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FRANKFURT, Germany -- Germany began an 11-day training camp in northern Italy on Wednesday with injury worries clouding the mood of the team shortly before the World Cup. Several key players, including captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, are carrying injuries into the camp in St. Leonhard, in the German speaking Alto Adige region. Lahm and Neuer will join the rest of the team later. Defender Per Mertesacker delayed his arrival by a day because of the birth of his second child. Another star, Sami Khedira of Real Madrid, will not join the squad until after the Champions League final on Saturday. Germany coach Joachim Loews camp will eventually include 27 players. The squad will return to Germany for a friendly against Cameroon on June 1, after which Loew will announce his final 23-man squad. Germany also plays Armenia on June 6, one day before departing for Brazil. The Germans open their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 16 in Salvador, then play Ghana on June 21 in Fortaleza and conclude the group stage against the United States on June 26 in Recife. Loew said earlier this week that he was optimistic about Lahm and Neuer recovering for the World Cup. "But its good and important to have them with us in South Tirol from the start, even if they cant practice," Loew said. His players, however, decided to extend their break. While the remaining squad flew to Italy, Bayern Munichs players arrived by car -- minus Lahm and Neuer. While Lahm was expected to show up on Friday, Neuer was "day-by-day," but still expected to arrive at some point, team spokesman Jens Grittner said. The decision for them to stay in Munich was reached mutually by Loew and team doctors, Grittner said. Lahm, nominally a defender, can also play in midfield, a role he has executed well at Bayern Munich. He injured his left ankle in the German Cup final on Saturday, when Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0. Doctors said he would not be able to train for up to seven days and Lahm said Wednesday he would stay home until Friday, while stressing that he would be ready for the World Cup. "I need to rest a few days but I will be top fit by the World Cup," Lahm told Bild newspaper in comments also published on the federations site. Lahm said Germany needed to work on its defence. "Weve allowed too many goals and too many chances recently. We have to pay more attention to our defence," he said. Neuer injured his right shoulder in the cup final and is wearing a brace. Khedira has yet to play a full match since coming back this month from a knee injury that had sidelined him for six months. A leader of the team, he is considered one of Loews key men. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been nursing a knee inflammation and missed the cup final. Miroslav Klose, one of only two strikers in squad, has been bothered by a hamstring injury. Defender Mats Hummels has a foot injury and played the cup final on medication. He played only 23 Bundesliga games this season for Dortmund because of various injuries. Germany also trained in the same region ahead of the 1990 World Cup in Italy and went on to win the last of its three titles. Jamil Demby Jersey . As they are wont to do, the Spurs made things real easy. The Spurs signed Parker to a multi-year contract extension on Friday, ensuring that the six-time All-Star point guard will be in the fold whether Duncan and Ginobili are able to continue their careers or not. Cheap Rams Jerseys . MacLean clocked 8:24.91 seconds, eclipsing the previous mark of 8:27.59 set by Brittany Reimer of Victoria at the 2005 FINA World Championships in Montreal. 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I will go into more detail when digging into the Canucks Off-Season Game Plan, which will be coming earlier this year since they are part of the non-playoff contingent, there are some reasons to think this is a favourable situation for President of Hockey Operations Trevor Linden and whomever he selects to be the new general manager.PHILADELPHIA - Back in first place, the Philadelphia Eagles will try to stay there without their quarterback and their defensive captain.Nick Foles has a broken clavicle and its uncertain when hell return. Middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans is out for the rest of the season after tearing his right Achilles tendon, according to a person familiar with the injury who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didnt release details. Also, right guard Todd Herremans, already playing with a torn left biceps, has an ankle injury.Coach Chip Kelly said Monday that Foles, Ryans and Herremans were having MRI exams to determine the extent of their injuries. Ryans was placed on injured reserve.Foles was injured on a sack by Whitney Mercilus in the first quarter of Philadelphias 31-21 win over Houston on Sunday. Mark Sanchez replaced Foles and led the NFC East-leading Eagles (6-2) to victory in his first action since 2012.Sanchez will make his first start in 23 months under the prime-time lights next Monday night against the Carolina Panthers (3-5-1).I feel great about Mark, Kelly said. We felt great about him all along. I always said we needed two quarterbacks. I thought hes done a great job in our system. I thought he played outstanding in the preseason and showed no rust or anything when he got in there against Houston yesterday. So we feel real confident and feel obviously very bad for Nick that hes out, but I feel very confident in Mark if we have to go in that direction.Foles had been inconsistent this season. He has 13 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a passer rating of 81.5. Foles set an NFL record for best TD/interception ratio in 2013 with 27 TDs and only two picks while helping the Eagles win the division after going 4-12 in 2012. His passer rating of 119.2 was the third-highest ever and he capped off the breakout year by being named offensive MVP of the Pro Bowl.Sanchez finished 15 of 22 for 202 yards, two TDs and two interceptions against the Texxans.ddddddddddddNothing changes, Sanchez said. How do I prepare to play? How do I prepare to watch a game? Its the same. I might get less reps as a backup but I am watching the same amount of film, I am doing the same amount of drills, I am taking advantage of my time that I can during the week and I cant cut corners or lll get caught off guard out there. This league will expose you and you got to be ready.Sanchez, a former No. 5 overall pick, once was the franchise quarterback for the New York Jets. He led the Jets to the AFC championship game his first two seasons but struggled the next two and lost his starting job to rookie Geno Smith last year. Sanchez missed the 2013 season after tearing the labrum in his right shoulder in a preseason game.He has played a lot of football in this league, wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. He plays at a high level. I think he is one of the more game-ready backup quarterbacks in this league.Ryans was the team leader in the huddle and locker room. Hes well-respected by coaches, teammates and the entire organization. Casey Matthews replaces him as the starter.DeMeco is a rock for us on defence, linebacker Conor Barwin said. He is just a great person, a great leader. Thats why everyone has a lot of respect for him. Obviously guys will have to step up. I think the guys behind him are more than capable.The Eagles were close to having their offensive line together for the first time this season before Herremans got hurt. Center Jason Kelce returned after missing four games following sports hernia surgery. Evan Mathis, an All-Pro left guard last year, is set to return this week after injuring his knee in Week 1.Andrew Gardner replaced Herremans against the Texans. Either Gardner or Matt Tobin, who has been playing left guard, would start against the Panthers if Herremans cant play.___AP NF