Rio Ferdinand displayed a highly tuned sense of foreboding on the eve of England's World Cup qualfier against Ukraine when he admitted he has no guarantee of a place in Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa.
Ferdinand's concerns centred on fitness as opposed to form - as befits a player who was starting only his third England game in 12 months and had played just 14 of the last 40 competitive games for his country and Manchester United before this international.
Form and fitness go hand in hand at the highest level, however, and Capello's iron glare will be fixed even more firmly on Ferdinand after he was once again caught short as England's 100% record in World Cup qualifying ended in the hostile surroundings of Dnipropetrovsk.
Ferdinand's actual exclusion from England's squad is the unlikeliest of prospects unless he is struck down by injury again, but the pressure is mounting on a player for so long regarded as untouchable in the first-choice line-up.
He had more consoling words for Ferdinand after his latest aberration, but as the World Cup draws closer Capello will become increasingly unforgiving of mistakes that could wreck all his stated ambitions in South Africa.
Ferdinand was the man at fault when Robert Green claimed an unwanted place in history by becoming the first England goalkeeper to be sent off when he fouled Artem Milevskiy. The Ukrainian had escaped the attentions of Ferdinand, who was initially slow to react then unable to recover as he outstripped him to run into the area.
The unfortunate Green, playing for high stakes himself as the battle to be England's World Cup goalkeeper continues, took the rap but the villain of the piece was the dawdling Ferdinand.
The error was not punished as Andriy Shevchenko missed the resulting spot kick, but the wider context is significant and Ferdinand needs to up his game or face paying the price in a regime, unlike others before it, that does not play favourites or is shaped by reputations.
If Ferdinand is not exactly in a comfort zone, no-one ever is under Capello, then he is at least being cut some slack because of a lack of close contenders for his place. Matthew Upson appears to be his biggest threat, but as yet has not mounted a compelling case to oust Ferdinand.
Ferdinand's regular absences may just have taken a crucial edge off his mental and physical sharpness. He reduced Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to a hair-clenching, leaping figure of fury when an arrogantly misplaced flick gifted a late goal to Craig Bellamy in the recent Manchester derby.
Michael Owen's late winner allowed Ferdinand to wriggle off the hook, but there may be no escape at a World Cup, so it would be a major surprise if Capello does not make his point with force.
If Ferdinand demonstrates his true quality and maintains fitness, then he will form the cornerstone of England's defensive plans alongside captain John Terry. On this, and more recent evidence, he has ground to make up in both departments.
He was part of a sloppy England defensive performance that served as a timely reminder that work remains to be done before all the inevitable optimism that will accompany Capello's side on the plane to South Africa can be fully justified.
Allowances must be made. England had swept through their previous eight qualifying games with a perfect return - their job is done and they were confronted by a team with much still to fight for.
And it showed in the environment that greeted them, with the game twice being held up as flares were thrown on to the pitch, causing a hold up after only two minutes. Further interruptions forced referee Damir Skomina to threaten an abandonment and the Football Association to prepare an official complaint.
But there is still no place for the slackness on show defensively, particularly from Ferdinand, irrespective of England's successful campaign so far.
For Green, the fall-guy for Ferdinand's failings, his prospects of starting in the World Cup were undermined by his failure to last the first 15 minutes, but there must be a measure of sympathy for the West Ham United keeper.
He was placed in an impossible position by Ferdinand and Capello will not let the red card count against him - but he saw rival David James take advantage of his misfortune.
James, seemingly Capello's preferred choice for South Africa, distinguished himself with fine saves from Yaroslev Rakytskyy and Andriy Yarmolenko and drew praise from the England coach.
England's fluency was affected by their numerical disadvantage and the early sacrifice of the pace and width of Aaron Lennon to compensate for Green's departure. Steven Gerrard's groin injury, which resulted in his substitution at half-time, did not help matters either.
Capello, however, will draw consolation from the way England dug in and survived long enough to have the home crowd anxious that a crucial win might be cast aside in the closing stages.
Rooney - how Capello must pray no misfortune befalls him - set a magnificent example with his tireless running and probing throughout, and if he had levelled affairs with a late show that flew inches wide, no-one but the Ukrainians would have begrudged him.
England's superb efforts in qualifying ensured there could be no serious harm done against Ukraine - but Ferdinand was given a sharp reminder of the cost of carelessness and the potentially prophetic nature of his words before the game.
 |  | By Jonathan Pearce BBC football commentator |
It was on the temporary bridge between the media centre and the Ellis Park Stadium back in June when an expert in African football boldly advised me to have a bet on Ghana to win the 2010 World Cup.
 Michael Essien provides class in the centre of Ghana's midfield |
'The Black Stars' certainly have no worries as the frantic last round of African qualifiers gets underway as they have already made it through to South Africa with two games to spare after winning the first four of their third qualifying stage matches without conceding a goal.
At least one bookmaker quotes them at 40-1 outsiders to lift the trophy next summer and that's a handsome price for the most likely of all the African nations to win the competition on home continental soil.
The current South Africa side is not good enough to get beyond the last 16 stage. So, all of Africa will be hungry to get behind another team and with that following Ghana could take some stopping.
Under their Serb coach Ratomir Dujkovic, they surprised a few people in Germany 2006 by beating the Czechs and USA before a second round loss to Brazil that was closer than the 3-0 scoreline suggests.
Eight of the side that day, plus Chelsea's Michael Essien, who was badly missed against Brazil because of suspension, will be expected to star again in 2010.
Once again they have a wily Serb in charge. Milovan Rajevac, a craggy defender in his time, worked wonders taking FK Borac from perennial Serbian league relegation struggles into the UEFA cup and hopes are high in Accra that he will perform another miracle next summer.
He has some very good players to work with - the midfield that helped clinch a place in the finals with last month's 2-0 home win over Sudan epitomised their potential.
| The likely first XI looks strong but the rigours of tournament football could test the questionable quality of the rest of the squad |
Essien is a world star and alongside him he had the excellent captain Stephen Appiah, whose commitment to his country was made clear at the 2006 African Cup of Nations when he played all three games despite his ankle being strapped because of injury.
It was Appiah's penalty that beat the USA to take Ghana beyond the group stage in Germany but he has one major concern though. Having fallen out with Fenerbahce, he is not playing club football and his fitness could suffer in coming months.
Also at the heart of things is Anthony Annan, a pocket powerhouse in the Essien mould, who has just won the Norwegian title with Rosenberg. He's nicknamed Aimar after the tricky Argentine which suggests he can play a bit as well as break up opposition attacks.
Sulley Muntari completed the midfield last month. Returning to the side for the first time in six months he scored the first goal and was back to the sort of form that won him an FA Cup winner's medal with Portsmouth and the Serie A title with Inter Milan last spring.
Jose Mourinho has criticised Muntari's lack of fitness this season and he has had wrangles with the Ghanaian FA in the past, but on his day he can be terrific and his scoring rate of 15 goals from 48 internationals demands respect.
 Coach Rajevac has plotted Ghana's way through qualifying |
Haminu Draman (whose name was misspelt as Dramani on his 2006 shirt) has genuine pace as a left-wing option and the under-20 captain Andre Dede Ayew, son of former African Footballer of the Year Abedi Pele, could fight his way into the squad after shining at the current U20 World Cup in Egypt.
He scored a 25 yard belter in the 4-0 win over England the other day and nearly got another with an acrobatic back heel. Premier League clubs will be watching the youngster who was playing in the Champions League for Marseilles at 18 but has lost his way in France a little bit.
Another member of that under-20 side who will probably be in South Africa is full-back Samuel Inkoom. Premier scouts have been impressed by his club form at Basle and his recent performances for the full international side.
Ghana's defence also has experience in World Cup '06 veterans, John Pantsil of Fulham, Sunderland's versatile John Mensah and Roda's Eric Oddo but keeper Richard Kingson is not getting enough football at Wigan.
Up front Asamoah Gyan of Rennes has six goals for club and country this season and 16 for Ghana in 30 appearances, while Matthew Amoah, who played in Germany '06, has been a regular scorer over the years with Vitesse Arnhem and NAC Breda.
Amoah is a small, quick, elusive scorer of important goals, netting three in qualifying for 2006 and another four so far this time.
| 606: DEBATE |
Junior Agogo will be familiar to English fans after a nomadic career in the Football League. Apollon is currently his 14th club, but he is another who could be called upon to get goals.
The likely first XI looks strong but the rigours of tournament football could test the questionable quality of the rest of the squad.
The African Cup of Nations in the New Year will be an interesting dress rehearsal. They finished third on home soil in 2008 and have not lifted their continental crown since 1982.
If they do triumph in Angola, just watch their World Cup odds tumble.
 Henin beat Kim Clijsters to win the Australian Open in 2004 |
Former world number one Justine Henin has been granted a wildcard for the Australian Open in January.
The Belgian, 27, announced in September that she would come out of retirement in 2010 after less than two years away.
And tournament director Craig Tiley has confirmed that 2004 champion Henin will play in the first Grand Slam of 2010.
"I spoke to Justine's team over the weekend and was happy to grant her request for a wildcard into the Australian Open," said Tiley.
"Justine is the ultimate competitor, the winner of seven Grand Slam titles, and we are looking forward to welcoming her back to the Australian Open.
| 606: DEBATE Cheeky,Cherry and Blotchy |
"I know Justine will not have made the decision to come out of retirement lightly and have no doubt she will be in great shape and prepared to compete against the world's best."
Henin is expected to make her return to competitive tennis at the Brisbane International, starting on 3 January, ahead of the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on 18 January.
 Massa suffered serious injuries in the crash on 25 July 2009 |
Ferrari have announced that Brazilian driver Felipe Massa will not return to Formula 1 action this season.
Massa is making good progress after fracturing his skull during the Hungary Grand Prix in July and will drive an F2007 car in testing on Monday.
But Ferrari say they "want to proceed gradually" and do not intend to rush the 28-year-old before he is ready.
"Talk of a proper return to Formula 1 can wait until the start of the 2010 season," the Ferrari statement added.
Massa underwent neurological tests in Paris on Friday.
According to Ferrari, the outcome was "rather positive", prompting the decision to allow him to get behind the wheel of a privately-owned F2007 on Monday.
But they insist there is no chance of a comeback in 2009, with only two races of the campaign remaining.
"This is in no way a proper test session and looking at the stopwatch will not be on the agenda," said the Ferrari statement.
"There will be plenty of time for that in 2010, when, alongside Fernando Alonso, he will begin development work of the new single-seater.
"It is simply an opportunity for Felipe to renew his acquaintance with his natural environment, namely the race track."
Massa was knocked unconscious by a loose car part and injured the area around his left eye, prompting fears at the time that he could have suffered loss of vision.
At one stage, he had hoped to return for the final grand prix of the season in Abu Dhabi on 1 November.