JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — The World Cup does not begin for a week but the buildup claimed some high-profile victims yesterday, including England captain Rio Ferdinand and prolific Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba.

Ferdinand was ruled out of the tournament a week before England’s opening game after suffering knee ligament damage at the team’s training ground near the northern city of Rustenburg.

A continent away in Switzerland, Drogba told a teammate he was out of the World Cup after breaking his right elbow in a 2-0 friendly victory over Japan.

Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo is resting at home in Milan with a calf injury that could force him out of some of the world soccer championship. Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar missed practice for the second straight day as he recovers from a back injury.

Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar missed practice for the second straight day as he recovers from a back injury.

And American striker Jozy Altidore has a sprained right ankle that makes him doubtful for today’s warmup match against Australia.

Injuries have run through nearly every team from every continent well before the World Cup begins.

Pirlo, the player of the match when Italy beat France to win the 2006 World Cup, injured his left calf in a friendly loss to Mexico on Wednesday and will sit out the warmup game against Switzerland today.

The Italian Football Federation said the midfielder will travel with the team to South Africa and continue to be evaluated ahead of Italy’s first match, against Paraguay on June 14. A team doctor said such injuries take 15 to 20 days to heal.

Julio Cesar underwent physiotherapy at the team’s hotel yesterday. He fell awkwardly and injured his back in the team’s 3-0 win over Zimbabwe on Wednesday in Harare. Doctors say the injury is not serious and should not keep the goalkeeper from playing in Brazil’s opener against North Korea on June 15.