Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel joins training at Liverpool, hopes to be in form for World Cup

Slovak defender Skrtel recovers from broken foot

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovakia defender Martin Skrtel has fully recovered from a broken foot and hopes to be ready for the World Cup.

The Liverpool center back said in a statement on his Web site he “will be back to full training with my teammates on Wednesday.”

Skrtel was carried from the field in the 3-1 Europa League win at Unirea Urziceni on Feb 25 and scans showed he broke a metatarsal in his right foot.

Skrtel said on Tuesday he hoped to be back in decent form for the tournament in South Africa, where Slovakia opens on June 15 against New Zealand before facing Paraguay and defending champion Italy in Group F.

Slovakia won its European qualifying group to secure its first World Cup berth.