England arrive in German base

England were settling into their World Cup home at Baden Baden on Monday after captain David Beckham and several team mates missed their final training session on home soil.

Beckham sat out the session in Watford, north of London, after getting a kick on the right ankle during Saturday's 6-0 friendly rout of Jamaica at Old Trafford.

Central defender John Terry and left back Ashley Cole missed it due to knee and thigh problems respectively.

"This was purely precautionary with all three players," a team spokesman told the FA Web site. "Sven fully expects all three to be training this week and available for Saturday's opener against Paraguay."

Defender Gary Neville, who tweaked a hamstring in last week's 3-1 friendly win over Hungary, and injured striker Wayne Rooney were both working with the physios during the session.

Neville is expected to train on Tuesday, while Rooney will continue with the rehabilitation of his broken foot with the England medical team, pending a scan on Wednesday back in Manchester that will decide his World Cup fate.

view photo Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has until 24 hours before Saturday's Group B opener to decide whether to keep Rooney in the squad or use standby Jermain Defoe.

On arrival, England were feted with flowers at the airport and a band in the courtyard of their hotel.