By AVI CREDITOR

Algeria has released its 25-man preliminary World Cup roster, with Lorient midfielder Yazid Mansouri handed the captaincy for this summer's tournament.

One of the U.S. men's national team's opponents in group play, Algeria has friendlies with Ireland and the United Arab Emirates lined up before the World Cup begins.

Here is manager Rabah Saadane's roster:

GOALKEEPERS: Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Fawzi Chaouchi (ES Setif), Mohamed Liamine Zemamouche (MC Alger), M'bohi Rais Ouhed (Slava Sofia)

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

MIDFIELDERS: Hassen Yebda (Portsmouth), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux), Djamel Abdoun (Nantes), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes), Mourad Meghni (Lazio), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg), Karim Matmour (Moenchengladbach)

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

Here are a few other soccer stories to get you through the morning:

REDKNAPP CALLS OUT CITY'S TRANSFER TACTICS

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has fueled the intensity heading into Wednesday's critical Premier League match against Manchester City by calling out his opposition for transfer maneuvers made back in January, 2009.

Redknapp asserted that City threatened him when he attempted to acquire Craig Bellamy from West Ham. The Manchester side allegedly claimed that it would out-bid Spurs for another player it had no interest in, Wilson Palacios, if Tottenham didn't back off from Bellamy.

As a response to Redknapp's claims, Manchester City is considering legal action.

Bellamy ended up at City, and Palacios went to Tottenham, and the two will share the pitch at Eastlands on Wednesday with fourth place in the league on the line (2:55 p.m. ESPN2).  

CHAMAKH MOVING TO ARSENAL

The long-rumored move of Marouane Chamakh to Arsenal will be completed this summer, according to a report in the French publication L'Equipe.

Chamakh's contract with Bordeaux expires at the end of the Ligue 1 season, and he will change sides on a free transfer. The player told L'Equipe that he will be joining the Gunners even though two other Premier League squads, Liverpool and Tottenham, were also vying for his services.

CANNAVARO RETIRING AFTER WORLD CUP

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, 36, says that he will retire from international play at the conclusion of the World Cup.

Cannavaro is Italy's all-time leader in caps (132), and the centerback was a vital part of the Azzurri's triumph at the 2006 World Cup. He was also named FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006.

CELTIC'S LENNON TO LEARN FATE

Neil Lennon, who took over as manager for Celtic in March, will find out if he will remain with the team within 10 days. Lennon, who stepped in for Tony Mowbray, guided Celtic to a win over rival Rangers on Tuesday, and the club will finish second in the Scottish Premier League standings.

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What are your impressions of Algeria's roster? Think Manchester City would resort to shady tactics in the transfer market? Do you think Chamakh makes Arsenal a title contender next season? Who do you think should be Italy's next captain?

Share your thoughts below.