Argentina doc establishes sex rules for World Cup

Congratulations Argentina, you're allowed to have sex at this year's World Cup!

But, there are some rules (this isn't 'Nam) ...

Speaking on Argentine radio, team doctor Donato Vallani said sex would be allowed in South Africa, but not on game days and only with the players' regular partners. Hopefully some of the players don't have dozens of "regular" partners.

"The players can have sex with their wives and girlfriends during the World Cup," Vallani said on Radio Del Plata. "Players are not Martians.

"But it should not be at 2 a.m. with Champagne and Havana cigars."

Tough, but fair. Well played, doc.

In other news around the globe (all of which certainly would have made for a less interesting headline):

-- The biggest real news of the day came from Ghana, where it was confirmed that star player Michael Essien has not recovered from his knee injury and will not play in the World Cup. This is the second massive injury to hit Group D, as Germany's Michael Ballack was sidelined due to injury as well. Both players are equally crucial to their team's success, although Germany has more depth to lead them out of the group.

-- In Spain, striker Fernando Torres practiced with the team for the first time. The Liverpool striker is recovering from surgery to repair torn cartilage in his knee.

-- The manager of the fourth-ranked Netherlands squad has finalized his 23-man roster.

-- England's Gareth Barry is on track to recover in time for the World Cup. Barry's inclusion in the 30-man team was a risk for head coach Fabio Capello, but it looks like the Man City midfielder is on the mend.

-- Brian Ching is back training with the Houston Dynamo after his surprise snub from the World Cup team, the Houston Chronicle reports. Apparently, Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear offered some words of wisdom to Ching because he could relate to the feeling. Kinnear was one of the last two players cut from the 1994 World Cup team -- played in the United States.