2010 World Cup Squads - Who Is Going To South Africa!

 

Below is a list of the 32 teams and their final 23-man squads for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals in South Africa

South Africa

Goalkeepers: Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United)

Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth), Anele Ngcongoa (Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham), Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar (Everton), MacBeth Sibaya (FC Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs)

Forwards: Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente)

Mexico

Goalkeepers: Memo Ochoa (America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Chivas), Oscar Perez (Chiapas)

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (VFB Stuttgart), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmmar), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), 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)

Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara), Giovani dos Santos (Galatasaray), Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Carlos Vela (Arsenal)

Uruguay

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan-Guillermo Castillo (Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting)    Defenders: Diego Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo Colo), Jorge Fucile (FC Porto), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)                                                                                                                                    Midfielders: Walter Gargano (Napoli), Egidio Arevalo-Rios (Penarol), Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Diego Perez (AS Monaco), Alvaro Pereira (FC Porto), Alvaro Fernandez (Universidad de Chile), Ignacio Gonzalez (Valencia), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax)                                                                                 Strikers: Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield), Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo)

France

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

Defenders: Bakary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Marc Planus (Girondins Bordeaux), Gael Clichy(Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon)

Midfielders: Alou Diarra (Bordeaux), Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff (Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse), Sidney Govou (Lyon), Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Mathieu Valbuena (Marseille)

Argentina

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)

Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), 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 (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona)

Nigeria

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele Aiyenugba (Hapoel Bnei Yehuda), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva)

Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille), Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Daniel Shittu (Bolton Wanderers), Ayodele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Red Bull Salzburg)

Midfielders: Chinedu Obasi (1899 Hoffenheim), John Utaka (Portsmouth), Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John Mikel Obi (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Haruna Lukman (AS Monaco), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev), Osaze Odemwingie (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Strikers: Yakubu (Everton), Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (VFL Wolfsburg), Victor Obinna (Malaga)

South Korea

Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam)

Defenders: 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), Kang Min-Soo (Suwon)

Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United)

Forwards: Park Chu-Young (AS Monaco), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian Shide), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk)

Greece

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 (Olympiakos), Vasilis Torosidis (Olympiakos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios Malezas (PAOK Salonika)

Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos), Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos), Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia Nicosia), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika)

Forwards: Angelos Charisteas (Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos (Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras (Celtic)

England

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)

Defenders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)

Forwards: Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

USA

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jonathan Spector (West Ham)

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (unattached), Michael Bradley (Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla)

 Algeria

Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), Rais M Bolhi (Slavia Sofia)

Defenders: Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Madjid Bougherra (Rangers), Carl Medjani (AJ Ajaccio), Rafik Halliche (Nacional), Anther Yahia (VFL Bochum), Habib Belaid (Boulogne), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce)

Midfielders: Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlene Guedioura (Charleroi), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Karim Ziani (VFL Wolfsburg), Karim Matmour (Moenchengladbach)

Strikers: Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Rafik Saifi (Istres)

Slovenia

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

Defenders: Bojan Jokic (Chievo), Marko Suler (Gent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Elvedin Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Suad Filekovic (Maribor)

Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Inter Milan), Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Brom), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre)

Strikers: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VFL Bochum), Zlatan Ljubijankic (Gent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Tim Matavz (Groningen)

Germany

Goalkeepers: Hans Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (VFB Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Sami Khedira (VFB Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV)

Strikers: Cacau (VFB Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

Australia

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici (Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough)

Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore (Un-attached), Scott Chipperfield (FC Basle), David Carney (FC Twente), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), 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), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull), Dario Vidosic (Nuremberg)

Strikers: Josh Kennedy (Nagoya), Nikita Rukavytsya (FC Twente), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray)

Serbia

Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Sporting Braga), Bojan Isailovic (Zaglebie Lubin), Andjelko Djuricic (Uniao Leiria)

Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan Obradovic (Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio)

Midfielders: Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin), Nenad Milijas (Wolves), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (VFB Stuttgart), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade), Milos Krasic (CSKA Moscow), Zoran Tosic (Manchester United), Milos Ninkovic (Dynamo Kiev), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege)

Strikers: Nikola Zigic (Birmingham City), Marko Pantelic (Ajax), Danko Lazovic (Zenit St. Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina)

Ghana

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingston (Wigan), Daniel Adjei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (FC Basle), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Sunderland), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Isaac Vorsah (1899 Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham), Jonathan Mensah (Granada)

Midfielders: Dede Ayew (Arlese Avignon), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Sulley Muntari (Inter Milan), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Al Sadd), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth)

Strikers: Prince Tagoe (1899 Hoffenheim), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan), Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda)

 Holland

Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht) Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven)                                                                                                                         Midfielders: Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven)                                                                                                                              Strikers: Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg SV), Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

Denmark

Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan Andersen (Brondby), Jesper Christiansen (FC Copenhagen)

Defenders: William Kvist (FC Copenhagen), Simon Kjaer (Palermo), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn), Per Kroldup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtigliga (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 (Groningen), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen), Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen)

Forwards: Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord), Soren Larsen (Toulouse), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)

Japan

Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata)

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama Marinos), Marcus 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 Marinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Red Diamonds), Makoto Hasebe (VFL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble)

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yasuhito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania)

Cameroon

Goalkeepers: Guy Assembe (Valenciennes), Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor)

Defenders: Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Nicolas Nkoulou (AS Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor)

Midfielders: Achille Emana (Real Betis), Enoh Eyong (Ajax), Jean Makoun (Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubacar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Mating (Nuremburg), Stephane Mbia (Marseille), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Achille Webo (Real Mallorca)

Italy

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

Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), 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)

Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)

Paraguay

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

Defenders: Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza (Leon), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Julio Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Antolin Alcaraz (Club Brugge)

Midfielders: Edgar Barreto (Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (Universitaria de Quito), Jonathan Santana (VFL Wolfsburg), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors)

Strikers: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Valdez (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Toluca), Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad)

New Zealand

Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen Moss (Melbourne Victory), Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix)

Defenders: Andy Boyens (NY Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix), Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich), Ivan Vicelich (Auckland City)

Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington), Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Tim Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (Un-attached), Michael McGlinchey (Motherwell), David Mulligan (Un-attached)

Strikers: Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough), Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast United), Chris Wood (West Brom)

Slovakia

Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak (FC Vaslui), Dusan Pernis (Dundee United)

Defenders: Peter Pekarik (VFL Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin Skrtel (Liverpool), Jan Durica (Hannover 96), Radoslav Zabavnik (FSV Mainz), Marek Cech (West Brom), Kornel Salate (Slovan Bratislava)

Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan Kozak (FC Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss (Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Zdeno Strba (Xanthi)

Strikers: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke 04), Robert Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Moscow), Filip Holosko (Besiktas), Stanislav Sestak (VFL Bochum)

 

Brazil

Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma), Gomes (Tottenham)

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Lyon), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica), Thiago Silva (AC Milan)

Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Felipe Melo (Juventus), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka (Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (AS Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VFL Wolfsburg)

Strikers: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VFL Wolfsburg)

 North Korea

Goalkeepers: Kim Myong Gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myong Won (Amrokgang), Ri Myong Guk (Pyongyang City)                                                                                                                                                              Defenders: An Chol Hyok (Rimyongsu), An Yong Hak (Omiya Ardija), Cha Jong Hyok (Amrokgang), Choe Kum Chol (April 25), Hong Yong Jo (FK Rostov), Ji Yun Nam (April 25), Jong Tae Se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Kum Il (April 25)                                                                                                                                            Midfielders: Kim Kyong Il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong Jun (Pyongyang City), Mun In Guk (April 25), Nam Song Chol (April 25), Pak Chol Jin (Amrokgang), Pak Nam Chol (April 25), Pak Nam Chol (Amrokgang), Pak Sung Hyok (Sobaeksu)                                                                                                                                         Strikers: Ri Chol Myong (Pyongyang City), Ri Jun Il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang Chon (April 25), Ri Kwang Hyok (Koynggongop)

Ivory Coast

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah (Asec)

Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka (VFB Stuttgart), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel (Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes), Kolo Toure (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Jean-Jacques Gosso Gosso(AS Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel Kone (Curtea Arges), Gervinho (Lille), Koffi N'Dri Romaric (Sevilla), Cheik Tiote (FC Twente), Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Didier Zokora (Sevilla)

Strikers: Aruna Dindane (Lekhwiya), Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille)

Portugal

Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (FC Porto)

Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (FC Porto), Rolando (FC Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica)

Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), Pepe (Real Madrid), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (FC Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon)

Strikers: Simao (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Nani (Manchester United)

Spain

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), Javier Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia), Xavi (Barcelona)

Strikers: Jesus Navas (Sevilla), Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Barcelona)

Switzerland

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VFL Wolfsburg), Johnny Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys)

Defenders: Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Mario Eggimann (Hannover 96), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria)

Midfielders: Valon Behrami (West Ham), Gokhan Inler (Udinese), Benjamin Huggel (FC Basle), Gelson Fernandes (St. Etienne), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC Basle), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria)

Strikers: Alex Frei (FC Basle), Blaise Nkufo (FC Twente), Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne), Marco Streller (FC Basle)

 Honduras

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia)

Defenders: Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Oscar Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen), Osman Chavez (Platense)

Midfielders: Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham), Hendry Thomas (Wigan), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia)

Strikers: David Suazo (Genoa), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon)

Chile

Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola)                                                                                                                                            Defenders: Pablo Contreras (PAOK Salonika), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina)                                                                                                  Midfielders: Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jean Beausejour (America), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow)                                                                                                     Strikers: Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza)

 

Mike's Miraculous Escape

On Sunday night, a British racing driver literally cheated with death in America’s most famous car battle.  Mike Conway, a former GP2 driver, who resides in Kent, suffered a huge smash on the penultimate lap of the Indianapolis 500 at the Brickyard.

As the video above shows, Conway clipped the back of Brazilian driver, Ryan Hunter-Reay and was launched into the air.  Shockingly, his car ended up catapulting into the catch-fencing on the left-hand side of the track, his car disintegrating into pieces across the road.  The scattered debris saw several spectators dive for cover, some suffering minor injuries, whilst other drivers such as three-time winner Helio Castroneves saw their cars damaged in the smash.  Hunter-Reay was also incredibly lucky to escape any injury, as large pieces of Conway’s car threatened to do some severe damage to his well-being.  This was a chilling reminder of the threats that carbon fibre can do in open-wheel cockpit racing following Felipe Massa’s serious life-threatening shunt in qualifying for last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix and the death of talented F2 racer, Henry Surtees. 

Paramedics were on the scene very quickly, with Conway conscious, but clearly in a lot of pain.  Amazingly, despite the destruction of his car in many small pieces, his only main injury was a broken leg.  The smash is by far, the biggest I have witnessed in IndyCars since the tragic death of Canadian driver Greg Moore at the CART finale in California, 1999.  Other drivers such as Bruno Junqueira, Memo Gidley, Alessandro Zanardi and Kenny Brack have had horrific shunts in recent years, yet walked away with their lives.  This once again highlights the fact of safety in racing events in America and the massive steps that have been taken for these accidents to take place, but prevent the fatal loss of some talented stars.  The work of Professor Sid Watkins and particularly, from the official American racing doctor, Dr. Steve Olvey needs to take a large slice of the credit.  Without their advances in medical technology and the assistance they have given the officials and designers, we would be talking about death in far more cases in American racing.

Conway’s crash overshadowed a historic result in Sunday’s showpiece event, which saw a British 1-2-3.  Following Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button’s McLaren 1-2 at Sunday’s Formula One Turkish Grand Prix, Scot Dario Franchitti, reigning Indy Racing League champion won his second Indianapolis 500 for Chip Ganassi.  Dan Wheldon, from Milton Keynes was 2nd for Panther Racing.  Wheldon was catching Franchitti rapidly before the crash, as Dario had been struggling to get to the finish, due to a fuel conservation problem.  Youngster Alex Lloyd rounded the all-British podium, with Castroneves, chasing a 4^th victory at Indy, winding up a frustrating 9^th, after stalling in the pits during a caution flag interval.

However, this race will be fully remembered for Mike’s Miraculous Escape.  

2010 Turkish Grand Prix - Turkish Delight For McLaren As The Bull Dismantle

A satisfied Lewis Hamilton cashed in on an early Bank Holiday present from Milton Keynes, as he led team-mate Jenson Button home to a McLaren Mercedes 1-2 at today’s Turkish Grand Prix.  The two British drivers took full advantage of Red Bull’s latest and most essential cock-up, to establish a lead in the constructor’s championship.

As in Barcelona and Monte Carlo, Red Bull Racing looked to have the race in the bag, when on Lap 41, their drivers entered suicide mode, is dismantling fashion.  Leading from pole, Australian Mark Webber was leading throughout, but was coming under intense pressure from his team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, with Hamilton and Button keeping an ominous watching brief throughout.  In a brief rain shower, Webber appeared to miss a gear on the backstraight, approaching Turn 12, allowing Vettel alongside and the chance to take the lead.  What happened next was quite unbelievable, as Vettel turned right, caught Webber and the pair collided down the escape road.  Damage to the rear of Vettel’s car, left the German spinning into retirement, whilst Mark was forced in for front wing repairs, gamely battling onto a podium finish, and an extension of his championship lead.  However, team boss Christian Horner must be thinking, what he does now, with the relationship between his two drivers surely well and truly destroyed beyond repair.

So, as in Australia and China, McLaren benefited from Red Bull’s mistakes, with a fair racing battle themselves soon after the ‘Bull’ nightmare.  Button outbraked Hamilton into Turn 12 with ten laps to go and gained the lead.  Hamilton quickly dived back underneath the world champion, slid up the inside into Turn 1, and despite a brushing of tyres, won back his hard-fought advantage, which he kept to the chequered flag.  Although the team had to save critical fuel levels in the closing stages, Hamilton held on to claim his first win since Singapore in September 2009, and pushes him up to 3^rd in the championship standings. 

Michael Schumacher’s rehabilitation in 2010 continued, with a strong run to 4^th place in his Mercedes, equalling his best result of the season.  Though he never looked like challenging the podium runners, Michael’s pace throughout was consistent, and he beat Nico Rosberg again, as the seven-time world champion starts to earn the upper hand in the team.  Rosberg was 5^th, despite tyre concerns, holding off a long race challenge from Robert Kubica, who continued his strong run of points finishes, 6^th in the Renault.

It may have been their 800^th Formula One event this weekend, but it was a miserable party for Ferrari.  Having started a dismal 12^th on the grid, Fernando Alonso could only manage 8^th, in a car that looked evil to drive all event.  He needed a forceful move on Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov to even get him 8^th spot, which left the Russian with a puncture and a cruel drop out of the points, after a fine weekend.  Former three-time winner at the Istanbul Park, Felipe Massa could only muster 7^th place and the Scuderia must be praying for a massive change in fortunes from their new development package in Canada and Valencia, or they face being written out of the championship battle before halfway.  There were more points for the consistent Adrian Sutil, with 9^th and Japan’s finest; Kamur Kobayashi earned Sauber’s first point of a depressing season so far, winding up 10^th.  Team-mate Pedro de la Rosa finished directly behind Kobayashi, marking the team’s first double-car finish of the campaign.

The first golden rule of Grand Prix racing is not to run into your team-mate.  Today, Red Bull cracked under the pressure, and forgot this rule, leaving them red-faced and McLaren celebrating an unexpected bonus as F1 heads back to Montreal in a fortnight’s time, after a one-year sabbatical.  What will happen next in this season of twists and turns remains to be seen….

U2 Out, Gorillaz In At Glastonbury 2010

The organisers of the Glastonbury Festival received a massive blow to their preparations for the 2010 event last Tuesday, when it was announced that Irish rock band, U2 have been forced to pull-out of their headline performance act.  Animated-band the Gorillaz, will step into their shoes for the top billing on Friday 25^th June.

U2’s front singer, charity campaigner Bono has just undergone back surgery for temporary paralysis and consequently, needs to rest for upto two months, meaning performing at Glastonbury was simply never going to happen.  Sixteen tour dates in the US and in Canada – scheduled for July have also been postponed, because of the recovery process.  Bono has admitted his heartbreak, as he was keen to see U2 put on a show for the crowds on opening night.  Behind such classic songs such as ‘Elevation,’ ‘Beautiful Day,’ and ‘Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,’ U2 were due to share the headlining at the 2010 extraganvanza with Stevie Wonder and Muse. 

Glastonbury boss and founder Michael Eavis disappointment at seeing this dent in his line-up was cleared slightly by the quick announcement of the Gorillaz replacing U2 on the Pyramid Stage on June 25^th.  He said this of the announcement:

"This is going to be Gorilllaz's only UK festival appearance, and it'll be a massive audio visual spectacle which will really ignite the Pyramid on the Friday night, with Muse, then Stevie Wonder to follow.
"I'm very excited about Gorillaz's show coming here because they're so open to guests and collaborations. The alchemy of Friday's show is going to be astonishing, a perfect, contemporary way to kick off the 40th anniversary celebrations."

Despite the adequate replacement, there is no doubt that Glastonbury’s preparation for this celebration year has been badly hit.  Everyone wishes Bono a speedy recovery from his prognosis and hope he and U2 will be back touring soon, and the group’s fans will be devastated by this blow.  Let’s hope Gorillaz can step-up to the mark, because they no doubt have big shoes now to fill.   

Skins Movie Is Confirmed - Will It Work Out?

Yesterday saw the new that all fans of E4’s teen-hit drama Skins had been waiting for, official confirmation of the production for Skins: The Movie.  Since the fourth series of the teenage drama concluded in the middle of March, full of sex, drugs and breakdowns, there have been growing rumours that a movie was being planned for the future.  Now, it will finally happen.  Production on the film will be based in the Isle of Man and the traditional home of the show, Bristol and starts this September.  The planned launch date is Summer 2011.

The popularity of Skins is huge, with more than 1.5million tuning into the opening episode of the last series.  The show has made big stars out of Dev Patel, star of Slumdog Millionaire and Nicholas Hoult, both actors as part of the first generation.  Generation two’s cast are already getting starring offers to feature in other primetime shows and movies.  Kaya Scodelario (Effy Stonem) has already brokethrough into the box office, with successful movies, while Luke Pasqualino (Freddie McClair) has already been working on a feature-length which is due for a summer release.  The popular lesbian couple on the show, Emily Fitch and Naomi Campbell, played by gorgeous actresses Kathryn Prescott and Lily Loveless are set to star in new shows over the coming months, whilst Jack O’Connell (James Cook) is rumoured to be cast in BBC’s school drama, Waterloo Road.

It is unclear how many of the former characters will return for the movie, though hints suggest it will be based more around the second generation.  However, there will be parts in the movie for the third generation of Skins.  Already, auditions for Series five and six have taken place, with a new cast to be selected in the summer.  The fifth TV series of Skins will burst onto our screens next January.  The movie is to be made by Company Pictures, the makers of the E4 show.

The transfer to the big screen from a TV show is always a challenge and it remains to be seen whether it can work.  Both Pokémon and Power Rangers failed to complete the transformation successfully, so it remains to be seen whether Skins will buckle the trend.  No doubt it is a gamble, but Jack Thorne, the well-respected scriptwriter and regular writer of Skins and the creator of the show, Bryan Elsley will put their hardest efforts into this ambitious project and give the fans what they want, an unforgettable movie to go alongside the successful TV series.  As an avid fan of the TV series, I personally can’t wait for this to hit the cinemas.  Let’s hope it’s going to be a massive success.