Norwich keeper Robert Green saw his World Cup dreams dashed in a matter of minutes in the England B international against Belarus at Reading tonight.

Norwich keeper Robert Green saw his World Cup dreams dashed in a matter of minutes in the England B international against Belarus at Reading tonight.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper came on in the second half replacing David James and was hoping to make his mark, but collapsed with what is reported to be a ruptured groin as he took a goal kick. The scuffed kick presented Vitaly Kutuzov with an open goal for the Belarus equaliser, and the visitors went on to win the match 2-1.

The injury is expected to put Green out of the World Cup, with a recovery period of normally six to eight weeks. Green looked devastated as he was stretchered off the pitch after his injury.

The Canaries number one had not played a competitive game since April 8 at Preston, missing the last four games of the season as a precautionary measure because of an ankle injury. It didn't prevent Eriksson naming him in his 23-man squad for Germany.

The 26-year-old goalkeeper's contract with the Canaries runs out at the end of next season, and although the club have an option for a further year after that his future is bound to be the subject of some speculation during the summer.