World Cup qual. - Squads: Maradona turns to Palermo

Eurosport - Tue, 01 Sep 14:45:00 2009

Veterans Martin Palermo and Rolando Schiavi have been added to Argentina's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Paraguay - plus the rest of the squad news.

FOOTBALL 2009 - Martin Palermo of Boca Juniors - 0

ARGENTINA

Striker Martin Palermo, 35, and defender Rolando Schiavi, 36, have been surprisingly called up to Argentina's squad at the last minute for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers at home to Brazil and away to Paraguay.

Estudiantes midfielder Rodrigo Brana was also named as coach Diego Maradona looked for cover due to several injury worries.

Palermo is a cult figure at Boca Juniors, where he is all-time leading scorer, but has played only a handful of internationals and famously missed three penalties during a 3-0 Copa America defeat to Colombia in 1999.

He was last called up for a World Cup qualifier against Chile in November 2000 where he was an unused substitute.

Striker Diego Milito, defender Nicolas Burdisso and midfielders Juan Veron and Sebastian Battaglia are all doubtful for Saturday's clash with arch-rivals Brazil in Rosario.

Argentina visit Paraguay in Asuncion four days later. Maradona's team are precariously placed in fourth place in the 10-team South American qualifying group with 22 points, two ahead of fifth-placed Ecuador, and four matches each to play.

The top four teams qualify directly for South Africa but the fifth team must contest a play-off over two legs against the fourth-placed side from CONCACAF.

Hungary coach Erwin Koeman named the following 23-man squad for the 2010 World Cup group one home fixtures against Sweden on Saturday and against Portugal on September 9.

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ROMANIA

Romanian coach Razvan Lucescu has named the following 23-man squad for their 2010 World Cup group seven qualifiers away to France on Saturday and at home to Austria on September 9:

Goalkeepers: Danut Coman (FC Brasov), Costel Pantilimon (FC Timisoara), Ciprian Tatarusanu (Steaua Bucharest);

Defenders: Cristian Sapunaru (Porto), Vasile Maftei (Unirea Urziceni), Mirel Radoi (Al-Hilal), Dorin Goian (Palermo), Cristian Chivu (Inter Milan), Marius Constantin (Rapid Bucharest), Razvan Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Mihai Nesu (Utrecht)

Midfielders: Bogdan Mara (CFR Cluj), Mihai Roman (FC Brasov), Iulian Apostol (Unirea Urziceni), Paul Codrea (Siena), Tiberiu Ghioane (Dynamo Kiev), Costin Lazar (Rapid Bucharest), Maximilian Nicu (Hertha Berlin), Romeo Surdu (Steaua Bucharest)

Forwards: Ciprian Marica (VfB Stuttgart), Adrian Mutu (Fiorentina), Ionut Mazilu (Arsenal Kiev), Ionel Danciulescu (Dinamo Bucharest).

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HUNGARY

Goalkeepers: Gabor Babos (NEC Nijmegen), Marton Fulop (Sunderland), Gabor Kiraly (1860 Munich), Laszlo Koteles (Racing Genk)

Defenders: Csaba Feher (NAC Breda), Zoltan Szelesy (Debrecen), Roland Juhasz (Anderlecht), Krisztian Timar (Plymouth Argyle), Gabor Gyepes (Cardiff City), Boldizsar Bodor (Roda JC Kerkrade), Miklos Gaal (Amkar Perm)

Midfielders: Szabolcs Huszti (Zenit St Petersburg), Balazs Dzsudzsak (PSV Eindhoven), Peter Halmosi (Hull City), Zoltan Gera (Fulham), Tamas Hajnal (Borussia Dortmund), Krisztian Vadocz (Osasuna), Balazs Toth (Genk), Pal Dardai (Hertha Berlin), Akos Buzsaky (Queens Park Rangers)

Forwards: Sandor Torghelle (Augsburg), Gergely Rudolf (Debrecen), Tamas Priskin (Ipswich Town).

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ITALY

Winger Marco Marchionni returned from a three-year absence when he was named in the Italy squad on Sunday for World Cup qualifiers in Georgia and at home to Bulgaria.

The Fiorentina player, who switched from Juventus during the close season, picked up his last of three caps in a 1-1 draw with Lithaunia in Euro 2008 qualifying in September 2006.

Otherwise coach Marcello Lippi, whose side top Group Eight, has resisted making major changes for the match in Tbilisi next Saturday and the home meeting with Bulgaria in Turin on September 9.

Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has been ruled out of both matches after picking up an ankle injury in AC Milan's 4-0 defeat by Inter Milan on Saturday, while fellow World Cup winner Luca Toni also misses out with a heel injury.

Defender Nicola Legrottaglie returns after being rested for the scoreles friendly draw in Switzerland earlier this month and AS Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is also included despite being suspended for the trip to Georgia.

Young players Federico Marchetti, Claudio Marchisio, Domenico Criscito and Davide Santon have all been retained from the Switzerland game but Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti misses out.

Milan captain Massimo Ambrosini and veteran strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Alessandro Del Piero have again been overlooked while Brazilian-born Juventus striker Amauri is still waiting for an Italian passport.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)

Defenders: Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Internazionale), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Marco Marchionni (Fiorentina), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan)

Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vicenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)

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RUSSIA

Russia captain Andrei Arshavin is out of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein and could miss the clash with Wales four days later after suffering a groin injury.

Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow), Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Vladimir Gabulov (Dynamo Moscow)

Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (CSKA Moscow), Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vasily Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (Chelsea), Denis Kolodin (Dynamo Moscow), Renat Yanbayev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Anyukov (Zenit St Petersburg)

Midfielders: Igor Semshov (Zenit St Petersburg), Konstantin Zyryanov (Zenit St Petersburg), Igor Denisov (Zenit St Petersburg), Sergei Semak (Rubin Kazan), Vladimir Bystrov (Spartak Moscow), Alan Dzagoyev (CSKA Moscow), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexei Rebko (FK Moscow)

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (Arsenal), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Tottenham Hotspur), Pavel Pogrebnyak (Stuttgart), Alexander Kerzhakov (Dynamo Moscow), Alexander Bukharov (Rubin Kazan)

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GREECE

Coach Otto Rehhagel has handed Giorgos Fotakis his first international call-up for next month's World Cup qualifiers away to Switzerland and Moldova.

The 27-year-old PAOK midfielder has been brought in as cover for the injured Giorgos Karagounis, who has been included in the 22-man group but is not expected to be fit until the Moldova match on September 9. They play the Swiss four days earlier.

"I'm delighted to be a part of the national team family and I would like to thank Mr Rehhagel for giving me this opportunity," Fotakis said.

"I will try to help the team with all my abilities in the two crucial games against Switzerland and Moldova. Our target is to take positive results to qualify for the World Cup."

Rehhagel has resisted tinkering further with his squad, with the only key absentees Giourkas Seitaridis, who has yet to find a club since being released from his Atletico Madrid contract in May, and injured Olympiakos defender Vassilis Torosidis.

Greece top European qualifying Group 2 with 13 points, ahead of Switzerland on goal difference after six matches, while Latvia lie third with 10 points.

Goalkeepers: Kostas Chalkias (PAOK), Alexandros Tzorvas (Panathinaikos) Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika).

Defenders: Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia Nicosia), Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiakos Piraeus), Sokratis Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris Kyrgiakos (Liverpool).

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Werder Bremen), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens), Giorgos Fotakis (PAOK), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Vassilis Pliatsikas (Schalke 04).

Forwards: Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Nikos Liberopoulos (Eintracht Frankfurt), Theofanis Gekas (Bayer Leverkusen), Ioannis Amanatidis (Eintracht Frankfurt), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic)

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TURKEY

Turkey coach Fatih Terim named the following 23-man squad for their World Cup European Group Five qualifiers at home to Estonia on Saturday and away to Bosnia on September 9.

Goalkeepers: Volkan Demirel (Fenerbahce), Sinan Bolat (Standard Liege), Serkan Kirintili (Ankaragucu)

Defenders: Gokhan Gonul (Fenerbahce), Sabri Sarioglu (Galatasaray), Gokhan Zan (Galatasaray), Onder Turaci (Fenerbahce), Servet Cetin (Galatasaray), Ibrahim Kas (Besiktas), Hakan Kadir Balta (Galatasaray), Ismail Koybasi (Besiktas)

Midfielders: Hamit Altintop (Bayern Munich), Kazim Kazim (Fenerbahce), Ceyhun Gulselam (Trabzonspor), Mustafa Sarp (Galatasaray), Emre Belozoglu (Fenerbahce), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund), Arda Turan (Galatasaray), Tuncay Sanli (Stoke)

Forwards: Nihat Kahveci (Besiktas), Semih Senturk (Fenerbahce), Sercan Yildirim (Bursaspor), Mevlut Erdinc (PSG)

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PORTUGAL

Goalkeepers: Beto (Porto), Eduardo (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting).

Defenders: Jose Bosingwa (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Jose Castro (Deportivo Coruna), Miguel (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Rolando (Porto).

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea), Duda (Sevilla), Joao Moutinho (Sporting), Maniche (Cologne), Miguel Veloso (Sporting), Raul Meireles (Porto), Tiago (Juventus).

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Liedson (Sporting), Nani (Manchester United), Nuno Gomes (Benfica), Simao Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid).

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NETHERLANDS

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Michel Vorm (Utrecht), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse Arnhem)

Defenders: John Heitinga (Atletico Madrid), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Edson Braafheid (Bayern Munich), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Glenn Loovens (Celtic)

Midfielders: Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid)

Forwards: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Milan), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Eljero Elia (Hamburg)

(Ibrahim Affelay and Andre Ooijer, both of PSV, withdrew injured)

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FRANCE

France coach Raymond Domenech has named a 23-man squad for their 2010 World Cup group seven qualifiers at home to Romania on September 5 and away to Serbia four days later.

Goalkeepers: Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux).

Defenders: Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Julien Escude (Sevilla), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Rod Fanni (Rennes), William Gallas (Arsenal), Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla).

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon).

Forwards: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Loic Remy (Nice), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

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USA

USA coach Bob Bradley named the following squad to face El Salvador at the Rio Tinto Stadium on September 5 and Trinidad & Tobago in Port of Spain four days later.

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hanover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United).

Midfielders: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Conor Casey (Colorado Rapids), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Charlie Davies (Sochaux), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake).

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PERU

Teenager Irven 'Little Jewel' Avila has been called up by Peru for the first time for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela.

The 19-year-old Sport Huancayo striker helped his country reach the quarter-finals of the under-17 World Cup in 2007.

Universitario's Nolberto Solano returns after missing the defeats by Ecuador and Colombia in June and fellow midfielder Roberto Palacios of Sporting Cristal comes back for the first time since 2007.

Germany-based strikers Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan have again been overlooked by coach Jose del Solar.

Peru are at home to Uruguay on September 5 and away to Venezuela four days later.

Strikers Paolo Guerrero and Johan Fano are suspended for the match against Uruguay in Lima.

Peru are bottom of the 10-team South American group with seven points from 14 matches and have lost all chance of reaching next year's finals in South Africa. They last reached the finals in Spain in 1982.

Goalkeepers: Leao Butron (Deportivo San Martin), Raul Fernandez (Universitario)

Defenders: Carlos Zambrano (Schalke), Juan Vargas (Fiorentina), Walter Vilchez (Cienciano), Alberto Rodriguez (Braga), Amilton Prado (Sporting Cristal), Cristian Ramos, Josepmir Ballon (both Deportivo San Martin)

Midfielders: Daniel Chavez (Club Bruges), Juan Carlos La Rosa (Juan Aurich), Paolo de la Haza (Betar Jerusalem), Nolberto Solano, Rainer Torres (both Universitario), Luis Trujillo, Henry Quinteros (both Alianza Lima), Roberto Palacios (Sporting Cristal), Joel Sanchez (Total Chalaco)

Forwards: Johan Fano (Once Caldas), Hernan Rengifo (Lech Poznan), Paolo Guerrero (Hamburg SV), Irven Avila (Sport Huancayo)

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URUGUAY

Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez completed his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers when he added three locally based players.

Tabarez added goalkeeper Martin Silva and midfielder Miguel Amado of Defensor Sporting and midfielder Jorge Rodriguez of Uruguay's River Plate to the 22 foreign-based players he named last week.

Uruguay, sixth in the 10-nation South American group with 18 points and four matches to go, face Peru in Lima on September 5 and Colombia at the Centenario in Montevideo four days later.

Brazil, who have 27 points, lead the way. The top four qualify for the 2010 finals in South Africa and the fifth-placed country goes into a playoff with a team from the CONCACAF region. Also above Uruguay are Chile with 26 points, Paraguay 24, Argentina 22 and Ecuador 20.

Goalkeepers: Juan Castillo (Botafogo), Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)

Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Argentinos Juniors), Carlos Valdez (Reggina), Bruno Silva (Ajax Amsterdam), Jorge Fucile (Porto)

Midfielders: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Alvaro Fernandez (Vitoria Setubal), Sebastian Eguren (Villarreal), Alvaro Pereira, Cristian Rodriguez (both Porto), Jorge Martinez (Catania), Diego Perez (Monaco), Miguel Amado (Defensor Sporting), Jorge Rodriguez (River Plate, Uruguay)

Forwards: Luis Suarez (Ajax), Sebastian Abreu (Aris Salonika), Edinson Cavani (Palermo), Rodrigo Lopez (Velez Sarsfield), Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)

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PARAGUAY

Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz will miss Paraguay's World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Argentina next month because he has not yet recovered from the knee surgery he had in April.

Santa Cruz was not included in a 25-man squad named by coach Gerardo Martino for the home matches in Asuncion against Bolivia on September 5 and Argentina four days later.

Martino will be looking for an improvement in his team after a slump in form caused them to drop from top to third in the South American group and not win any of their four qualifiers so far this year, all of which Santa Cruz missed.

"It's the worst moment we have gone through in the elimination series. We have gone four matches without winning, we've lost the last two and what was a calm run until last November has changed," the Argentine said.

"Now we are really playing the qualifying campaign we had always imagined from the beginning," Martino told a news conference.

Martino added that it was important for Paraguay, who are looking to reach their fourth World Cup in a row, to get a good result against the weaker Bolivians before facing Diego Maradona's Argentina.

This year, Paraguay have lost away to Uruguay and Brazil and at home to Chile, picking up a solitary point in a 1-1 draw in Ecuador.

Paraguay have 24 points with four matches remaining, three points less than leaders Brazil and two behind Chile. Argentina are fourth with 22 points and Bolivia ninth with 12.

The teams finishing in the top four places qualify for next year's finals in South Africa. The fifth-placed nation goes into a playoff with a team from the CONCACAF region.

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Real Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno)

Defenders: Julio Cesar Caceres (Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza (Nacional, Paraguay), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors), Antolin Alcaraz (Club Bruges), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Marcos Caceres (Racing Club, Argentina), Miguel Angel Samudio (Libertad)

Midfielders: Enrique Vera (LDU Quito), Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus)

Forwards: Salvador Cabanas (America, Mexico), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca), Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys)

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ECUADOR

Manchester United's Antonio Valencia and Birmingham City duo Giovanni Espinoza and Cristian Benitez will give Ecuador's World Cup qualifiers squad a Premier League flavour as they look to grab one of the four qualifying spots.

Ecuador are currently fifth in the standings, two points behind Argentina and four behind Paraguy, though Argentina face tough matches against Brazil and Paraguay on September 5 and 9 while the Ecuadoreans' parallel fixtures are against out-of-form Bolivia and Colombia.

Goalkeepers: Jose Cevallos (LDU Quito), Marcelo Elizaga (Emelec), Cristian Mora (El Nacional)

Defenders: Neicer Reasco (LDU), Miguel Ibarra (Espoli), Ivan Hurtado (Deportivo Quito), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Marcelo Fleitas (Emelec), Giovanni Espinoza (Birmingham City), Paul Ambrossi (LDU)

Midfielders: Walter Ayovi (Monterrey), Antonio Valencia (Manchester United), Cristian Noboa (Rubin Kazan), Segundo Castillo (Red Star Belgrade), Edison Mendez (LDU), David Quiroz (Emelec), Fernando Hidalgo (Barcelona, Guayaquil), Jefferson Montero (Villarreal), Cristian Lara (LDU)

Forwards: Joao Rojas (Emelec), Carlos Tenorio (Al Nassr), Cristian Benitez (Birmingham City), Pablo Palacios (Barcelona, Guayaquil)

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COLOMBIA

Colombia coach Eduardo Lara named the following squad for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador in Medellin on August 29 and visit Uruguay four days later.

Goalkeepers: Agustin Julio (Santa Fe), David Ospina (Nice)

Defenders: Luis Perea (Atletico Madrid), Humberto Mendoza (Atletico Nacional), Pablo Armero (Palmeiras), Camilo Zuniga (Napoli), Mario Yepes (Chievo Verona), Ivan Cordoba (Internazionale), Cristian Zapata (Udinese)

Midfielders: Adrian Ramos (America), Jairo Palomino (Atletico Nacional), Fabian Vargas (Almeria), Jhon Viafara (Once Caldas), Freddy Guarin (Porto), Giovanni Hernandez (Atletico Junior), Cristian Marrugo (Deportes Tolima), Vladimir Marin (Toluca), Giovanni Moreno (Atletico Nacional), Juan Pablo Pino (Monaco), Dorlan Pabon (Envigado)

Forwards: Radamel Falcao Garcia (Porto), Teofilo Gutierrez (Atletico Junior), Hugo Rodallega (Wigan Athletic), Jackson Martinez (Independiente Medellin)

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BULGARIA

Croatian-born defender Igor Tomasic was not among 14 foreign-based players named by Bulgaria coach Stanimir Stoilov in his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Italy.

Maccabi Tel Aviv's Tomasic, who ended his retirement from the national team in March, has turned down the chance to join the Bulgarian squad by saying he's not fit enough.

"It's a big honour for me to wear the Bulgaria shirt but I don't want to be a part of the team if I'm not prepared to give a 100 per cent on the field," Tomasic said.

Stoilov will add home-based players to the squad later this week.

Bulgaria, still unbeaten, are third in Group Eight with eight points from six matches. Italy top the standings on 14 points, followed by Ireland with 13 points from seven matches.

Goalkeepers: Dimitar Ivankov (Bursaspor), Nikolay Mihaylov (Twente)

Defenders: Stanislav Manolev (PSV Eindhoven), Iliyan Stoyanov (Sanfreche

Midfielders: Stilian Petrov (Aston Villa), Stanislav Angelov (Energie Cottbus), Dimitar Telkiyski (Amkar Perm), Blagoy Georgiev (Terek Grozny), Chavdar Yankov (Duisburg), Martin Petrov (Manchester City)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Manchester United), Dimitar Rangelov (Borussia Dortmund), Valeri Domovchiyski (Hertha Berlin), Valeri Bojinov (Parma)

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UKRAINE

Ukraine coach Olexiy Mikhailichenko has named the following 22-man squad for the World Cup Group Six qualifiers at home to Andorra on Sept. 5 and away to Belarus on September 9.

Goalkeepers: Andriy Pyatov (Shakhtar Donetsk), Olexandr Shovkovskiy (Dynamo Kiev), Stanislav Bogush (Dynamo Kiev)

Defenders: Vitaliy Mandzyuk (Dynamo Kiev), Andriy Rusol (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Vasil Kobin (Shakhtar Donetsk), Dmytro Chygrynskiy (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleksander Kucher (Shakhtar Donetsk), Vyacheslav Shevchuk (Shakhtar Donetsk), Hryhoriy Yarmash (Vorskla Poltava)

Midfielders: Olexiy Gay (Shakhtar Donetsk), Oleh Gusev (Dynamo Kiev), Andriy Yarmolenko (Dynamo Kiev), Evgen Levchenko (Saturn Ramenskoye), Serhiy Nazarenko (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Ruslan Rotan (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Anatoly Tymoschuk (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Andriy Voronin (Liverpool), Volodymyr Homenyuk (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Artem Milevskiy (Dynamo Kiev), Evgen Seleznev (Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk), Andriy Shevchenko (Chelsea)

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SWITZERLAND

Switzerland manager Ottmar Hitzfeld named the following squad for the World Cup qualifiers at home to Greece on September 5 and away to Latvia four days later.

Goalkeepers: Diego Bengalio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne)

Defenders: Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart), Alain Nef (US Triestina), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne), Benjamin Huggel (Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Marco Streller (Basel), Goklan Inler (Udinese)

Forwards: Alexander Frei (Basel), Johan Vonlanthen (FC Zurich), Blaise Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (Luzern)

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NORWAY

Norway coach Egil Olsen named the following 23-man squad for the World Cup European Group Nine qualifiers against Iceland on September 5 and Macedonia on September 9:

Goalkeepers: Rune Almenning Jarstein (Rosenborg Trondheim), Jon Knudsen (Stabaek), Espen Bugge Pettersen (Sandefjord)

Defenders: Brede Hangeland (Fulham), Tom Hogli (Tromso), Jon Inge Hoiland (Stabaek), Tore Reginiussen (Tromso), John Arne Riise (AS Roma), Knut Olav Rindaroy (Molde), Kjetil Waehler (AaB Aalborg).

Midfielders: Simen Brenne (Odd Grenland), Christian Grindheim (Heerenveen), Henning Hauger (Stabaek), Morten Gamst Pedersen (Blackburn Rovers), Magne Hoseth (Molde), Bjorn Helge Riise (Fulham), Per Ciljan Skjelbred (Rosenborg Trondheim), Fredrik Winsnes (Stromsgodset IF).

Forwards: John Carew (Aston Villa), Steffen Iversen (Rosenborg Trondheim), Thorstein Helstad (Le Mans), Erik Huseklepp (Brann Bergen), Daniel Braaten (Toulouse).

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SWEDEN

Sweden's Zlatan Ibrahimovic will stand in as captain in place of injured fellow striker Henrik Larsson, coach Lars Lagerback said when naming a 22-man squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers.

Sweden, who are fourth in Group One with nine points from six matches, face Hungary in Budapest on September 5 and Malta in Ta'Qali four days later. Denmark are top on 16 points.

Larsson will miss both matches because of a knee injury.

Goalkeepers: John Alvbage (Orebro), Eddie Gustafsson (Salzburg), Andreas Isaksson (PSV Eindhoven)

Defenders: Andreas Granqvist (FC Groningen) Petter Hansson (Stade Rennes), Mikael Lustig (Rosenborg Trondheim), Daniel Majstorovic (AEK Athens), Olof Mellberg (Olimpiacos), Mikael Nilsson (Brondby), Behrang Safari (Basel)

Midfielders: Oscar Wendt (FC Copenhagen), Rasmus Elm (Kalmar), Samuel Holmen (Brondby), Kim Kallstrom (Lyon), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg Boras), Ola Toivonen (PSV Eindhoven), Pontus Wernbloom (AZ Alkmaar)

Forwards: Marcus Berg (Hamburg), Johan Elmander (Bolton Wanderers), Tobias Hysen (IFK Gothenburg), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Barcelona)

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DENMARK

Goalkeepers: Kim Christensen (IFK Gothenburg), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City)

Defenders: Anders Moller Christensen (OB Odense), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), William Kvist Jorgensen (FC Copenhagen)

Midfielders: Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Hjalte Bo Norregaard (FC Copenhagen), Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax)

Forwards: Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen), Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Lasse Schone (NEC Nijmegen), Martin Jorgensen (Fiorentina), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (Toulouse)

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AUSTRIA

Struggling Austria were forced by injuries and suspension to name a depleted squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Faroe Islands and Romania.

Coach Didi Constantini's biggest headache is in defence where Werder Bremen's Sebastian Proedl, Spartak Moscow's Martin Stranzl and Middlesbrough's and Emanuel Pogatetz are all injured.

Captain Paul Scharner was included in the 23-man squad named on Tuesday although the Wigan Athletic player will miss the Faroe Islands match because of suspension.

Goalkeeper Juergen Macho was left out after his performance in the 2-0 friendly defeat at home to Cameroon last month and there was no place for midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz despite his impressive start to the Bundesliga season with Mainz.

Eighteen players were drawn from four local clubs - Rapid Vienna, Austria Vienna, Sturm Graz and Salzburg.

Austria, who last played at the World Cup in 1998, are fourth in European Group Seven, six points behind second-placed France and 11 adrift of leaders Serbia with four matches to play.

They host the Faroe Islands on Sept. 5 and visit fifth-placed Romania four days later.

Goalkeepers: Christian Gratzei (Sturm Graz), Helge Payer (Rapid Vienna), Andreas Schranz (Austria Kaernten)

Defenders: Aleksandar Dragovic (Austria Vienna), Christian Fuchs (VfL Bochum), Gyorgy Garics (Atalanta), Manuel Ortlechner (Austria Vienna), Juergen Patocka (Rapid Vienna), Franz Schiemer (Salzburg), Andreas Ulmer (Salzburg)

Midfielders: Julian Baumgartlinger (Austria Vienna), Daniel Beichler (Sturm Graz), Christopher Drazan (Rapid Vienna), Andreas Hoelzl (Sturm Graz), Jakob Jantscher (Sturm Graz), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg), Yasin Pehlivan (Rapid Vienna), Paul Scharner (Wigan Athletic), Christopher Trimmel (Rapid Vienna)

Forwards: Erwin Hoffer (Napoli), Marc Janko (Salzburg), Stefan Maierhofer (Rapid Vienna), Rubin Okotie (Austria Vienna)

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EGYPT

Egypt coach Hassan Shehata named the following 23-man squad for the World Cup African group C qualifier away to Rwanda on September 5:

Goalkeepers: Essam Al Hadari (Ismaili), Mahmoud Abu Al Seoud Zaki (Al Mansoura), Al Hani Soliman (Ittihad Alexandria).

Defenders: Hani Said (Zamalek), Mahmoud Fathallah (Zamalek), Wael Gomaa (Al Ahli), Ahmed Said (Haras Hodoud), Ahmed Al Muhammadi (ENPPI), Sayed Moawad (Al Ahli), Ahmed Fathi (Al Ahli), Ahmed Kamal (Haras Hodoud).

Midfielders: Mohamed Shawky (Middlesbrough), Hosni Abd Rabu (Al Ahli Dubai), Mohamed Shaaban (Petrojet), Abdelziz Tawfik (ENPPI), Ahmed Hassan (Al Ahli), Mohamed Aboutrika (Al Ahli), Ahmed Eid (Haras Hodoud), Mohamed Barakat (Al Ahli).

Forwards: Ahmed Abdoul Raouf (ENPPI), Sayed Hamdi (Petrojet) Ahmed Salama (Haras Hodoud), Mohamed Al Gabas (Lierse).

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SOUTH KOREA

South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo has sidestepped a showdown with local K-League sides by naming a squad of foreign exiles for their friendly against Australia next month in Seoul.

A club v country row had been brewing since the Korean Football Association arranged the September 5 friendly against fellow 2010 World Cup qualifiers Australia.

The K-League has fixtures scheduled for the following day and refused to release its players to the national side.

The crisis was averted, however, when the KFA announced Huh's 15-man squad of foreign exiles, while the K-League also compromised by agreeing to release some players on the understanding the coach uses as few as possible.

Several members of the squad that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals on home soil returned after a long absence including Ahn Jung-hwan, Kim Nam-il and Cha Du-ri, according the Asian Football Confederation website.

Players based in Europe featured heavily in the squad including Manchester United's Park Ji-sung, Wigan's Cho Won-hee, Seol Ki-hyeon of Fulham and Bolton's new signing Lee Chung-yong.

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NIGERIA

Nigeria have added Portsmouth winger John Utaka to their squad for next month's crucial World Cup qualifier against Tunisia.

Utaka is a late inclusion by coach Shaibu Amodu, who kept open two places in a 23-man squad announced last week for the match in Abuja on September 6.

Amodu has also belatedly brought in Swiss-based defender Obinna Nwaneri, preferring him to Fulham's Dickson Etuhu.

Amodu has also dropped Bolton Wanderers centre back Danny Shittu and striker Obafemi Martins, who recently moved to German champions Wolfsburg.

Nigeria will go top of Africa's Group B standings if they beat Tunisia. The two sides drew 0-0 in Tunisia in their last qualifier in June.

Goalkeepers: Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei Yehuda, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel)

Defenders: Olubayo Adefemi (Boulogne-sur-Mer, France), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Netherlands), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Elderson Echiejile (Stade Rennes, France), Yusuf Mohammed, Obinna Nwaneri (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England)

Midfielders: Olufemi Ajilore (FC Groningen, Netherlands), Sani Kaita (Kuban Krasnodar, Russia), John Obi Mikel (Chelsea, England), Seyi Olofinjana (Hull City, England), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain), John Utaka (Portsmouth, England)

Forwards: Michael Eneramo (Esperance, Tunisia), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Obinna Nsofor (Internazionale, Italy), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany), Peter Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia)

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ALGERIA

Algeria coach Rabeh Saadane named the following 25-man squad for the World Cup African group C qualifier against Zambia on September 6:

Goalkeepers: Nassim Ousserir (Chabab Belouizdad), Lounes Gaouaoui (USM Annaba), Fawzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif).

Defenders: Slimane Raho (Entente Setif), Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Anthar Yahia (VfL Bochum), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Rafik Halliche (Nacional Madeira), Rabie Meftah (JS Kabylie), Samir Zaoui (ASO Chelf), Reda Babouche (MC Algiers).

Midfielders: Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Cherif Abdeslam (USM Annaba), Yacine Bezzaz (Strasbourg), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Khaled Lemmouchia (Entente Setif), Hocine Achiou (USM Algiers), Mourad Meghni (Lazio).

Forwards: Kamel Ghilas (Hull City), Rafik Saifi (Al Khor), Karim Matmour (Borussia Monchengladbach), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Hameur Bouazza (Sivasspor).

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BOLIVIA

Coach Erwin Sanchez has dropped captain Ronald Raldes of Mexican club Cruz Azul from his squad for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Ecuador.

Defender Raldes is one of several senior players left out after a 1-0 home loss to Venezuela and a 4-0 defeat away to Chile in June left Bolivia with virtually no chance of a place at the 2010 finals in South Africa.

Bolivia, who visit Paraguay in Asuncion on September 5 and host Ecuador four days later in La Paz, are one from bottom of the 10-nation South American group with four matches to go.

The top four qualify for the finals while the fifth-placed team goes into a playoff with a team from the CONCACAF region. Bolivia, with 12 points, are eight adrift of Ecuador, the team currently in fifth.

Goalkeepers: Hugo Suarez (Wilstermann), Carlos Lampe (Universitario)

Defenders: Enrique Parada (San Jose), Luis Gatty Ribeiro, Edemir Rodriguez (both Real Potosi), Limbert Mendez (Aurora), Ronald Rivero (Universitario), Luis Gutierrez (Oriente Petrolero), Juan Carlos Sanchez (Blooming), Abdon Reyes (Bolivar)

Midfielders: Edgar Olivares (Wilstermann), Alejandro Gomez (Blooming), Walter Flores (Bolivar), Helmut Gutierrez (La Paz FC), Ronald Garcia (Aris Salonica), Pablo Escobar (Santo Andre), Julio Cesar Hurtado (Aurora), Joselito Vaca (Oriente Petrolero), Daner Pachi (LDU Portoviejo), Limberg Gutierrez (The Strongest)

Forwards: Marcelo Martins (Werder Bremen), Ricardo Pedriel (Giresunspor), Diego Cabrera (Oriente Petrolero), Gerardo Yecerotte (Real Potosi)

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SLOVENIA

Slovenia's 21-man squad for the friendly away to England on September 5 and the 2010 World Cup group three qualifier at home to Poland four days later.

Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam).

Defenders: Miso Brecko (Cologne), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Branko Ilic (Real Betis), Bojan Jokic (Sochaux), Matej Rozic Mavric (Koblenz), Marko Suler (Gent).

Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Robert Koren (West Bromwich Albion), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Tom Tomsk), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Anton Zlogar (Omonia Nicosia).

Forwards: Valter Birsa (Auxerre), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Gent), Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Nejc Pecnik (CD Nacional).

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SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa coach Joel Santana named the following 24-man squad for friendly international away to Germany on September 5 and away to Ireland three days later.

Goalkeepers: Brian Baloyi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld), Shu-Aib Walters (Bloemfontein Celtic)

Defenders: Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos), Anele Ngongca (Genk), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Benson Mhlongo (Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Siyabonga Nkosi (SuperSport United), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn Rovers)

Forwards: Richard Henyekane (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Mabhuti Khenyeza (Mamelodi Sundowns), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bernard Parker (Twente Enschede).

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CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Republic coach Ivan Hasek named the following 21-man squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers away to Slovakia on September 5 and at home to San Marino four days later.

Goalkeepers: Petr Cech (Chelsea), Jaroslav Drobny (Hertha Berlin)

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Juventus), Roman Hubnik (Sparta Prague), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow), Michal Kadlec (Bayern Leverkusen), Zdenek Pospech (FC Copenhagen), David Rozehnal (Hamburg), Tomas Sivok (Besiktas) Midfielders: Tomas Huebschman (Shakhtar Donestk), David Jarolim (Hamburg), Jaroslav Plasil (Bordeaux), Jan Polak (Anderlecht), Daniel Pudil (Racing Genk), Tomas Rosicky (Arsenal)

Forwards: Milan Baros (Galatasaray), Jan Koller (KS Samara), Tomas Necid (CSKA Moscow), Vaclav Sverkos (Sochaux), Jiri Stajner (Hannover 96)

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IVORY COAST

Ivory Coast coach Vahid Halilhodzic named the following 24-man squad for the World Cup qualifier at home to Burkina Faso on September 5

Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Ibrahim Kone (Boulogne-sur-Mer)

Defenders: Benjamin Brou Angoua (Honved), Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart), Guy Demel (Hamburg), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Igor Lolo (Monaco), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich Albion), Kolo Toure (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nice), Kouamatien Kone (International Curtea-de-Arges), Christian Koffi N'dri (Seville), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Didier Zokora (Seville)

Forwards: Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Bakary Kone (Marseille), Boubacar Sanogo (St Etienne), Sekou Cisse (Feyenoord)

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SERBIA

Serbia coach Radomir Antic named on Friday the following 23-man squad for their World Cup group seven qualifier at home to France on September 9.

Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting), Vladimir Disljenkovic (Metalurg Donetsk), Zeljko Brkic (Vojvodina Novi Sad).

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (Munich 1860), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivica Dragutinovic (Sevilla), Ivan Obradovic (Real Zaragozza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio).

Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Internazionale), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Fiorentina), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev).

Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege), Danko Lazovic (PSV Eindhoven), Marko Milinkovic (Kosice).

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ESTONIA

Tarmo Ruutli named the following squad for their World Cup Group 5 qualifiers away to Turkey on September 5 and away to Spain four days later:

Goalkeepers: Pavel Londak (Bodo Glimt), Sergei Pareiko (Tom Tomsk), Mihkel Aksalu (Flora Tallinn)

Defenders: Alo Barengrub (Bodo Glimt), Anar Jaager (Ascoli), Ragnar Klavan (AZ Alkmaar), Dmitri Kruglov (Neftshi Baku), Raio Piiroja (Fredrikstad), Taavi Rahn (Neftshi Baku), Tihhon Sisov (Levadia Tallinn)

Midfielders: Aleksandr Dmitrijev (Honefoss), Tarmo Kink (Gyor ETO), Joel Lindpere (Tromso), Sander Puri (Levadia Tallinn), Konstantin Vassiljev (Nafta Lendava), Martin Vunk (Flora Tallinn)

Forwards: Andres Oper (Shanghai Shenhua), Ats Purje (Inter Turku), Sergei Zenjov (Karpaty Lviv), Vladimir Voskoboinikov (Luch-Energiya Vladivostok).

Reuters

Comment 1 - 9 of 9

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  1. um wilaon, wingers are essentially forwards in every­ game in the world, be it in real-life or on a­ gamesconsole or internet game

    From seabass, on Thu 3 Sep 9:17AM
  2. Trivia Bonus Question..

    Is Carlo Ancelotti,Harry­­ Redknapp,Martin­­ O'Neil,David Moyes & damn it­­ even Gianfranco­­ Zola a better manager than that Fat­­ Spanish­­­ P***K??..i would say YES!!!...
    he is­ rather­­ S***E!!!!!!...

    From Giggs11,A True Red Legend,Arise, on Mon 31 Aug 3:23AM
  3. PS Yahoo put the team shields across the top of every­ page. It'll save us some time.

    From Ronaldo in ten years time, on Fri 28 Aug 4:14AM
  4. I thought we wouldn't have to comment on this Yahoo­ nonsense, but now after all that scrolling, I might as­ well.

    From Ronaldo in ten years time, on Fri 28 Aug 4:12AM
  5. C'MON PORTUGAL!!
    WE NEED TO WIN THESE 2 MATCHES

    From Vítor, on Thu 27 Aug 2:27PM
  6. i find it rather odd that you guys listing bortugal,­ swedden, denmark, ukrain, but not a single word of­ hungary, whom actually sitting second in their group!­ for crying out loud!!

    From joe, on Thu 27 Aug 9:39AM
  7. It's funny that of Portugal's­ "forwards" Nani, Ronaldo and Simao are all­ wingers

    From pkw.wilson, on Thu 27 Aug 8:39AM
  8. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    tackle that S.O.B Nani.. make him injured!!

    From Angelos, on Thu 27 Aug 7:24AM
  9. i can't believe and the stupid headlines which­ comes at yahoo. of course they will meet you stupid ...­ they are good players.....get some real news please

    From kevin, on Thu 27 Aug 1:59AM
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