17 UPDATE Wednesday 9th June

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Nani Out
Manchester United striker and 17 wearing Nani has been ruled out of the World Cup with a shoulder injury. As I reported yesterday he had been saying that it was not serious, however the Portuguese medical team have decided to send him home and replaced him with Benfica's Ruben Amorim. Obviously Amorim has no affinity with the number 17 owing to it being assigned to him at this late stage, but we will try to get a profile of him up as soon as possible.

Gutiérrez has every faith in Maradona
Jonás Gutiérrez has spoken out about Maradona moving him to right back. He said "I feel very comfortable there. It is a position that isn't so different from which I usually play". Sounds like Argentina are going to be very attacking if Gutiérrez has been moved to right back, but as mentioned in our post on him, he will be a certainty to start for Argentina.

Seventeen Rumours
First up - media reports suggest that Miloš Krasić is a certainty to move to Juventus now. His facebook page is crammed with well-wishers and now it all sounds like is that i's have to be dotted and t's have to be crossed. His is certain to demand the 17 shirt when he gets there and one hopes that he gets it. Another 17 who could be due a move is Gary "Pitbull" Medel, who is reported to be in the eyes of Wigan manager Roberto Martinez, who well fancies the Pitbu17 marshalling his backline and marauding forward in the Premiership next season. Siaka Tiéné is in the sights of Paris St. Germaine and seems likely to sign on the dotted line soon, just as Jonás Gutiérrez is in the sights of Atletico Madrid, although it seems unlikely that Newcastle United would want to sell players just after getting promoted. Deportivo la Coruna are showing an interest in signing Gio dos Santos from Tottenham, but will Gio stick around for Champions League football at Spurs?

Injuries - What injuries?
Makoto Hasebe is rearing his head again when we speak about injuries. I don't expect him to start the tournament now. They are now talking about 'long-term back problems' in the camp. It may well be a double-bluff, but I somewhat doubt it. Jozy Altidore was back into full training yesterday and says that the attitude in the US camp is very good. Shaun Wright-Phillips didn't train yesterday with a knee injury.

Club 17 vs Country 17
Germany defender Per Mertesacker has said that "Tim Cahill must be stopped" if they are to beat Australia. Per Mertesacker wears 17 for Germany and refuses to wear any other number, even with pureblood Jerome Boateng in the squad. Meanwhile, Tim Cahill is a pureblood 17 for Everton (and has 17 in his signature), but doesn't wear his 17 for his country. Sorry Tim, I know who I'm supporting on this one!