France's captain and most prolific scorer Thierry Henry faces the once inconceivable prospect of being a substitute at the World Cup for the country he has graced for over a decade.
The only player in the squad who was part of the team's 1998 World Cup triumph, the 32-year-old appears set to lose his place up front in coach Raymond Domenech's first team to Nicolas Anelka and the captain's arm-band to left back Patrice Evra.
Prior to naming his squad for the June 11-July 11 finals in South Africa, Domenech endorsed Henry as a trusted 'great player', yet has started him on the bench for France's two World Cup warm-ups against Costa Rica and Tunisia.
Henry, despite boasting a record 51 goals in 120 appearances and standing on the verge of becoming the first France player to take part in four World Cups, appears to be paying the price after suffering a series of setbacks.
Pushed on the fringes at Barcelona where he rarely started a game this year, Henry has also been marked by the controversy sparked by his handball in a playoff win over Ireland last November.
Henry, until that day never considered a cheat, handled the ball in the build-up to the decisive goal that sent France through to the finals, sparking one of the biggest outcries in the competition's history.
LEADING PLAYER
"I am lucky to play with Titi at club level and it's true that the last few months have been complicated for him," defender Eric Abidal, Henry's team mate at Barca, told reporters at France's training camp in Tunisia.
"He's been thinking about the World Cup and getting ready for it, hoping it would give him a breath of fresh air. He's a leading player in our group and we know we can count on him."
Henry has not complained after being left out of the starting line-up twice, even congratulating Evra after he wore the armband in a 2-1 win over Costa Rica last week, but has also been careful to avoid the media.
"The coach has made choices that can be difficult to accept but Titi is still ready to help out," Abidal said of Henry's uncomfortable situation.
Beloved of French fans for lifting the team out of tight spots and fondly remembered at Arsenal where he scored 226 goals during his eight-year spell at the London club, Henry could still make an impact at the World Cup.
For now, he faces the task of recapturing his scoring instinct from back-stage, instead of being the front-man.
"I don't see any first-choice players or substitutes," Domenech said of his decision to leave Henry on the bench.
"We're a group. Everybody must remain under pressure and available to help."
luni, 31 mai 2010
Soccer-Chile 3 Israel 0 - international friendly result
Chile 3 Israel 0 - international friendly result.
At Estadio Municipal, Chillan.
Scorers: Humberto Suazo 19, Alexis Sanchez 49, Rodrigo Tello 91.
At Estadio Municipal, Chillan.
Scorers: Humberto Suazo 19, Alexis Sanchez 49, Rodrigo Tello 91.
Capello knows his men for South Africa
Fabio Capello has confirmed he knows the names of the players who will carry England's World Cup hopes in South Africa - and they are the same ones he had in mind when he arrived in Austria a fortnight ago.
Capello will not phone the unlucky seven to be axed until Tuesday morning, and has no intention of giving any clues publicly before then. But, providing the medical update on Gareth Barry confirms the Manchester City midfielder will have recovered from his ankle injury by the time England start training again after their Group C opener against the United States on June 12, Capello's mind is made up.
"I know the 22 players who are in mind. They are the same 22 that I decided last week. Nothing has changed," he said.
"We have to wait for Gareth Barry. We will decide on him after we have had the final check to see how long it will be before he can train with us. We have to know everything about this situation but I am not disappointed my mind is still the same."
Although Capello is keeping the exact make-up of his squad secret, there are a couple of certainties.
Neither Michael Dawson nor Scott Parker had played a single minute for Capello during the Italian's two-and-a-half-year reign as England coach prior to the two-week Austrian training camp. And as they still have not been involved, they can book their summer holidays with a large degree of confidence.
Neither Tom Huddlestone nor Darren Bent took the chances afforded to them by a starting berth on Sunday afternoon and were replaced at half-time, so they too are likely to miss out.
Stephen Warnock is highly unlikely to displace Leighton Baines as second choice at left-back, which leaves Adam Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole scrapping over the remaining spot.
And, listening to Capello, Cole's second-half cameo, when he shone more than Wright-Phillips, might have done the job.
"I know Joe Cole very well. He is in a good moment. He is fresh because he did not play a lot of games. Joe Cole is good. He played very well in the second half," said Capello.
Capello will not phone the unlucky seven to be axed until Tuesday morning, and has no intention of giving any clues publicly before then. But, providing the medical update on Gareth Barry confirms the Manchester City midfielder will have recovered from his ankle injury by the time England start training again after their Group C opener against the United States on June 12, Capello's mind is made up.
"I know the 22 players who are in mind. They are the same 22 that I decided last week. Nothing has changed," he said.
"We have to wait for Gareth Barry. We will decide on him after we have had the final check to see how long it will be before he can train with us. We have to know everything about this situation but I am not disappointed my mind is still the same."
Although Capello is keeping the exact make-up of his squad secret, there are a couple of certainties.
Neither Michael Dawson nor Scott Parker had played a single minute for Capello during the Italian's two-and-a-half-year reign as England coach prior to the two-week Austrian training camp. And as they still have not been involved, they can book their summer holidays with a large degree of confidence.
Neither Tom Huddlestone nor Darren Bent took the chances afforded to them by a starting berth on Sunday afternoon and were replaced at half-time, so they too are likely to miss out.
Stephen Warnock is highly unlikely to displace Leighton Baines as second choice at left-back, which leaves Adam Johnson, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole scrapping over the remaining spot.
And, listening to Capello, Cole's second-half cameo, when he shone more than Wright-Phillips, might have done the job.
"I know Joe Cole very well. He is in a good moment. He is fresh because he did not play a lot of games. Joe Cole is good. He played very well in the second half," said Capello.
Different tournament, same England
At least Sunday's performance against Japan helped dampen the frenzy that always seems to accompany England's departure to a major tournament.
Now, even the most optimistic England fan must know that Fabio Capello's side have absolutely no chance of winning the World Cup.
Victory over their fellow qualifiers in Graz could not mask a poor display that, like the game against Mexico last week, posed more questions than found answers, and exposed yet more frailties.
And, unfortunately, it also served to reopen the great Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard debate once again.
With just 10 days to the start of the World Cup in South Africa, the timing could not be worse. Capello has had 27 months to get his tactics sorted, yet in England's final outing before the big kick-off against the US, he opted to return a central midfield pairing not seen since the infamous Wally with the Brolly night.
Capello himself has already said he does not think the combination is viable - ED can only assume that is why the Italian has always resisted the urge to play them together - yet there he was, sending on Gerrard to replace Tom Huddlestone and team up with Lampard in that position for the first time in his 24 games in charge.
England did look a far better side after the break, but let's put things into a bit of perspective here. First, it couldn't have been much worse than the first half. Second, this was Japan, a team ranked 45th in the world, and not Spain, Brazil, Argentina, or even the USA. And England had to rely on two own-goals to turn the result around.
ED is loath to subscribe to the view that finally, after all this time, Gerrard and Lampard have worked out how to play together and that England will now steamroller their way to glory in South Africa.
How can things have clicked so suddenly? Sven-Goran Eriksson tried it time and again, always with the same lack of success. And there is nothing to suggest it will be any different this time around - 45 minutes against mediocre opposition in a warm-up game certainly does not provide compelling evidence.
Of course, they only played there together because Gareth Barry is crocked; the situation would be very much different if the Manchester City man was fit.
Fortunately, Capello's refusal to give Scott Parker a run-out in Austria revealed his confidence in Barry's powers of recovery. Let's just hope that is the case and that all this hoo-ha proves academic.
- - -
The game will have left Capello with another poser - can he put faith in Lampard from the spot?
His second-half miss made it two successive failures from 12 yards - most un-Lampard like, and far from the ideal preparation with the inevitable quarter-final shoot-out on the horizon.
Mind over matter counts in high pressure penalty situations and the question now has to be: will Lampard himself be confident in his own ability to score from the spot? ED suggests not, especially when you consider his nationality.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Fabio Capello: "I know Joe Cole very well. He is in a good moment. He is fresh because he did not play a lot of games. Joe Cole is good. He played very well in the second half." Looks like the Chelsea midfielder has won a place on the plane after providing the one positive to be taken from the game with a display of skill and invention - everything that was lacking from the 45 minutes before his introduction. Indeed, England's second-half improvement probably had as much to do with his entrance than anything else.
FOREIGN VIEW: Disillusioned with how things are going in the England camp? Then spare a thought for our Gallic brothers from across the Channel. They may have bonded as a squad with recent buggy races and hikes up mountains, but on the pitch France are still struggling. And a dour 1-1 draw has done nothing to convince the French public that the glory days of '98 are to be revisited any time soon. 'One step backwards' reads today's front-page headline in L'Equipe.
COMING UP: World Cup hosts South Africa play Guatemala in today's must-follow game (kick-off 19:30), but before that Paul Parker will be giving his thoughts on England's performance against Japan, we'll have the updated World Cup Power Rankings, Behind Enemy Lines and the England squad barometer, and the latest instalment of the World Cup Dream Team will be published.
Now, even the most optimistic England fan must know that Fabio Capello's side have absolutely no chance of winning the World Cup.
Victory over their fellow qualifiers in Graz could not mask a poor display that, like the game against Mexico last week, posed more questions than found answers, and exposed yet more frailties.
And, unfortunately, it also served to reopen the great Steven Gerrard-Frank Lampard debate once again.
With just 10 days to the start of the World Cup in South Africa, the timing could not be worse. Capello has had 27 months to get his tactics sorted, yet in England's final outing before the big kick-off against the US, he opted to return a central midfield pairing not seen since the infamous Wally with the Brolly night.
Capello himself has already said he does not think the combination is viable - ED can only assume that is why the Italian has always resisted the urge to play them together - yet there he was, sending on Gerrard to replace Tom Huddlestone and team up with Lampard in that position for the first time in his 24 games in charge.
England did look a far better side after the break, but let's put things into a bit of perspective here. First, it couldn't have been much worse than the first half. Second, this was Japan, a team ranked 45th in the world, and not Spain, Brazil, Argentina, or even the USA. And England had to rely on two own-goals to turn the result around.
ED is loath to subscribe to the view that finally, after all this time, Gerrard and Lampard have worked out how to play together and that England will now steamroller their way to glory in South Africa.
How can things have clicked so suddenly? Sven-Goran Eriksson tried it time and again, always with the same lack of success. And there is nothing to suggest it will be any different this time around - 45 minutes against mediocre opposition in a warm-up game certainly does not provide compelling evidence.
Of course, they only played there together because Gareth Barry is crocked; the situation would be very much different if the Manchester City man was fit.
Fortunately, Capello's refusal to give Scott Parker a run-out in Austria revealed his confidence in Barry's powers of recovery. Let's just hope that is the case and that all this hoo-ha proves academic.
- - -
The game will have left Capello with another poser - can he put faith in Lampard from the spot?
His second-half miss made it two successive failures from 12 yards - most un-Lampard like, and far from the ideal preparation with the inevitable quarter-final shoot-out on the horizon.
Mind over matter counts in high pressure penalty situations and the question now has to be: will Lampard himself be confident in his own ability to score from the spot? ED suggests not, especially when you consider his nationality.
- - -
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Fabio Capello: "I know Joe Cole very well. He is in a good moment. He is fresh because he did not play a lot of games. Joe Cole is good. He played very well in the second half." Looks like the Chelsea midfielder has won a place on the plane after providing the one positive to be taken from the game with a display of skill and invention - everything that was lacking from the 45 minutes before his introduction. Indeed, England's second-half improvement probably had as much to do with his entrance than anything else.
FOREIGN VIEW: Disillusioned with how things are going in the England camp? Then spare a thought for our Gallic brothers from across the Channel. They may have bonded as a squad with recent buggy races and hikes up mountains, but on the pitch France are still struggling. And a dour 1-1 draw has done nothing to convince the French public that the glory days of '98 are to be revisited any time soon. 'One step backwards' reads today's front-page headline in L'Equipe.
COMING UP: World Cup hosts South Africa play Guatemala in today's must-follow game (kick-off 19:30), but before that Paul Parker will be giving his thoughts on England's performance against Japan, we'll have the updated World Cup Power Rankings, Behind Enemy Lines and the England squad barometer, and the latest instalment of the World Cup Dream Team will be published.
World Cup 2010 - Countdown: Sven's Ivory Coast
IVORY COAST
World Cup record:
Previous appearances in finals: One
Best performance: Group stages in 2006
Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson took over the reigns with his team already qualified for the World Cup. Vastly experienced at club level, most notably with Lazio but also with Benfica, Roma, Sampdoria and Manchester City, the Swede has also managed twice at international level - with England and Mexico. Svennis is a big-name and has already boosted the image and ego of Ivorian football but just what he can achieve with less than a month of preparation remains to be seen.i
Key players:
Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Age: 32. Position: Striker. With 40 goals in 60 international appearances, Drogba has proven vital for his country. He took them to the final of the 2006 African Nations Cup and now two World Cup tournaments, although he missed half of the 2010 qualifiers through injury. At club level, he has won both league and cup honours in England with Chelsea, who signed him from Olympique Marseille.
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) Age: 24. Position: Striker. As an exciting teenage talent with Feyenoord, Kalou was the subject of a lengthy, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid to win Dutch nationality before the 2006 World Cup. Eventually debuted for the Ivorians, where elder brother Bonaventure had previously been captain.
Yaya Toure (Barcelona) Age: 26. Position: Midfield. A massive physical presence in the centre of midfield, Toure has taken a circuitous route through clubs in five different countries before signing for European champions Barcelona two years ago.
FIFA world ranking May 2010: 27th
How they qualified: The Ivorians finished qualification without defeat, going through 12 matches in two group phases and progressing comfortably. The death of at least 19 people in a stampede at their home stadium in Abidjan in March ahead of a qualifier cast a dark shadow over their campaign.
Prospects: They are arguably the strongest of the African teams and will carry the hopes of an expectant continent, but rely too much on Drogba for inspiration. There are also several weaknesses in key positions, which could cost them but with a few lucky breaks, the Elephants could well become the first African side to advance past the last eight at a World Cup.
Expert view: "Drogba is a very good striker. Powerful, fast, opportunistic, he is an important asset in the team. But you do not win games with one player, even if he sometimes seems that way. If the Ivory Coast was dependent on a single player, they would never have qualified for the World Cup." Jean-Marc Guillou, who was beaten to the coach's job by Eriksson.
Bookmakers' odds: 40-1
Squad: (29): Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan); Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich Albion), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City); Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nantes), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne), Didier Zokora (Sevilla); Forwards: Kanga Akale (Racing Lens), Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille).
World Cup record:
Previous appearances in finals: One
Best performance: Group stages in 2006
Coach: Sven-Goran Eriksson took over the reigns with his team already qualified for the World Cup. Vastly experienced at club level, most notably with Lazio but also with Benfica, Roma, Sampdoria and Manchester City, the Swede has also managed twice at international level - with England and Mexico. Svennis is a big-name and has already boosted the image and ego of Ivorian football but just what he can achieve with less than a month of preparation remains to be seen.i
Key players:
Didier Drogba (Chelsea) Age: 32. Position: Striker. With 40 goals in 60 international appearances, Drogba has proven vital for his country. He took them to the final of the 2006 African Nations Cup and now two World Cup tournaments, although he missed half of the 2010 qualifiers through injury. At club level, he has won both league and cup honours in England with Chelsea, who signed him from Olympique Marseille.
Salomon Kalou (Chelsea) Age: 24. Position: Striker. As an exciting teenage talent with Feyenoord, Kalou was the subject of a lengthy, but ultimately unsuccessful, bid to win Dutch nationality before the 2006 World Cup. Eventually debuted for the Ivorians, where elder brother Bonaventure had previously been captain.
Yaya Toure (Barcelona) Age: 26. Position: Midfield. A massive physical presence in the centre of midfield, Toure has taken a circuitous route through clubs in five different countries before signing for European champions Barcelona two years ago.
FIFA world ranking May 2010: 27th
How they qualified: The Ivorians finished qualification without defeat, going through 12 matches in two group phases and progressing comfortably. The death of at least 19 people in a stampede at their home stadium in Abidjan in March ahead of a qualifier cast a dark shadow over their campaign.
Prospects: They are arguably the strongest of the African teams and will carry the hopes of an expectant continent, but rely too much on Drogba for inspiration. There are also several weaknesses in key positions, which could cost them but with a few lucky breaks, the Elephants could well become the first African side to advance past the last eight at a World Cup.
Expert view: "Drogba is a very good striker. Powerful, fast, opportunistic, he is an important asset in the team. But you do not win games with one player, even if he sometimes seems that way. If the Ivory Coast was dependent on a single player, they would never have qualified for the World Cup." Jean-Marc Guillou, who was beaten to the coach's job by Eriksson.
Bookmakers' odds: 40-1
Squad: (29): Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan); Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich Albion), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City); Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nantes), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne), Didier Zokora (Sevilla); Forwards: Kanga Akale (Racing Lens), Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille).
Soccer-World-Eriksson seeks better organisation from Ivory Coast
New coach Sven-Goran Eriksson knew that harnessing Ivory Coast's talents into an organised team would be his biggest challenge and the 2-2 draw with Paraguay has only strengthened his convictions.
The former England manager's concerns over a lack of tactical discipline were justified as his team blew a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes against the feisty South Americans in Sunday's World Cup warm-up, his first match in charge.
"It's all about organisation, to defend well together, to attack well together and we're working every day on that, and hopefully it will get better and better," said the Swede, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic at the end of March and has only had one week with his full squad.
"Individually, we have a lot of good footballers and it's up to me and them to put them together, to get a working unit together.
"In the last half hour, we didn't play as good as a team as we did for the first half and if you lose the ball in dangerous positions too often, then you're going to get punished.
"I don't think it was concentration, we lost organisation, we tried to run and finish individually and we gave Paraguay lots of chances to counter-attack and we have to work on that.
"If you lose the ball in dangerous positions too often, at the end they will punish you."
DIFFICULT GROUP
Eriksson has to drop seven of his 30-man provisional squad by Tuesday and then has one more match, against Japan in Switzerland on Thursday, to put his ideas into practice.
After that, his team will be plunged into arguably the most difficult group at the World Cup as they face Portugal, North Korea and Brazil.
"From what I've seen in training and during one hour today, I'm very confident," Eriksson added.
"The other three teams are all strong, including North Korea, but we have a good team as well.
"I like it, it's a big challenge, the time is shot and Tuesday morning I have to tell seven to go home. It's not pleasant but that's a fact."
"I think we had a good game. We needed that," forward Didier Drogba, who scored the first goal from a free kick, told reporters.
"We're still working and we still have some things to change. We have two weeks to work."
The Chelsea striker added: "I think everybody understands the message the coach is trying to deliver.
"It's too early to speak about what he Eriksson has done, we just listen and try to do what he is telling us in terms of team spirit and where he wants us to play. We're trying to apply this on the pitch."
The former England manager's concerns over a lack of tactical discipline were justified as his team blew a two-goal lead in the last 15 minutes against the feisty South Americans in Sunday's World Cup warm-up, his first match in charge.
"It's all about organisation, to defend well together, to attack well together and we're working every day on that, and hopefully it will get better and better," said the Swede, who replaced Vahid Halilhodzic at the end of March and has only had one week with his full squad.
"Individually, we have a lot of good footballers and it's up to me and them to put them together, to get a working unit together.
"In the last half hour, we didn't play as good as a team as we did for the first half and if you lose the ball in dangerous positions too often, then you're going to get punished.
"I don't think it was concentration, we lost organisation, we tried to run and finish individually and we gave Paraguay lots of chances to counter-attack and we have to work on that.
"If you lose the ball in dangerous positions too often, at the end they will punish you."
DIFFICULT GROUP
Eriksson has to drop seven of his 30-man provisional squad by Tuesday and then has one more match, against Japan in Switzerland on Thursday, to put his ideas into practice.
After that, his team will be plunged into arguably the most difficult group at the World Cup as they face Portugal, North Korea and Brazil.
"From what I've seen in training and during one hour today, I'm very confident," Eriksson added.
"The other three teams are all strong, including North Korea, but we have a good team as well.
"I like it, it's a big challenge, the time is shot and Tuesday morning I have to tell seven to go home. It's not pleasant but that's a fact."
"I think we had a good game. We needed that," forward Didier Drogba, who scored the first goal from a free kick, told reporters.
"We're still working and we still have some things to change. We have two weeks to work."
The Chelsea striker added: "I think everybody understands the message the coach is trying to deliver.
"It's too early to speak about what he Eriksson has done, we just listen and try to do what he is telling us in terms of team spirit and where he wants us to play. We're trying to apply this on the pitch."
Soccer-World-Ghana hope Mensah gamble is stroke of genius
Ghana have gambled on the fitness of Sunderland defender John Mensah and included the centre back in their final 23-man squad for the World Cup.
Coach Milovan Rajevac has named Mesnah for the tournament starting on June 11 in South Africa despite a run of injuries over the last year and concern over a ligament strain suffered towards the end of the English league season.
Ghana, who suffered a major blow last week when Michel Essien was ruled out of the finals because of injury, also included Portsmouth's German-born midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng in the squad named on Monday.
Boateng recently received FIFA permission to switch his nationality after previously winning caps at under-21 level for Germany, and is expected to debut for the Black Stars in a friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Tuesday.
The only other uncapped player in the squad is reserve goalkeeper Stephen Ahorlu.
Rajevac cut six players from his preliminary squad; Stephen Adams, Eric Addo, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Laryea Kingston, Haminu Dramani and Bernard Kumordzi.
Coach Milovan Rajevac has named Mesnah for the tournament starting on June 11 in South Africa despite a run of injuries over the last year and concern over a ligament strain suffered towards the end of the English league season.
Ghana, who suffered a major blow last week when Michel Essien was ruled out of the finals because of injury, also included Portsmouth's German-born midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng in the squad named on Monday.
Boateng recently received FIFA permission to switch his nationality after previously winning caps at under-21 level for Germany, and is expected to debut for the Black Stars in a friendly against the Netherlands in Rotterdam on Tuesday.
The only other uncapped player in the squad is reserve goalkeeper Stephen Ahorlu.
Rajevac cut six players from his preliminary squad; Stephen Adams, Eric Addo, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Laryea Kingston, Haminu Dramani and Bernard Kumordzi.
Soccer-Inter push for Capello, rate Benitez
Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti hopes England coach Fabio Capello can break his contract after the World Cup and become a candidate for the vacant job at the Champions League winners.
Inter boss Jose Mourinho is leaving for Real Madrid after winning an unprecedented Italian treble and Moratti has already identified former Juventus, AC Milan and AS Roma coach Capello as a target.
"I would be pleased if he frees himself after the World Cup," Moratti told Sky Italia on Monday amid media speculation Capello will not stay with England until Euro 2012.
Moratti also has his eye on another England-based manager but doubts a deal could be done.
"I've always thought Rafa Benitez was good but he is tied to Liverpool," Moratti said, having previously talked glowingly of Fulham boss and former Inter coach Roy Hodgson.
Inter boss Jose Mourinho is leaving for Real Madrid after winning an unprecedented Italian treble and Moratti has already identified former Juventus, AC Milan and AS Roma coach Capello as a target.
"I would be pleased if he frees himself after the World Cup," Moratti told Sky Italia on Monday amid media speculation Capello will not stay with England until Euro 2012.
Moratti also has his eye on another England-based manager but doubts a deal could be done.
"I've always thought Rafa Benitez was good but he is tied to Liverpool," Moratti said, having previously talked glowingly of Fulham boss and former Inter coach Roy Hodgson.
Serie A - Inter hopeful on Capello, rate Benitez
Inter boss Jose Mourinho is leaving for Real Madrid after winning an unprecedented Italian treble and Moratti has already identified former Juventus, AC Milan and AS Roma coach Capello as a target.
"I would be pleased if he frees himself after the World Cup," Moratti told Sky Italia on Monday amid media speculation Capello will not stay with England until Euro 2012.
Moratti also has his eye on another England-based manager but doubts a deal could be done.
"I've always thought Rafa Benitez was good but he is tied to Liverpool," Moratti said, having previously talked glowingly of Fulham boss and former Inter coach Roy Hodgson.
"I would be pleased if he frees himself after the World Cup," Moratti told Sky Italia on Monday amid media speculation Capello will not stay with England until Euro 2012.
Moratti also has his eye on another England-based manager but doubts a deal could be done.
"I've always thought Rafa Benitez was good but he is tied to Liverpool," Moratti said, having previously talked glowingly of Fulham boss and former Inter coach Roy Hodgson.
World Cup 2010 - Rankings: England posers
1 (1) - Spain - Fernando Llorente headed a last-minute winner for Spain in a 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia as the European champions made a sluggish start to their preparations. "I'm not happy with everything. We are a little behind because we have these 15 days without playing but we have to remain optimistic," said coach Vicente del Bosque.
2 (2) - Brazil - Julio Cesar is horrified by the ball which will be used at the World Cup, likening it to a cheap one bought from a supermarket.
3 (3) - Netherlands - Arjen Robben says that his international team-mate Rafael van der Vaart wants to join him at Bayern Munich next season - happy families..
4 (4) - Argentina - Argentina forward Lionel Mess has picked out Brazil, Spain and England as their main rivals.
5 (5) - Italy - Italy can finally concentrate on the defence of their title after the issue of coach Marcello Lippi's successor was cleared up. Cescare Prandelli will take over the Azzurri after the World Cup, putting to bed an issue that had threatened to overshadow the upcoming tournament.
6 (7) - Germany - Germany crushed hosts Hungary 3-0 in a friendly, a makeshift midfield looked strong with Sami Khedira in impressive form.
7 (6) - England - Yet more questions arose from the game against Japan, which saw Fabio Capello's side win 2-1 thanks to two Japanese own goals. Are John Terry and Rio Ferdinand dependable anymore? Can Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard play together in the middle? Is Joe Cole England's wildcard? Are they over-reliant on Wayne Rooney? And will Capello still be boss in a few months' time?
8 (8) - Portugal - They say there are no easy matches in international football, but questions will be asked after the team ranked third by FIFA were held to a goalless draw by the 117th-ranked Cape Verde Islands.
9 (9) - France - William Gallas was on target to give Les Bleus a battling 1-1 draw against Tunisia, the Arsenal defender going a long way to proving his fitness in the process. But doubts still remain over Raymond Domenech's side on the eve of the tournament.
10 (11) - USA - Jose Torres and Robbie Findley made a late bid for World Cup starting roles for the US after coming off the bench to inspire the 2-1 comeback win over Turkey.
11 (12) - Mexico - Javier Aguirre's side bounced back from two defeats in a week with a 5-1 thumping of Gambia, new Manchester United signing Javi Hernandez grabbing a brace.
12 (11) - Ivory Coast - Sven-Goran Eriksson was denied a debut win in charge of the Elephants after Paraguay scored twice in the last 15 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw.
13 (14) - Ghana - Ghana will need a tactical rethink for the World Cup after losing Michael Essien, described by coach Milovan Rajevac as arguably the best player in the world in his position.
14 (15) - Chile - Chile continued their preparations with two wins in a day - a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, Esteban Paredes getting the only goal of the game, and a 3-0 victory over Israel, Humberto Suazo, Alexis Sanchez and Rodrigo Tello on the mark.
15 (14) - Serbia - Nemanja Vidic had to appeal for calm over the microphone as his country's fans rioted during the second-half of a 1-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by New Zealand - an experimental Serbia line-up was bereft of pace and ideas.
16 (16) - Australia - Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer expects to remain at Fulham despite speculation linking him with Arsenal. It show his class though that he is being linked with the Gunners.
17 (17) - Cameroon - The Lions named uncapped Gaetan Bong and Eric Choupo-Moting in their 23-man World Cup squad even though the pair have yet to receive FIFA approval to play.
18 (18) - Uruguay - All 16 players in the matchday squad got a run-out as Uruguay beat Israel 4-1.
19 (19) - Paraguay - The Albirroja recovered from their defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin by coming from behind to grab a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast.
20 (20) - South Africa -. Unbeaten in their last 10 matches, South Africa have now been tipped to reach the second round by FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
21 (22) - Denmark - Coach Morten Olsen was surprised by the cool temperatures as his side touched down in South Africa and is confident they can play a high-tempo game.
22 (21) - South Korea - Park Ji-sung and his team-mates slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Belarus, while defender Kwak Tae-hwi has been ruled out of the World Cup finals after suffering a knee injury during the game.
23 (23) - Greece - A 2-2 draw against North Korea doesn't bode well for the 2004 European champions, who face South Korea, Nigeria and Argentina in their group.
24 (24) - Slovenia - Slovenian Ego TV has voted their national team's kit the worst at the World Cup. At least they are not the worst team!
25 (25) - Nigeria - Nigeria's preparations took them to the unlikely destination of Milton Keynes, where they played out a 1-1 draw with Colombia, Haruna Lukman getting the Super Eagles' goal.
26 (26) - Switzerland - Striker Marco Streller had to pull out of the squad with a hamstring injury. Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has called up Nuernburg striker Albert Bunjaku as a replacement.
27 (27) - Slovakia - Slovakia held Cameroon to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt. Kamil Kopunek's first goal for the national side gave Slovakia the lead in the sixth minute.
28 (28) - Japan - Three goals against England in Graz should have put Japan in high spirits. Unfortunately, two of them were put past their own keeper and Takeshi Okada's side slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
29 (32) - New Zealand - The 78th-ranked New Zealanders shocked Serbia 1-0 in a friendly in Austria despite the absence of vice-captain Tim Brown, who underwent surgery on a fractured shoulder last week, and key striker Chris Killen, who was getting married. "For us it's a fantastic result, it's the best we've ever had in the history of the game, to beat a team at that level," coach Ricki Herbert said.
30 (29) - North Korea - A 0-0 draw against Congo in Le Mans is hardly enough to convince you that the Koreans can survive in the group of death.
31 (30) - Honduras - Striker David Suazo has now fully recovered from a leg muscle injury and is expected to partner Carlos Pavon up front.
32 (31) - Algeria - Algeria's 3-0 defeat in Dublin to Republic of Ireland has failed to convince doubters that the Africans will be anything other than whipping boys.
HOW IT WORKS
We conducted a poll of Eurosport-Yahoo! writers, asking them to rank each team based on their expected performance if the World Cup were to start tomorrow.
We then took an average mark from the poll results to create this list. The tournament draw is not taken into account - it is an assessment of performance level, not likelihood of success.
We will publish revised rankings every day until the end of the World Cup, with countries moving up and down based on friendly results, injuries, scandals and other factors.
2 (2) - Brazil - Julio Cesar is horrified by the ball which will be used at the World Cup, likening it to a cheap one bought from a supermarket.
3 (3) - Netherlands - Arjen Robben says that his international team-mate Rafael van der Vaart wants to join him at Bayern Munich next season - happy families..
4 (4) - Argentina - Argentina forward Lionel Mess has picked out Brazil, Spain and England as their main rivals.
5 (5) - Italy - Italy can finally concentrate on the defence of their title after the issue of coach Marcello Lippi's successor was cleared up. Cescare Prandelli will take over the Azzurri after the World Cup, putting to bed an issue that had threatened to overshadow the upcoming tournament.
6 (7) - Germany - Germany crushed hosts Hungary 3-0 in a friendly, a makeshift midfield looked strong with Sami Khedira in impressive form.
7 (6) - England - Yet more questions arose from the game against Japan, which saw Fabio Capello's side win 2-1 thanks to two Japanese own goals. Are John Terry and Rio Ferdinand dependable anymore? Can Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard play together in the middle? Is Joe Cole England's wildcard? Are they over-reliant on Wayne Rooney? And will Capello still be boss in a few months' time?
8 (8) - Portugal - They say there are no easy matches in international football, but questions will be asked after the team ranked third by FIFA were held to a goalless draw by the 117th-ranked Cape Verde Islands.
9 (9) - France - William Gallas was on target to give Les Bleus a battling 1-1 draw against Tunisia, the Arsenal defender going a long way to proving his fitness in the process. But doubts still remain over Raymond Domenech's side on the eve of the tournament.
10 (11) - USA - Jose Torres and Robbie Findley made a late bid for World Cup starting roles for the US after coming off the bench to inspire the 2-1 comeback win over Turkey.
11 (12) - Mexico - Javier Aguirre's side bounced back from two defeats in a week with a 5-1 thumping of Gambia, new Manchester United signing Javi Hernandez grabbing a brace.
12 (11) - Ivory Coast - Sven-Goran Eriksson was denied a debut win in charge of the Elephants after Paraguay scored twice in the last 15 minutes to secure a 2-2 draw.
13 (14) - Ghana - Ghana will need a tactical rethink for the World Cup after losing Michael Essien, described by coach Milovan Rajevac as arguably the best player in the world in his position.
14 (15) - Chile - Chile continued their preparations with two wins in a day - a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, Esteban Paredes getting the only goal of the game, and a 3-0 victory over Israel, Humberto Suazo, Alexis Sanchez and Rodrigo Tello on the mark.
15 (14) - Serbia - Nemanja Vidic had to appeal for calm over the microphone as his country's fans rioted during the second-half of a 1-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by New Zealand - an experimental Serbia line-up was bereft of pace and ideas.
16 (16) - Australia - Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer expects to remain at Fulham despite speculation linking him with Arsenal. It show his class though that he is being linked with the Gunners.
17 (17) - Cameroon - The Lions named uncapped Gaetan Bong and Eric Choupo-Moting in their 23-man World Cup squad even though the pair have yet to receive FIFA approval to play.
18 (18) - Uruguay - All 16 players in the matchday squad got a run-out as Uruguay beat Israel 4-1.
19 (19) - Paraguay - The Albirroja recovered from their defeat to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin by coming from behind to grab a 2-2 draw with Ivory Coast.
20 (20) - South Africa -. Unbeaten in their last 10 matches, South Africa have now been tipped to reach the second round by FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
21 (22) - Denmark - Coach Morten Olsen was surprised by the cool temperatures as his side touched down in South Africa and is confident they can play a high-tempo game.
22 (21) - South Korea - Park Ji-sung and his team-mates slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Belarus, while defender Kwak Tae-hwi has been ruled out of the World Cup finals after suffering a knee injury during the game.
23 (23) - Greece - A 2-2 draw against North Korea doesn't bode well for the 2004 European champions, who face South Korea, Nigeria and Argentina in their group.
24 (24) - Slovenia - Slovenian Ego TV has voted their national team's kit the worst at the World Cup. At least they are not the worst team!
25 (25) - Nigeria - Nigeria's preparations took them to the unlikely destination of Milton Keynes, where they played out a 1-1 draw with Colombia, Haruna Lukman getting the Super Eagles' goal.
26 (26) - Switzerland - Striker Marco Streller had to pull out of the squad with a hamstring injury. Manager Ottmar Hitzfeld has called up Nuernburg striker Albert Bunjaku as a replacement.
27 (27) - Slovakia - Slovakia held Cameroon to a 1-1 draw in a friendly in the Austrian town of Klagenfurt. Kamil Kopunek's first goal for the national side gave Slovakia the lead in the sixth minute.
28 (28) - Japan - Three goals against England in Graz should have put Japan in high spirits. Unfortunately, two of them were put past their own keeper and Takeshi Okada's side slipped to a 2-1 defeat.
29 (32) - New Zealand - The 78th-ranked New Zealanders shocked Serbia 1-0 in a friendly in Austria despite the absence of vice-captain Tim Brown, who underwent surgery on a fractured shoulder last week, and key striker Chris Killen, who was getting married. "For us it's a fantastic result, it's the best we've ever had in the history of the game, to beat a team at that level," coach Ricki Herbert said.
30 (29) - North Korea - A 0-0 draw against Congo in Le Mans is hardly enough to convince you that the Koreans can survive in the group of death.
31 (30) - Honduras - Striker David Suazo has now fully recovered from a leg muscle injury and is expected to partner Carlos Pavon up front.
32 (31) - Algeria - Algeria's 3-0 defeat in Dublin to Republic of Ireland has failed to convince doubters that the Africans will be anything other than whipping boys.
HOW IT WORKS
We conducted a poll of Eurosport-Yahoo! writers, asking them to rank each team based on their expected performance if the World Cup were to start tomorrow.
We then took an average mark from the poll results to create this list. The tournament draw is not taken into account - it is an assessment of performance level, not likelihood of success.
We will publish revised rankings every day until the end of the World Cup, with countries moving up and down based on friendly results, injuries, scandals and other factors.
World Cup 2010 - Facts: England bounce back
England came from behind to win for the second time in the last three internationals - having beaten Egypt 3-1 in a friendly at Wembley on March 3.
England used 25 of their 30-man squad in their two warm up matches - the only players who didn’t feature were Matthew Upson, Michael Dawson, Stephen Warnock, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.
Four years ago, every player who featured in England’s two warm up matches for the 2006 World Cup Finals was named in the final 23-man squad.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka scored an own goal. Looking ahead to the World Cup Finals, only once before has a player scored at either end in the competition - Dutchman Ernie Brandts in the Netherlands 2-1 victory against Italy in June 1978.
Yuji Nakazawa scored the second own goal for England. This is the third own goal England have benefited from under Fabio Capello, and the first time they have had two in the same match.
Frank Lampard missed his second ever penalty for England. He had scored his previous four in a row since his only other miss - in England’s 3-1 friendly win against Hungary at Old Trafford exactly four years ago today, on May 30, 2006.
Lampard became the fifth player to miss more than one penalty for England - after David Beckham, Franny Lee, Roger Byrne and Edgar Needham.
Goalkeeper David James won his 50th cap for England - the fifth goalkeeper to reach this milestone for the country after Peter Shilton, David Seaman, Gordon Banks and Ray Clemence.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka scored his eighth international goal, and first since he netted in Japan’s 3-0 home win against Hong Kong on February 11.
Japanese goalscorer Tulio has a Japanese-Brazilian father and Italian-Brazilian mother. Brazil (5 wins) and Italy (4 wins) are the two most successful World Cup nations.
Japan lost their third consecutive match - their longest run of defeats in 12 years since they lost four in a row, including defeats during the 1998 World Cup Finals.
England used 25 of their 30-man squad in their two warm up matches - the only players who didn’t feature were Matthew Upson, Michael Dawson, Stephen Warnock, Gareth Barry and Scott Parker.
Four years ago, every player who featured in England’s two warm up matches for the 2006 World Cup Finals was named in the final 23-man squad.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka scored an own goal. Looking ahead to the World Cup Finals, only once before has a player scored at either end in the competition - Dutchman Ernie Brandts in the Netherlands 2-1 victory against Italy in June 1978.
Yuji Nakazawa scored the second own goal for England. This is the third own goal England have benefited from under Fabio Capello, and the first time they have had two in the same match.
Frank Lampard missed his second ever penalty for England. He had scored his previous four in a row since his only other miss - in England’s 3-1 friendly win against Hungary at Old Trafford exactly four years ago today, on May 30, 2006.
Lampard became the fifth player to miss more than one penalty for England - after David Beckham, Franny Lee, Roger Byrne and Edgar Needham.
Goalkeeper David James won his 50th cap for England - the fifth goalkeeper to reach this milestone for the country after Peter Shilton, David Seaman, Gordon Banks and Ray Clemence.
Marcus Tulio Tanaka scored his eighth international goal, and first since he netted in Japan’s 3-0 home win against Hong Kong on February 11.
Japanese goalscorer Tulio has a Japanese-Brazilian father and Italian-Brazilian mother. Brazil (5 wins) and Italy (4 wins) are the two most successful World Cup nations.
Japan lost their third consecutive match - their longest run of defeats in 12 years since they lost four in a row, including defeats during the 1998 World Cup Finals.
World Cup 2010 - World Cup squads: The full list
Number of players in brackets. All squads must be reduced to 23 players by June 1.
Group A
SOUTH AFRICA (29): Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Mariztburg United); Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bryce Moon (PAOK Salonika), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates); Midfielders: Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs); Forwards: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente).
FRANCE (24): Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux); Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon); Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal); Forwards: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
MEXICO (26): Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara); Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia); Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo Coruna), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray); Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Guillermo Franco (West Ham United)
URUGUAY (26): Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan Castillo (Deportivo Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting) Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica) Midfielders: Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Alvaro Pereira (Porto), Walter Gargano (Napoli), Diego Perez (AS Monaco), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Alvaro Gonzalez (Nacional), Jorge Rodriguez (River Plate, Uruguay), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax), Jorge Martinez (Catania), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Penarol), Ignacio Gonzalez (Levadiakos) Forwards: Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo), Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield)
Group B
ARGENTINA (23): Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Internazionale), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Internazionale), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
GREECE (30): Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika); Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiacos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika), Giorgos Tzavellas (Panionios), Kostas Manolas (AEK Athens), Giorgos Galitsios (Olympiacos), Stergos Marinos (Panathinaikos); Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Panathinaikos); Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Olympiacos).
NIGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Ayenugba (Beni Yehuda FC), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United), Austine Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva); Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow) Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Daniel Shittu (Bolton), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Peter Suswan (Lobi Stars); Midfielders: Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Lukman Haruna (Monaco), Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kiev), Peter Osaze (Lokomotiv Moscow); Forwards: Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton), Victor Anichebe (Everton), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), Ideye Brown (Sochaux), Ikechukwu Uche (Zaragoza), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Peter Utaka (Odense), Victor Obinna (Malaga)
SOUTH KOREA (26): Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam); Defenders: Kwak Tae-Hwi (Kyoto), Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang), Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima Antlers), Cha Du-Ri (SC Freiburg), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju); Midfielders: Koo Ja-Cheol (Jeju), Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk), Shin Hung-Min (Pohang), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United); Forwards: Park Ju-Young (AS Monaco), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Keun-Ho (Jubilo Iwata), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk).
Group C
ENGLAND (30): Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa); Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Parker (West Ham United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Sunderland), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).
USA (23): Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton); Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United); Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Pachuca); Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla).
SLOVENIA (26): Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam); Defenders: Miso Brecko (FC Cologne), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Bojan Jokic (Sochaux), Marko Suler (Ghent), Dejan Kelhar (Cercle Brugge), Suad Filekovic (NK Maribor), Elvedin Dzinic (NK Maribor); Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Mirnes Sisic (Giannina), Valter Birsa (AJ Auxerre), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Darijan Matic (Rapid Bucharest); Strikers: Milivoje Novakovic (FC Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (Vfl Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional Funchal), Tim Matavz (Groningen).
ALGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Rais Ouheb Mbouli (Slavia Sofia), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (Mouloudia Algiers); Defenders: Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer), Nader Belhadj (Portsmouth), Majid Bougherra (Rangers), Rafik Halliche (Nacional), Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Mohamed Meftah (JS Kabylie), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce), Hocine Metref (Entente Setif), Antar Yahia (VfL Bochum); Midfielders: Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Lazhar Hadj Aissa (Entente Setif), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santanader), Khaled Lemmouchia (Entente Setif), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Mourad Meghni (Lazio), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg); Forwards: Amri Chadli (Kaiserslautern), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Rafik Saifi (Istres).
Group D
GERMANY (30): Goalkeepers: Hans-Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Bremen); Defenders: Per Mertesacker (Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Dennis Aogo (Hamubrg); Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Marko Marin (Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Christian Trasch (Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil (Bremen), Toni Kroos (Leverkusen); Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Leverkusen), Cacau (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich).
SERBIA (24): Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting), Zeljko Brkic (Vojvodina Novi Sad), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria); Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (Munich 1860), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio); Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (VfB Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege); Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Marko Pantelic (Ajax Amsterdam), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad).
GHANA (23): Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions); Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham); Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth); Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan).
AUSTRALIA (28) Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United); Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira); Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Vince Grella (Blackburn) Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg), James Holland (AZ Alkmaar); Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede)
Group E
NETHERLANDS (23): Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (Twente), Michel Vorm (Utrecht) Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax); Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax); Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (SV Hamburg), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
DENMARK (23): Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen); Defenders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar); Midfielders: Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen); Forwards: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
JAPAN (23): Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata); Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers); Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F. Marinos), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow); Forwards: Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania).
CAMEROON (30): Goalkeepers: Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes), Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor), Patrick Tignyemb (Bloemfontein Celtic); Defenders: Patrick Abouna (Astres Douala), Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Boukar Makadji (Al Nahdha), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor); Midfielders: Achille Emana (Real Betis), Enoh Eyong (Ajax Amsterdam), Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Patrick Mevoungou (Canon Yaounde), Marcel Ndjeng (Augsburg), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal); Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Mating (Nuremburg), Paul Alo'o Efoulou (Nancy), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Dorge Kouemaha (Club Bruges), Achille Webo (Real Mallorca), Jacques Zoua (Basle)
Group F
ITALY (28) Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo); Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan); Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan); Forwards: Marco Borriello (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).
PARAGUAY (30): Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Deportivo Independiente de Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno); Defenders: Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza (Leon), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Julio Manzur (Tigres), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo de Almagro), Marcos Caceres (Racing), Antolin Alcaraz (FC Bruges); Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Sergio Aquino (Libertad), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys);Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Toluca), Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad), Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys)
SLOVAKIA (39): Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Lubos Kamenar (Nantes), Dusan Permis (Dundee United); Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Lubomir Michalik (Leeds United), Jan Durica (Lokomotiv Moscow), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion), Tomas Hubocan (Zenit St. Petersburg), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava); Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Miroslav Karhan (Mainz), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Mario Pecalka (MSK Zilina), Stanislav Sestak (Vfl Bochum), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Dusan Svento (Salzburg), Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi); Forwards: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Ramenskoye), Filip Holosko (Besiktas).
NEW ZEALAND (23): Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory) Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix); Defenders: Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City); Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), David Mulligan (unattached); Forwards: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion)
Group G
BRAZIL (23): Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur); Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan); Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg); Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg).
PORTUGAL (24): Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (Porto). Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica). Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ze Castro (Deportivo Coruna), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting). Forwards: Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United).
IVORY COAST (29): Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan); Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich Albion), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City); Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nantes), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne), Didier Zokora (Sevilla); Forwards: Kanga Akale (Racing Lens), Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille).
NORTH KOREA (23): Goalkeepers: Kim Myong-gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myong-won (Amrokgang), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang City); Defenders: Cha Jong-hyok (Amrokgang), Nam Song-chol (April 25), Pak Chol-jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam-chol (Amrokgang), Ri Jun-il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-chon (April 25), Ri Kwang-hyok (Kyonggongop); Midfielders: An Yong-hak (Omiya Ardija), Ji Yun-nam (April 25), Kim Kyong-il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-jun (Pyongyang City), Mun In-guk (April 25), Ri Chol-myong (Pyongyang City), Pak Nam-chol (April 25), Pak Sung-hyok (Sobaeksu); Forwards: An Chol-hyok (Rimyongsu), Choe Kum-chol (April 25), Hong Yong-jo (Rostov), Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Kum-il (April 25)
Group H
SPAIN (23): Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona). Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona). Forwards: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).
CHILE (25): Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Defenders: Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonika), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica); Midfielders: Marco Estrada, (Universidad de Chile), Roberto Cereceda, Rodrigo Millar, (both Colo Colo), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Jean Beausejour (Club America), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas); Forwards: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow).
SWITZERLAND (23): Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne); Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover 96), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria); Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Goklan Inler (Udinese); Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Albert Bunjaku (Nuiernburg)
HONDURAS (23): Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua); Defenders: Sergio Mendoza, Emilio Izaguirre (both Motagua), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown), Osman Chavez (Platense), Johnny Palacios, Boniek Garcia (both Olimpia), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic), Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht); Midfielders: Danilo Turcios, Ramon Nunez (both Olimpia), Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic), Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino); Forwards: Walter Martinez (Marathon), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), David Suazo (Genoa)
Group A
SOUTH AFRICA (29): Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Mariztburg United); Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bryce Moon (PAOK Salonika), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates); Midfielders: Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs); Forwards: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente).
FRANCE (24): Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux); Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Bordeaux), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon); Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal); Forwards: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)
MEXICO (26): Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara); Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Francisco Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia); Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo Coruna), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray); Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista, Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Guillermo Franco (West Ham United)
URUGUAY (26): Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan Castillo (Deportivo Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting) Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica) Midfielders: Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Alvaro Pereira (Porto), Walter Gargano (Napoli), Diego Perez (AS Monaco), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Alvaro Gonzalez (Nacional), Jorge Rodriguez (River Plate, Uruguay), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax), Jorge Martinez (Catania), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Penarol), Ignacio Gonzalez (Levadiakos) Forwards: Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo), Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield)
Group B
ARGENTINA (23): Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Internazionale), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Internazionale), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
GREECE (30): Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika); Defenders: Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiacos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika), Giorgos Tzavellas (Panionios), Kostas Manolas (AEK Athens), Giorgos Galitsios (Olympiacos), Stergos Marinos (Panathinaikos); Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia), Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika), Lazaros Christodoulopoulos (Panathinaikos); Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Olympiacos).
NIGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Ayenugba (Beni Yehuda FC), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United), Austine Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva); Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow) Onyekachi Apam (Nice), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Daniel Shittu (Bolton), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Peter Suswan (Lobi Stars); Midfielders: Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Lukman Haruna (Monaco), Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kiev), Peter Osaze (Lokomotiv Moscow); Forwards: Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton), Victor Anichebe (Everton), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg), Ideye Brown (Sochaux), Ikechukwu Uche (Zaragoza), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Peter Utaka (Odense), Victor Obinna (Malaga)
SOUTH KOREA (26): Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam); Defenders: Kwak Tae-Hwi (Kyoto), Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang), Oh Beom-Seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima Antlers), Cha Du-Ri (SC Freiburg), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju); Midfielders: Koo Ja-Cheol (Jeju), Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk), Shin Hung-Min (Pohang), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United); Forwards: Park Ju-Young (AS Monaco), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Keun-Ho (Jubilo Iwata), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk).
Group C
ENGLAND (30): Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa); Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Parker (West Ham United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Sunderland), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).
USA (23): Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton); Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United); Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Michael Bradley (Borussia Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Pachuca); Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla).
SLOVENIA (26): Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam); Defenders: Miso Brecko (FC Cologne), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Bojan Jokic (Sochaux), Marko Suler (Ghent), Dejan Kelhar (Cercle Brugge), Suad Filekovic (NK Maribor), Elvedin Dzinic (NK Maribor); Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Mirnes Sisic (Giannina), Valter Birsa (AJ Auxerre), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Darijan Matic (Rapid Bucharest); Strikers: Milivoje Novakovic (FC Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (Vfl Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional Funchal), Tim Matavz (Groningen).
ALGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Rais Ouheb Mbouli (Slavia Sofia), Mohamed Lamine Zemmamouche (Mouloudia Algiers); Defenders: Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-Mer), Nader Belhadj (Portsmouth), Majid Bougherra (Rangers), Rafik Halliche (Nacional), Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Carl Medjani (Ajaccio), Mohamed Meftah (JS Kabylie), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce), Hocine Metref (Entente Setif), Antar Yahia (VfL Bochum); Midfielders: Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Lazhar Hadj Aissa (Entente Setif), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santanader), Khaled Lemmouchia (Entente Setif), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Mourad Meghni (Lazio), Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg); Forwards: Amri Chadli (Kaiserslautern), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Rafik Saifi (Istres).
Group D
GERMANY (30): Goalkeepers: Hans-Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Bremen); Defenders: Per Mertesacker (Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Dennis Aogo (Hamubrg); Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Marko Marin (Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Christian Trasch (Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil (Bremen), Toni Kroos (Leverkusen); Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Leverkusen), Cacau (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich).
SERBIA (24): Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting), Zeljko Brkic (Vojvodina Novi Sad), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria); Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (Munich 1860), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio); Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (VfB Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege); Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Marko Pantelic (Ajax Amsterdam), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina Novi Sad).
GHANA (23): Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions); Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham); Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth); Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan).
AUSTRALIA (28) Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide United); Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Rhys Williams (Middlesbrough), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Mark Milligan (JEF United), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira); Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Vince Grella (Blackburn) Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Jason Culina (Gold Coast), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg), James Holland (AZ Alkmaar); Forwards: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente Enschede)
Group E
NETHERLANDS (23): Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (Twente), Michel Vorm (Utrecht) Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (SV Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax); Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Internazionale), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax); Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (SV Hamburg), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)
DENMARK (23): Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen); Defenders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar); Midfielders: Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen); Forwards: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
JAPAN (23): Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata); Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers); Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F. Marinos), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow); Forwards: Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania).
CAMEROON (30): Goalkeepers: Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes), Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor), Patrick Tignyemb (Bloemfontein Celtic); Defenders: Patrick Abouna (Astres Douala), Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Boukar Makadji (Al Nahdha), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor); Midfielders: Achille Emana (Real Betis), Enoh Eyong (Ajax Amsterdam), Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Patrick Mevoungou (Canon Yaounde), Marcel Ndjeng (Augsburg), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal); Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Mating (Nuremburg), Paul Alo'o Efoulou (Nancy), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Dorge Kouemaha (Club Bruges), Achille Webo (Real Mallorca), Jacques Zoua (Basle)
Group F
ITALY (28) Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo); Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan); Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan); Forwards: Marco Borriello (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).
PARAGUAY (30): Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Deportivo Independiente de Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno); Defenders: Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza (Leon), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Julio Manzur (Tigres), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo de Almagro), Marcos Caceres (Racing), Antolin Alcaraz (FC Bruges); Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Sergio Aquino (Libertad), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys);Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Toluca), Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad), Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys)
SLOVAKIA (39): Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (Vaslui), Lubos Kamenar (Nantes), Dusan Permis (Dundee United); Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Lubomir Michalik (Leeds United), Jan Durica (Lokomotiv Moscow), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West Bromwich Albion), Tomas Hubocan (Zenit St. Petersburg), Kornel Salata (Slovan Bratislava); Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Miroslav Karhan (Mainz), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Mario Pecalka (MSK Zilina), Stanislav Sestak (Vfl Bochum), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Dusan Svento (Salzburg), Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi); Forwards: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Ramenskoye), Filip Holosko (Besiktas).
NEW ZEALAND (23): Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory) Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix); Defenders: Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City); Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), David Mulligan (unattached); Forwards: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion)
Group G
BRAZIL (23): Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur); Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan); Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VfL Wolfsburg); Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg).
PORTUGAL (24): Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (Porto). Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica). Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ze Castro (Deportivo Coruna), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting). Forwards: Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United).
IVORY COAST (29): Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (ASEC Abidjan); Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich Albion), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City); Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nantes), Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille), Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne), Didier Zokora (Sevilla); Forwards: Kanga Akale (Racing Lens), Aruna Dindane (Racing Lens), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille).
NORTH KOREA (23): Goalkeepers: Kim Myong-gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myong-won (Amrokgang), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang City); Defenders: Cha Jong-hyok (Amrokgang), Nam Song-chol (April 25), Pak Chol-jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam-chol (Amrokgang), Ri Jun-il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-chon (April 25), Ri Kwang-hyok (Kyonggongop); Midfielders: An Yong-hak (Omiya Ardija), Ji Yun-nam (April 25), Kim Kyong-il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-jun (Pyongyang City), Mun In-guk (April 25), Ri Chol-myong (Pyongyang City), Pak Nam-chol (April 25), Pak Sung-hyok (Sobaeksu); Forwards: An Chol-hyok (Rimyongsu), Choe Kum-chol (April 25), Hong Yong-jo (Rostov), Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Kum-il (April 25)
Group H
SPAIN (23): Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina (Liverpool), Victor Valdes (Barcelona). Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid), Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid). Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona). Forwards: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Mata (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).
CHILE (25): Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Defenders: Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonika), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica); Midfielders: Marco Estrada, (Universidad de Chile), Roberto Cereceda, Rodrigo Millar, (both Colo Colo), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Jorge Valdivia (Al Ain), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Jean Beausejour (Club America), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas); Forwards: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow).
SWITZERLAND (23): Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne); Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover 96), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Ludovic Magnin (FC Zurich), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria); Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Goklan Inler (Udinese); Forwards: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basel), Albert Bunjaku (Nuiernburg)
HONDURAS (23): Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua); Defenders: Sergio Mendoza, Emilio Izaguirre (both Motagua), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown), Osman Chavez (Platense), Johnny Palacios, Boniek Garcia (both Olimpia), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic), Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht); Midfielders: Danilo Turcios, Ramon Nunez (both Olimpia), Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic), Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham Hotspur), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino); Forwards: Walter Martinez (Marathon), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), David Suazo (Genoa)
Spain, Germany USA, New Zealand all win
Spain just about won 3-2 after substitute Fernando Llorente scored in injury time against Saudi Arabia and Germany romped home 3-0 against Hungary in Budapest with Brazilian-born striker Cacau scoring his third goal in two games.
It looks like all the injuries to the German squad haven't had as much of a negative impact as some thought while Spain still seem to be finding their feet ahead of the World Cup which stars in just eleven days.
Team USA, thrashed the other day by the Czech Republic on home soil, will be leaving for South Africa in positive mood having beat Turkey yesterday in Philadelphia. Clint Dempsey got the winner to make it 2-1.
Lastly, New Zealand, favourites at the bookmakers to pick up just one point in Group F beat Serbia 1-0 in Austria and yes, Austria does seem to be a very popular place at the moment.
Teams in South Africa
Australia were the first team to arrive in South Africa this week, followed by Brazil the morning after. Well, since then, Denmark and Argentina are also in South Africa and the USA will land tomorrow.
It really is all happening. Viva South Africa.
It looks like all the injuries to the German squad haven't had as much of a negative impact as some thought while Spain still seem to be finding their feet ahead of the World Cup which stars in just eleven days.
Team USA, thrashed the other day by the Czech Republic on home soil, will be leaving for South Africa in positive mood having beat Turkey yesterday in Philadelphia. Clint Dempsey got the winner to make it 2-1.
Lastly, New Zealand, favourites at the bookmakers to pick up just one point in Group F beat Serbia 1-0 in Austria and yes, Austria does seem to be a very popular place at the moment.
Teams in South Africa
Australia were the first team to arrive in South Africa this week, followed by Brazil the morning after. Well, since then, Denmark and Argentina are also in South Africa and the USA will land tomorrow.
It really is all happening. Viva South Africa.
The 2010 World Cup kicks off in 10 days
In ten days it all kicks off, but before then teams will be arriving and teams will be playing final warm up matches. Today, the USA arrive in South Africa and this week Korea DPR, England, Paraguay, Mexico, Chile, France, Korea Republic, Uruguay, Nigeria, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece and Algeria all arrive. It will be a busy week for the airport.
We will also learn of every player coming to South Africa this week as deadline day to submit squad lists is tomorrow and while a few have confirmed to the press, we will not know for certain until Friday - which is when FIFA release the squad lists from each country.
So, if you are a fan of the World Cup - you could say that this week is going to be a busy week.
Which leads us to the point of this post and throughout the World Cup we will be daily blogging on Twitter from team hotels, team training centres, stadiums and matches from South Africa here so for all the latest updates, you know what you have to do.
We will also be following every match and every team, with each country getting a dedicated team team that will start to populate with team specific information the day the World Cup kicks off.
Finally and seeing as it is ten days until the World Cup kicks off, we are making lists. Today, the list is; 10 World Cup facts. It is just for fun.
Ten World Cup facts
* Brazil - most appearances at the World Cup - 18 in total
* Brazil - most wins with five
* 75 — number of countries that have played at the World Cup
* 7 - the most final appearances - shared between Brazil and Germany
* 15 - most World Cup goals. Ronaldo with 15 from 1998 to 2006
* 199,854 - is the highest attendance for a World Cup match. Uruguay v Brazil in 1950
* 1929 - the year FIFA awarded Uruguay the rights to hold the first World Cup
* 25 - the most World Cup games played - by German Lothar Matthaus
* 56 — the quickest read card at the World Cup. Uruguay's Jose Batista v Scotland in 1986
* 1 - this year will be the first time ever the World Cup is staged in Africa
We will also learn of every player coming to South Africa this week as deadline day to submit squad lists is tomorrow and while a few have confirmed to the press, we will not know for certain until Friday - which is when FIFA release the squad lists from each country.
So, if you are a fan of the World Cup - you could say that this week is going to be a busy week.
Which leads us to the point of this post and throughout the World Cup we will be daily blogging on Twitter from team hotels, team training centres, stadiums and matches from South Africa here so for all the latest updates, you know what you have to do.
We will also be following every match and every team, with each country getting a dedicated team team that will start to populate with team specific information the day the World Cup kicks off.
Finally and seeing as it is ten days until the World Cup kicks off, we are making lists. Today, the list is; 10 World Cup facts. It is just for fun.
Ten World Cup facts
* Brazil - most appearances at the World Cup - 18 in total
* Brazil - most wins with five
* 75 — number of countries that have played at the World Cup
* 7 - the most final appearances - shared between Brazil and Germany
* 15 - most World Cup goals. Ronaldo with 15 from 1998 to 2006
* 199,854 - is the highest attendance for a World Cup match. Uruguay v Brazil in 1950
* 1929 - the year FIFA awarded Uruguay the rights to hold the first World Cup
* 25 - the most World Cup games played - by German Lothar Matthaus
* 56 — the quickest read card at the World Cup. Uruguay's Jose Batista v Scotland in 1986
* 1 - this year will be the first time ever the World Cup is staged in Africa
Ivory Coast draw in World Cup 2010 warm up
Sven Goran Eriksson took control of the Ivory Coast for the first time against Paraguay yesterday as the two World Cup qualifiers put the finishing touches to their World Cup preparations in France. The game ended 2-2 and while Eriksson will be happy to have not lost, he might be a little concerned with the performance.
There isn't much time to turn things around but the squad are now together and Eriksson is best known for his ability to motivate players. He will have to work all his magic if Ivory Coast are to finish first or second in Group G.
The first half of this match was fairly dull and it wasn't until the second that we saw some goals and there was no surprises with the scorer of the first goal for Ivory Coast; Didier Drogba in the 53rd minute. That was followed up with the second from Hibernian defender Sol Bamba to put them 2-0 up. But it didn't last.
Substitute Lucas Barrios pulled one back for Paraguay in the 75th minute and Aureliano Torres equalised a minute from time to deny Eriksson a winning start as Ivory Coast manager.
Still, he has a few days and the Swede has been known to perform miracles and if there was one Africa team that should do well, it really is Ivory Coast.
There isn't much time to turn things around but the squad are now together and Eriksson is best known for his ability to motivate players. He will have to work all his magic if Ivory Coast are to finish first or second in Group G.
The first half of this match was fairly dull and it wasn't until the second that we saw some goals and there was no surprises with the scorer of the first goal for Ivory Coast; Didier Drogba in the 53rd minute. That was followed up with the second from Hibernian defender Sol Bamba to put them 2-0 up. But it didn't last.
Substitute Lucas Barrios pulled one back for Paraguay in the 75th minute and Aureliano Torres equalised a minute from time to deny Eriksson a winning start as Ivory Coast manager.
Still, he has a few days and the Swede has been known to perform miracles and if there was one Africa team that should do well, it really is Ivory Coast.
New adidas ball for World Cup not getting best reviews
A few years ago, about four to be exact, when there was a new ball for the Germany 2006 World Cup, quite a few players came out to say they didn't like it. What they didn't like was how the ball moved in the air or how it was difficult to control.
Guess what; it is the same issues with this new ball and guess what, it will all be forgotten in a few days after we have all seen the ball move and when the players have gotten used to it.
People are frightened of change and footballers are a sensitive, simple people. "It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said on Sunday.
"All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. It's incredible, it's like someone is guiding it. You are going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it's supernatural, it's very bad. I hope to adapt to it as soon as possible, but it's going to be hard."
But this really shouldn't come as a surprise and it won't to adidas as they usually always release a new ball at the World Cup and adidas usually always hear these complaints and they usually always pass in time. In fact, don't be surprised to hear players complaining again in four years time.
The unfriendly ball
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar called the ball "terrible" and was the first to compare it to the plastic ones bought at a supermarket. Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said the same thing, phrasing it as a "disaster."
"It moves so much and makes it difficult to control. You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will move and you miss it," Pazzini said. "It is especially bad for the goalkeepers if it means they concede a goal because they can't judge the trajectory."
"There is no way to hide it," Brazil midfielder Julio Baptista said. "It's bad for the goalkeepers and it's bad for us. It's really bad. The players try to cross it and it goes to the opposite direction they intended it to go." Yes - he really said this.
Iker Casillas also spoke of his surprise after Spain used the ball beating Saudi Arabia at the weekend.
"It's sad that that such an important competition like the World Cup has such an important element like this ball of appalling condition," he said.
The friendly ball
The ball does have some friends though and not just because they are getting paid vast sums of money from adidas. In fact, I can pretty much assure you that if adidas want to send me 10 balls for my local team that I am actively trying to raise money for, then I will happily be completely honest and say nothing but good things about the ball.
Michael Ballack called the ball "fantastic" and Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa had a fairly philosophical view on the ball: "It's round, like always."
Guess what; it is the same issues with this new ball and guess what, it will all be forgotten in a few days after we have all seen the ball move and when the players have gotten used to it.
People are frightened of change and footballers are a sensitive, simple people. "It's very weird," Brazil striker Luis Fabiano said on Sunday.
"All of a sudden it changes trajectory on you. It's like it doesn't want to be kicked. It's incredible, it's like someone is guiding it. You are going to kick it and it moves out of the way. I think it's supernatural, it's very bad. I hope to adapt to it as soon as possible, but it's going to be hard."
But this really shouldn't come as a surprise and it won't to adidas as they usually always release a new ball at the World Cup and adidas usually always hear these complaints and they usually always pass in time. In fact, don't be surprised to hear players complaining again in four years time.
The unfriendly ball
Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar called the ball "terrible" and was the first to compare it to the plastic ones bought at a supermarket. Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini said the same thing, phrasing it as a "disaster."
"It moves so much and makes it difficult to control. You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will move and you miss it," Pazzini said. "It is especially bad for the goalkeepers if it means they concede a goal because they can't judge the trajectory."
"There is no way to hide it," Brazil midfielder Julio Baptista said. "It's bad for the goalkeepers and it's bad for us. It's really bad. The players try to cross it and it goes to the opposite direction they intended it to go." Yes - he really said this.
Iker Casillas also spoke of his surprise after Spain used the ball beating Saudi Arabia at the weekend.
"It's sad that that such an important competition like the World Cup has such an important element like this ball of appalling condition," he said.
The friendly ball
The ball does have some friends though and not just because they are getting paid vast sums of money from adidas. In fact, I can pretty much assure you that if adidas want to send me 10 balls for my local team that I am actively trying to raise money for, then I will happily be completely honest and say nothing but good things about the ball.
Michael Ballack called the ball "fantastic" and Spain defender Alvaro Arbeloa had a fairly philosophical view on the ball: "It's round, like always."
Mexico announce final 23 man squad for 2010 World Cup
Like all squads this one announced by the Mexican Football Federation here will be confirmed on June 4th by FIFA, at which time we will add it to the team page for Mexico, but for now, this is the squad that has been announced and this is the squad we will list.
The focus for Mexico seems to be about scoring goals as they have picked eight strikers to travel to South Africa and only five midfielders and one of those midfielders that appears to be have been sacrificed for gaols is Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos.
The Mexican Football Federation confirmed he wouldn't be going when announcing the squad: "The Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos has been removed from the squad and will not participate at the World Cup."
World Cup 2010 squad for Mexico
Goalkeepers
Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas/USA), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)
Defenders
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona/ESP), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart/GER), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar/NED), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM)
Midfielders
Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)
Strikers
Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray/TUR), Guillermo Franco (West Ham/ENG), Carlos Vela (Arsenal/ENG)
The focus for Mexico seems to be about scoring goals as they have picked eight strikers to travel to South Africa and only five midfielders and one of those midfielders that appears to be have been sacrificed for gaols is Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos.
The Mexican Football Federation confirmed he wouldn't be going when announcing the squad: "The Barcelona player Jonathan dos Santos has been removed from the squad and will not participate at the World Cup."
World Cup 2010 squad for Mexico
Goalkeepers
Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas/USA), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)
Defenders
Rafael Marquez (Barcelona/ESP), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart/GER), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar/NED), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven/NED), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM)
Midfielders
Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Jorge Torres Nilo (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna/ESP)
Strikers
Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray/TUR), Guillermo Franco (West Ham/ENG), Carlos Vela (Arsenal/ENG)
sâmbătă, 29 mai 2010
Denmark release final 23 man squad for 2010 World Cup
Full of hope and optimism, Denmark coach Morten Olsen has named his final 23 man squad for the World Cup in South Africa and looking at the numbers, the emphasis seems to be focused on not conceding rather than scoring. That or the entire nation only has three strikers.
I shouldn't joke, Denmark surprised us all in 1992 when then won the European Championships in Sweden, but that really was a strange tournament. Only seven countries took part and to make up the numbers, UEFA, or a person equally as smart inside some equally as smart football federation, made up a team called the CIS National Football Team, which actually represented the Commonwealth of Independent States.
You think I am making this up, but I'm not. Read more about it here. I remember thinking it was crazy at the time much like I think it is crazy having two linesmen behind the goal in the Europa League but will UEFA listen or give me my behind the goal linesman badge!
Anyway, to Denmark and their squad is announced. They will submit by next Tuesday the final list, which will probably be the list they have below as they only have three more professional football players in the world and they are all injured. Good luck Denmark and may the Norse Gods look down on you favourably. Very favourably.
World Cup 2010 squad for Denmark
Goalkeepers
Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).
Defenders
William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).
Midfielders
Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Strikers
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
Not the real Group of Death
Denmark play in Group E, a group I am calling the group of death if you are Danish, alongside Japan, Netherlands and Cameroon.
I shouldn't joke, Denmark surprised us all in 1992 when then won the European Championships in Sweden, but that really was a strange tournament. Only seven countries took part and to make up the numbers, UEFA, or a person equally as smart inside some equally as smart football federation, made up a team called the CIS National Football Team, which actually represented the Commonwealth of Independent States.
You think I am making this up, but I'm not. Read more about it here. I remember thinking it was crazy at the time much like I think it is crazy having two linesmen behind the goal in the Europa League but will UEFA listen or give me my behind the goal linesman badge!
Anyway, to Denmark and their squad is announced. They will submit by next Tuesday the final list, which will probably be the list they have below as they only have three more professional football players in the world and they are all injured. Good luck Denmark and may the Norse Gods look down on you favourably. Very favourably.
World Cup 2010 squad for Denmark
Goalkeepers
Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).
Defenders
William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).
Midfielders
Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Strikers
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
Not the real Group of Death
Denmark play in Group E, a group I am calling the group of death if you are Danish, alongside Japan, Netherlands and Cameroon.
vineri, 28 mai 2010
Brazil arrive in South Africa and Kaka tweets
Brazil have landed. Cool as you like the players strolled through the airport, jumped on their bus and left for their five star hotel in Randburg. They will be taking it easy today with possibly some light training, but it is business as usual from tomorrow.
With Australia arriving in South Africa last night and tournament favourites landing this morning, excitement in South Africa is increasing and the reality of the World Cup is finally hitting home.
As soon as he arrived Kaka tweeted to his followers that it was an 'amazing atmosphere' in South Africa and it was immediately re-tweeted by hundreds of his followers.
Brazil are in Group G along with Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. They are expected to cruise past the group stage and each of the knock-out stages and into the final. I think Brazil are good but I'm not convinced they will win it this time out.
World Cup 2010 Team Arrival Dates
* 29 May - Denmark
* 30 May - Argentina
* 31 May - USA
* 1 June - Korea DPR
* 3 June - England and Paraguay
* 4 June - Mexico and Chile
* 5 June - France, Korea Republic, Uruguay and Nigeria
* 6 June - Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece and Algeria
* 7 June - Germany, Ghana and Slovenia
* 8 June - Serbia
* 9 June - Cameroon, Italy, Honduras and Slovakia
* 10 June - Ivory Coast and Switzerland
* 11 June - Spain
With Australia arriving in South Africa last night and tournament favourites landing this morning, excitement in South Africa is increasing and the reality of the World Cup is finally hitting home.
As soon as he arrived Kaka tweeted to his followers that it was an 'amazing atmosphere' in South Africa and it was immediately re-tweeted by hundreds of his followers.
Brazil are in Group G along with Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea. They are expected to cruise past the group stage and each of the knock-out stages and into the final. I think Brazil are good but I'm not convinced they will win it this time out.
World Cup 2010 Team Arrival Dates
* 29 May - Denmark
* 30 May - Argentina
* 31 May - USA
* 1 June - Korea DPR
* 3 June - England and Paraguay
* 4 June - Mexico and Chile
* 5 June - France, Korea Republic, Uruguay and Nigeria
* 6 June - Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, New Zealand, Greece and Algeria
* 7 June - Germany, Ghana and Slovenia
* 8 June - Serbia
* 9 June - Cameroon, Italy, Honduras and Slovakia
* 10 June - Ivory Coast and Switzerland
* 11 June - Spain
Switzerland call up Albert Bunjaku to World Cup squad
Sad news if your name happens to be Marco Streller and you play for Basle as that thigh muscle injury you have is going to rule you out of the World Cup in South Africa starting in two weeks.
If you want our advice; jump on a plane and spend a month in South Africa watching the football anyway. You know you'll love it.
However, if your name happens to be Albert Bunjaku and you play for Bundesliga side Nuremberg, turn your phone on as coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is trying to contact you to tell you to get back off holiday as you're wanted in South Africa for the World Cup.
It isn't the nicest way to learn you are playing; because someone else is injured, but it is an opportunity for the 26 year old, who has a few days to spend with his team mates before heading out to South Africa on June 10th.
Switzerland are in Group H with Honduras, Spain and Chile. They will fancy they have a chance of going through to the next stage. If lady luck is on their side, I think they might too.
If you want our advice; jump on a plane and spend a month in South Africa watching the football anyway. You know you'll love it.
However, if your name happens to be Albert Bunjaku and you play for Bundesliga side Nuremberg, turn your phone on as coach Ottmar Hitzfeld is trying to contact you to tell you to get back off holiday as you're wanted in South Africa for the World Cup.
It isn't the nicest way to learn you are playing; because someone else is injured, but it is an opportunity for the 26 year old, who has a few days to spend with his team mates before heading out to South Africa on June 10th.
Switzerland are in Group H with Honduras, Spain and Chile. They will fancy they have a chance of going through to the next stage. If lady luck is on their side, I think they might too.
Cheslea star to miss World Cup after failing to recover from injury
Bad news we are afraid if you were hoping Ghana were going to make it through Group D. They really were going to need to be at their best to beat Germany, Australia and Serbia and the news today is that influential Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to recover from a knee injury.
The player hasn't played many games for Chelsea the last couple of seasons but Ghana officials had hoped he would be able to make the World Cup.
However, Chelsea medical staff have confirmed today via a statement on the national team's official website that the player would not be fully recovered until the end of July.
In an emotional meeting, Essien visited the squad at their training camp in Paris today to pass on the news and wish the team luck.
Randy Abbey told www.ghanafa.org: "At the meeting, Michael Essien reiterated his commitment to the Black Stars and explained how he wished to have been part of the team preparing for the World Cup.
"It was an emotional moment for him as he made his way upstairs to see his colleagues. He visited every member of the squad in their rooms and wished them well. Essien was close to tears.
"After meeting up with his teammates, he made his way out of the camp as he would be heading back to London to continue with his rehabilitation."
The player hasn't played many games for Chelsea the last couple of seasons but Ghana officials had hoped he would be able to make the World Cup.
However, Chelsea medical staff have confirmed today via a statement on the national team's official website that the player would not be fully recovered until the end of July.
In an emotional meeting, Essien visited the squad at their training camp in Paris today to pass on the news and wish the team luck.
Randy Abbey told www.ghanafa.org: "At the meeting, Michael Essien reiterated his commitment to the Black Stars and explained how he wished to have been part of the team preparing for the World Cup.
"It was an emotional moment for him as he made his way upstairs to see his colleagues. He visited every member of the squad in their rooms and wished them well. Essien was close to tears.
"After meeting up with his teammates, he made his way out of the camp as he would be heading back to London to continue with his rehabilitation."
South Africa beat Columbia. Can they win the World Cup?
There is a huge advantage to playing at home and South African supporters might be getting a little excited as a 2-1 victory over Columbia last night saw them go 10 games unbeaten, right before they kick off the most important month in South African football history. Could the fairy tale World Cup really have a fairy tale ending?
One thing is for sure; anything is possible in football and the unexpected usually happens. Look at the likes of Birmingham City surviving in the Premier League or Liverpool finishing 7th - nobody predicted these things could happen, but they did.
And having the World Cup on home soil with home support and home comforts, it is possible that South Africa will surprise a few. England beat Mexico the other night so South African supporters will know they can win that match and South Africa also looked very good against Bulgaria recently, so they will know their football is getting better.
But the match last night was a true test and South Africa showed the world that they are ready. In front of a home crowd at Soccer City the football was controlled and the the match played itself out pretty much exactly how they wanted. If they can do this for the first three matches of the World Cup; who knows what is possible.
"This was an important friendly against a very good side with experience and ten players in Europe," said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
"They gave us a tough time but I'm proud - we fought, got a result and controlled the game at times."
South Africa have two warm up games left; Guatemala in Polokwane on Monday and Denmark in Atteridgeville on June 5th.
One thing is for sure; anything is possible in football and the unexpected usually happens. Look at the likes of Birmingham City surviving in the Premier League or Liverpool finishing 7th - nobody predicted these things could happen, but they did.
And having the World Cup on home soil with home support and home comforts, it is possible that South Africa will surprise a few. England beat Mexico the other night so South African supporters will know they can win that match and South Africa also looked very good against Bulgaria recently, so they will know their football is getting better.
But the match last night was a true test and South Africa showed the world that they are ready. In front of a home crowd at Soccer City the football was controlled and the the match played itself out pretty much exactly how they wanted. If they can do this for the first three matches of the World Cup; who knows what is possible.
"This was an important friendly against a very good side with experience and ten players in Europe," said coach Carlos Alberto Parreira.
"They gave us a tough time but I'm proud - we fought, got a result and controlled the game at times."
South Africa have two warm up games left; Guatemala in Polokwane on Monday and Denmark in Atteridgeville on June 5th.
Cape Town, are you ready for the 2010 World Cup?
I've spent time in cities all over the world. New York, LA, London, Paris, Buenos Aires and Tokyo are just a few that I often think about and I love them all. But the one I think about more than any other is Cape Town.
Cape Town, for me anyway, has it all. The video below will give you just a glimpse of what I miss about Cape Town, but if you wanted to know if Cape Town was ready to host a World Cup, this video will answer it for you. Right at the end you see the stadium and they have played games in it. Cape Town is ready.
Forget all those cities above; New York for always having something to do, Paris for the food, LA for the sun, Tokyo for the hustle and bustle and new experiences. Go visit South Africa and visit every corner of the country, but if you were still unsure where to spend the majority of your time, make it Cape Town, it really does have it all and it really is the most fantastic city in the World.
Go eat the best thick crust pizza in the world at a St Elmo's. Go have a glass of some of the best wine in the world, looking out at either the Atlantic or Indian ocean at one of a thousand little bars or restaurants along the coast.
Go for a stunning walk in one of the most beautiful gardens in the world or eat some of the best food at any number of great restaurants in or around Cape Town and leave feeling guilty because it was the cheapest best meal you have ever had and because you made a friend at the same time.
Don't just take my word for it though. If you are going to Cape Town, it will happen to you and if like me, you long for Cape Town, you already know and maybe you think I shouldn't be telling the world.
Are you ready for Cape Town?
Cape Town, for me anyway, has it all. The video below will give you just a glimpse of what I miss about Cape Town, but if you wanted to know if Cape Town was ready to host a World Cup, this video will answer it for you. Right at the end you see the stadium and they have played games in it. Cape Town is ready.
Forget all those cities above; New York for always having something to do, Paris for the food, LA for the sun, Tokyo for the hustle and bustle and new experiences. Go visit South Africa and visit every corner of the country, but if you were still unsure where to spend the majority of your time, make it Cape Town, it really does have it all and it really is the most fantastic city in the World.
Go eat the best thick crust pizza in the world at a St Elmo's. Go have a glass of some of the best wine in the world, looking out at either the Atlantic or Indian ocean at one of a thousand little bars or restaurants along the coast.
Go for a stunning walk in one of the most beautiful gardens in the world or eat some of the best food at any number of great restaurants in or around Cape Town and leave feeling guilty because it was the cheapest best meal you have ever had and because you made a friend at the same time.
Don't just take my word for it though. If you are going to Cape Town, it will happen to you and if like me, you long for Cape Town, you already know and maybe you think I shouldn't be telling the world.
Are you ready for Cape Town?
Denmark release final 23 man squad for 2010 World Cup
Full of hope and optimism, Denmark coach Morten Olsen has named his final 23 man squad for the World Cup in South Africa and looking at the numbers, the emphasis seems to be focused on not conceding rather than scoring. That or the entire nation only has three strikers.
I shouldn't joke, Denmark surprised us all in 1992 when then won the European Championships in Sweden, but that really was a strange tournament. Only seven countries took part and to make up the numbers, UEFA, or someone equally as smart person inside some equally as smart football federation, made up a team called the CIS National Football Team which represented the Commonwealth of Independent States.
You think I am making this up, but I'm not. Read more about it here. I remember thinking it was crazy at the time much like I think it is crazy having two linesmen behind the goal in the Europa League but will UEFA listen or give me my behind the goal linesman badge!
Anyway, to Denmark and their squad is announced. They will submit by next Tuesday the final list, which will probably be the list they have below as they only have three more professional football players in the world and they are all injured. Good luck Denmark and may the Norse Gods look down on you favourably. Very favourably.
World Cup 2010 squad for Denmark
Goalkeepers
Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).
Defenders
William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).
Midfielders
Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Strikers
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
Not the real Group of Death
Denmark play in Group E, a group I am calling the group of death if you are Danish, alongside Japan, Netherlands and Cameroon.
I shouldn't joke, Denmark surprised us all in 1992 when then won the European Championships in Sweden, but that really was a strange tournament. Only seven countries took part and to make up the numbers, UEFA, or someone equally as smart person inside some equally as smart football federation, made up a team called the CIS National Football Team which represented the Commonwealth of Independent States.
You think I am making this up, but I'm not. Read more about it here. I remember thinking it was crazy at the time much like I think it is crazy having two linesmen behind the goal in the Europa League but will UEFA listen or give me my behind the goal linesman badge!
Anyway, to Denmark and their squad is announced. They will submit by next Tuesday the final list, which will probably be the list they have below as they only have three more professional football players in the world and they are all injured. Good luck Denmark and may the Norse Gods look down on you favourably. Very favourably.
World Cup 2010 squad for Denmark
Goalkeepers
Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen).
Defenders
William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar).
Midfielders
Martin Jorgensen (AGF Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax Amsterdam), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax Amsterdam), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jepser Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen).
Strikers
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (MSV Duisburg), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal).
Not the real Group of Death
Denmark play in Group E, a group I am calling the group of death if you are Danish, alongside Japan, Netherlands and Cameroon.
Abonați-vă la:
Comentarii (Atom)