Call it the day before THE day. Today marks the deadline for teams to submit their 30-player provisional World Cup rosters. These are the squads from which 23 players will be chosen on June 1 to represent their countries at next month's World Cup.
The U.S. national team's preliminary roster will be unveiled at 2pm, but we've already had several high-profile nations reveal their squads. We will offer an on-going rundown of the squads as they come out.
Let's get started:
ENGLAND
Fabio Capello called up Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher to England's 30-man squad, luring the versatile defender out of retirement.
Adam Johnson, Joe Cole, Ledley King and Michael Dawson were among the surprise additions to the squad, while injured Gareth Barry was also included. Left out was long-injured midfielder Owen Hargreaves (much to the delight of Canadian soccer fans).
ARGENTINA
Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez lead Argentina's preliminary World Cup squad, which was announced late on Tuesday. Among the more surprising omissions are Lisandro Lopez, Gabriel Milito and Juan Riquelme (no, he's not a surprise, but it's still disappointing he's not going).
BRAZIL
Ronaldinho, Diego, Adriano and Pato were among the players NOT chosen to Brazil's 23-man World Cup squad, which was announced on Tuesday. Head coach Dunga is expected to name seven injury alternates so one of the aforementioned players could still be in the mix.
FRANCE
Karim Benzema and Patrick Viera were the big names left off France's 30-man preliminary roster. Injured defender William Gallas did make the preliminary squad.
ITALY
American-born striker Giuseppe Rossi was named to Italy's 30-man preliminary roster on Tuesday, while Nicola Legrottaglie and Francesco Totti were not.
NETHERLANDS
UEFA Champions League finalists Wesley Snjeider and Arjen Robben were among the big names chosen to the Netherlands' 30-man provisional roster.
SPAIN
Young Barcelona striker Pedro Rodriguez was rewarded for his stellar season by earning a place on Spain's 30-man provisional World Cup roster.
He joins injured compatriots Fernando Torres, Cesc Fabregas and Andres Iniesta on the squad, a squad that includes five goalkeepers.
PORTUGAL
Injured Real Madrid defender Pepe has been included in Portugal's 24-man squad by head coach Carlos Quieroz despite only recently returning to training after being sidelined by a knee injury since December.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and Simao Sabrosa lead a squad that will compete in a brutal that includes Brazil and Ivory Coast.
Portugal had been expected to name its final World Cup roster, but injuries have led Quieroz to include an extra player as he sorts out his final selections.
HONDURAS
Carlos Costly did not make Honduras' 23-man World Cup squad, but Kansas City Wizards defender Roger Espinoza did.
Honduras named its 23-man World Cup squad, along with seven alternates. Costly, who suffered a foot injury recently, was named as an alternate. Young striker Georgie Welcome replaced Costly on the squad.
Also on the team are MLS alumni Amado Guevara and Ramon Nunez.
AUSTRALIA
Injuries were the storyline when Australia named its 30-man provisional roster. Harry Kewell, Mark Bresciano, Vincenzo Grella and Brett Emerton were all named to Pim Verbeek's 30-man roster despite carrying injuries.
GREECE
Injured Panathanaikos star Giorgos Seitaridis was one of Otto Rehhagel's selections to Greece's 30-man provisional roster.
SWITZERLAND
Soon-to-be Seattle Sounders striker Blaise Nkufo and veteran Alexander Frei lead the 30-man Switzerland roster, selected by head coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. Surprisingly not on the squad is winger/forward Johan Vonlanthen (wonder if he regrets passing on his native Colombia).
SOUTH AFRICA
Controversial striker Benni McCarthy was included in South Africa's 30-man provisional roster by head coach Carlos Alberto Parreira. McCarthy has had his share of disagreements with the South African Federation, leaving his inclusion in doubt for some time.
CAMEROON
Tottenham defenders Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Sebastien Bassong followed up their dream club seasons with inclusion in Cameroon's 30-man preliminary World Cup roster.
GHANA
Injured Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien has been selected to Ghana's 30-man provisional World Cup roster. He's joined on the list by veterans Sulley Muntari and Stephen Appiah.
IVORY COAST
The Chelsea forward tandem of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou headline Ivory Coast's 30-man provisional World Cup roster, chosen by manager Sven Goran Erikkson.
NEW ZEALAND
New York Red Bulls defender Andrew Boyens and former D.C. United defender Ryan Nelsen were among the players chosen for New Zealand's 23-man World Cup roster, which was released on Monday.
DENMARK
Injured goalkeeper Tomas Sorenson and little-used defender Patrick Mtiliga were among the 30 players chosen by head coach Morten Olsen for Denmark's 30-man provisional World Cup roster.
JAPAN
Former Celtic legend Shunsuke Nakamura and hot-shot midfielder Keisuke Honda headline Japan's 23-man World Cup roster.
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I will add to this list as the day goes on so be sure to check back in throughout the day.
What do you think of the selections so far? Which snub has surprised you the most? Who's inclusion was the most shocking?
Share your thoughts below.
anybody know what channel the europa league final is on today?
I hope he’s not playing while we still are. He can root for the US like he said he would in that “fluff” article.
Plus, screw ESPN for doing that article. It is something that lets them continue to praise soccer only when they can keep it overseas. Anyone else doing that article is picking a juicy topic. ESPN doing it just pisses me off.
rossi could sit on it
No cambiaso on argentina, but old Man Veron is going. What a disgrace.
This is the modern day “To be or not to be”
I love that Specs feels comfortable playing left back but if he starts at left back and dolo starts at Right back and Boca is in the middle the depth off the bench for right back becomes non existant…… If Specs is playing LB it would be unfair to move him to the other side of the field mid game if dolo got injured…..
That would be a dream come true for us……
Well Said Rory, England has too many Type A personalities to function as a cohesive unit.
the fact that you did not mention cambiasso as a notable exclusion (especially when you named the 3 you do) is pretty ridiculous…
I was thinking the same thing. Apparently Maradona hasn’t called in Cambiasso since he’s taken over. bad blood maybe? Anyways it’s gonna be hard to deny them when they’re lifting the champions league trophy. I was a bit surprised Gago wasn’t called in either. that midfield isn’t exactly intimidating.
most are on ours, then new zealand, honduras. Maybe 9 or 10.
IVES-For Argentina, wouldn’t Zanetti and Cambiasso be noteworthy absentees?
Hey Ives,
This question is for you or anyone on the board who knows. How many MLS players are on a preliminary roster as it stands right now? Not just the USA, but all 32 nations. I’m just curious, Thanks everyone.
Yeah, I would agree but Low picked 2 part timers from Bayern Munich over Kuranyi.
As it applies to the question, English please?
I have been waiting for someone to say that.
3 goalkeepers are FIFA mandated
Well, instead of thinking about him as American, I think of him as a kid from Roselle Park (not Tea-friggin-neck), New Jersey. No matter what you say, or what he did, he’s a kid from Jersey.
And chances are he’ll be starting for Italy in the World Cup if they have any brains.
Not that big a deal against England, they will go Route One on us lots of crosses, lots of shots from distance. Howard and Gooch and Demerit should be able to handle that as long as our midfield holds together. It will come down to basic team defense and how well we do on counters.
Well, if he starts King will have to play at least 3 games in 11 days. I think he did something like that recently but lets see if he can do that again.
Owen Hargreaves
You and Betinho make two. I hope his entire international career is full of disappointment and misery.
I totally agree with that. Frankie was a long shot, but his experience is key and the fact that his work rate is still better than any the other named defenders and even at his advanced age, he is still faster than most, he should have been in the prelim 30, especially over “Boo-Boo Bornstein”
That’s Raymond Domenech’s middle name.
hes been an automatic starter for england for a while
cmon Les Bleus, I’m waiting!
correct:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=1209066/index.html#vieira+benzema+left
how do you take diaby and not nasri???
Crazy
France’s roster please…I hear no Nasri, Benzema, or Viera
By the way, so glad to see Bedoya on the roster!
Doesn’t Franco play for Mexico, making it three?
So the list I was working off of was incorrect.
Ouch.
Look on the bright side: West Ham defenders like Jonathan got a LOT of practice defending the West Ham goal which was under siege all season.
whoa, the people who posted it on here first were wrong!
ahh, misinformation, must rethink everything, lol.
still, davies wasn’t on it.
USSOCCER just posted the real list.
ball boy?
i would’ve preferred actual soccer commentators. Tommy and Robbie!
My 23 from this list
3 GK: Howard, Guzan, Hahneman
8 Def: Boca, Gooch, Demeritt, Spector, Dolo, Bornstein, Pearce, Goodson
9 Mid: Bradley, Edu, Clark, Feilhaber, Dempsey, Donovan, Holden, Beasley, Bedoya
3 Striker: Ching, Buddle, Altidore
I’d bring Bedoya, Feilhaber, Beasley, and Pearce over Torres…not sure if that is right or not, it is debatable for sure. If Pearce can look better than Bornstein, I’d like to see Torres stay in place of Bornstein, especially with the added cover of Beasley as 4th choice left back. I’d post an expected starting line-up, but I am pretty sure even the average fan could pick out the starters in this group.
I would have been happy to see Davies for Buddle, but Buddle has earned it, and obviously Davies wasn’t fit. I’m sure it was not an easy decision for Bradley to make, but I’m sure he made the right one. Thoughts are with Davies at this moment.
Rats. Prelim list I saw had Casey instead of Findley. Don’t like either choice. Was willing to give Davies a chance over either of them.
Point of order? Are links to the U.S. soccer site banned?
I could’ve sworn I saw him. then EJ and Borstein lose out (I hope Pearce can show him up). Guess BB realized he’d eat all the food.
well actually thats been dungas style from the jump, which is why he gets so much heat from brazil’s media, because he doesnt choose “beautiful soccer”. which after looking at who he left off..i kinda agree. would have loved to see if neymar can make an impression on the big stage..eh, maybe in 4 years.
Donovan and Altidoe will be the “mass appeal” jersey choices. I like both of them, but I’d go with Bradley junior.
Right, we can’t win if we don’t score.
I know what you meant, it just read pretty funny…
Bornstein, as much as I dislike him, should stay on the roster. I also think Ching should go because you need experience at the World Cup and he has that. He could at least hold the ball up late in games or something.
Casey, Findley, Rogers, Marshall are a complete waste of time. Sascha was always going to be there…