the seesaw final set after the match was suspended late Saturday because of darkness. The pivotal moment came when Henin fell behind 0-2, love-40, then overcame four break points to hold.

She soon led 4-2, broke to go ahead 5-3 and served out the victory.

“I kept my chances to win this tournament,” said the four-time champion, playing at Roland Garros for the first time since 2007. “I will give my best and enjoy it. It was a really good test.”

The victory extended Henins winning streak at Roland Garros to 24 matches. It was the first meeting between the two rivals since Henin spent 20 months in retirement before mounting a career comeback this year.

Henin next plays No. 7 Sam Stosur.

In fourth-round play, No. 5 Elena Dementieva beat unseeded Chanelle Scheepers 6-1, 6-3. No. 17 Francesca Schiavone defeated No. 30 Maria Kirilenko 6-4, 6-4.

Walking onto center court to resume her match after a 15½-hour interruption, Henin smiled slightly. Sharapova followed wearing a scowl, and that intensity carried over when play began.

Sharapova and often before points. Henin found herself on the defensive at first, then began sending shots into the corners, forcing Sharapova to hit on the run.

“[At] the beginning I felt like I was the one that was more aggressive,” Sharapova said. “That kind of changed a little bit. She started being a little bit more aggressive, and she started feeling much better about her game.”

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, both players took ferocious swings from the baseline and charged forward when they had the chance.

Henin put a backhand winner on the line to break for 5-3. Sharapova continued to scowl.

“This is a great champion, and you have to make sure you dont give her chances,” Henin said. “I really admire her, because at 5-3 in the third set, she was still believing in her chances to win the match.”

Instead, Henin raced to a 40-love lead, and two points later she had the victory when Sharapova pulled a running backhand wide.

The showdown occurred early in the tourn is 22nd. Their nine previous meetings all came in the quarterfinals or later, with Henin winning six.

“I love the challenge of going out there and playing against her,” Sharapova said. “If its the first round, if its the final, it doesnt really matter.”

Sharapova ended Henins streak of 40 consecutive sets won at Roland Garros, which tied the tournament record set by Helen Wills Moody in 1926-32. But Sharapova again came away empty at the only Grand Slam tournament she has never won.

“I definitely played some good tennis,” she said, “but it wasnt enough to win the match.”

Germany defender Heiko Westermann will miss the World Cup because of a foot injury, adding to coach Joachim Loews mounting injury worries.

Westermann broke a bone in his left foot late in Saturdays 3-0 win over Hungary in Budapest.

The German football federation said the Schalke defender was ruled out after a scan Sunday in northern Italy, where Germany is preparing for the World Cup.

Westermann is the fifth German player - including captain Michael Ballack - to be ruled out due to an injury.

The 27-year-old Westermann has 19 games for Germany and was an option at either central defense or on one of the flanks. He played as a left back Saturday.

“Heiko would have played an important role at the World Cup,” Loew said. “He would have been important for us because of his versatility. He was in excellent physical shape in training.”

Westermann said he was “totally disappointed.”

“That was a huge goal for me, to be at the World Cup,” Westermann said. “I felt really well in training. Now, the only thing I can do is wish the team all the best.”

Westermann felt increasing pain in his foot overnight and was taken to a hospital in Bolzano, in northern Italy, upon the teams return Sunday from Budapest, the German federation said. A scan revealed the fracture.

Besides Ballack, Loew has lost designated starting goalkeeper Rene Adler and midfielders Simon Rolfes and Christian Traesch.

Westermanns injury leaves Loew with 24 players, with one to be cut before Tuesdays deadline. It was not immediately known if Loew would call up another defender to replace Westermann.

The three-time World Cup champion plays Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday in Frankfurt in its final warm-up game before traveling to South Africa.

Germany plays Australia, Serbia and Ghana in Group D.

Fabio Capello countered speculation he might quit as England manager after the World Cup by saying on Sunday that he expected to stay on.

Capellos admission that he still needs to talk to the new Football Association hierarchy about his contract prompted reports that he might be on his way to Inter Milan, which parted company with Jose Mourinho after winning the Champions League last week.

But the Italian coach hopes to clarify his situation in the next few days.

“I am happy. I will speak with the chairman (of the FA) tomorrow morning,” Capello said after Englands 2-1 victory over Japan in a World Cup warmup game.

“I think I told you I (didnt) speak with some people from Inter Milan. I know nothing about this. The situation will be clear in two days.”

Capello, who has a contract with England until the European Championship in 2012, said in a TV interview before the game against Japan that he expected to continue in the role.

“I am England manager. Im happy here. I signed a contract with (former chief executive) Brian Barwick, I changed it with (former chairman David) Triesman, now I have to speak with the new chairman,” he said. “But I think I will be staying here.”

Juventus midfielder Claudio Marchisio is set to be the playmaker in Italys World Cup team.

“I really like him in that position because of all the midfielders, hes the one who moves the most without the ball,” coach Marcello Lippi said Sunday. “He inserts himself and accompanies the action and finds the open spaces. Plus, he helps with coverage in midfield.”

Lippi said he was designing a “modern team, with only one true striker and nine other players who defend and attack.”

During a 60-minute training match against fifth-division club Russi, Marchisio started in the playmaker role in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Vincenzo Iaquinta on the right wing, Antonio Di Natale on the left flank and Alberto Gilardino at center forward.

Gianluigi Buffon was in goal, Christian Maggio lined up at right back, Leonardo Bonucci and Fabio Cannavaro were the center backs, Gianluca Zambrotta was left back and Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo played in central midfield.

In the second half, Mauro Camoranesi replaced Di Natale and took up his usual spot on the right wing, with Iaquinta shifting to the left.

Italy won 8-0 with three goals from Di Natale, two each from Gilardino and Iaquinta and one from Zambrotta.

Once Giorgio Chiellini recovers from a calf injury, he will likely regain his starting spot at either center or left back, and Daniele De Rossi is almost certain to replace Gattuso once he returns from minor back ache.

In a second training match, Lippi used his reserves in a 2-0 win over Settimo Torinese, another fifth-division club, Giampaolo Pazzini and Simone Pepe getting the goals.

Lippi needs to cut five players from his provisional squad before Tuesdays deadline for the final 23-man list, but he didnt drop any hints on the identity of those likely to drop out.

“Just have some patience and on Tuesday evening youll know everything,” the coach said.

Italy faces Mexico in a friendly in Brussels on Thursday, then travels to Geneva to play Switzerland on Saturday.

The Azzurri depart for South Africa on June 8 and will open against Paraguay on June 14. Italys other opponents in Group F are New Zealand and Slovakia.