2010 FIFA World Cup: Argentina Name Provisional 30 Man Squad

Argentina - Inter Milan pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso will not feature at the 2010 FIFA World Cup after they were left out of coach Diego Maradona's provisional 30-man squad on Wednesday.

There is no surprise in some of the big name inclusions, however, as Lionel Messi of Barcelona, and Carlos Tevez of Manchester City are among those European based players who'll be on the plane to South Africa.

Diego Maradona has selected a squad with its weight forwards, though, as he named 7 centre forwards in this provisional lineup.

Argentina have until 1 June to name their final 23 man squad for the tournament, in which they face Greece, Nigeria and South Korea in the tricky Group B.

Argentina 30 man squad:

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 (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell’s Old Boys), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Jesus Datolo (Olympiacos), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), 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), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).

FIFA World Cup 2010: Brazil Coach Dunga Justifies Final Squad

Brazil national team coach Dunga announced the 23 players squad that will defend the colors of Brazil in their search for title in the 2010 FIFA World. The announcement was made in a press conference in Rio de Janeiro ,Brazil in a room full of journalists from all types of media outlets who were hoping for surprises that didn't appear.

The 2010 Team

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

Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan), Dani Alves (Barcelona), Gilberto (Cruzeiro), Michel Bastos (Lyon) Lucio (Inter Milan), Luisão (Benfica), Juan (Roma), Thiago Silva (Milan)

Midfielders: Felipe Melo (Juventus), Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos), Josué (Wolfsburg), Kaká (Real Madrid), Kleberson (Flamengo), Elano (Galatassaray), Ramires (Benfica), Julio Baptista (Roma)

Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villareal), Grafitte (Wolfsburg)

Chelsea 8 - 0 Wigan

Chelsea recaptured the Premier League title in emphatic fashion as Wigan Athletic were thrashed at Stamford Bridge.

Carlo Ancelotti's side needed victory to end Manchester United's 3-season reign as champions - and once Nicolas Anelka gave them the lead after only 6 minutes there was never any doubt they would reclaim the crown.

Chelsea were then able to put the gloss on their triumph with one more dazzling display of attacking football that ensured Carlo Ancelotti's first season in England ended with the biggest domestic prize in his grasp.

After putting 7 past Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke City in a season that has seen them score more than a century of goals in the league, they renowned by going one better against Roberto Martinez's hopelessly outclassed side.

The whipping win is the biggest in their 105-year history and also saw them break the record for the most league goals in a Premier League season with 103.

The previous best was 97 by the Manchester United scored in 1999/2000 season.

Wigan's cause wasn’t helped by the first-half dismissal of defender Gary Caldwell. He was sent off for a foul on Frank Lampard that led to the England midfield man effectively wrapping up the title from the spot before half-time.

The 2nd half was exhibition stuff with Salomon Kalou and Anelka on target again before Didier Drogba added the Golden Boot to Chelsea's title with a rapid-fire hat-trick to take his total to 29 in the league this term. Ashley Cole's crisp strike for number 8 on the stroke of full-time provided a fitting finale.

Chelsea's celebrations were suitably flamboyant - a reflection of their delight at ending the Old Trafford spell of supremacy in league combat.

It also marked a personal victory for Italian Ancelotti, brought to Stamford Bridge by owner Roman Abramovich to redefine the style of Chelsea's team and put them back among the major trophies.

Chelsea's feat in becoming the 1st top-flight team to score 100 goals in the league since Spurs in 1963 was a reflection of the attacking intent Ancelotti has brought, especially on home country.

The ghost of Jose Mourinho, who won the league in 2005 and 2006 to end a 50-year barren spell, may not be banished wholly, but Ancelotti has made an indelible mark.

He was loudly acclaimed by Chelsea's fans throughout the 2nd half - and let his normally impassive mask slip as he responded with a fierce clenched-fist salute to an ecstatic Stamford Bridge.

And Ancelotti can now set his sights on history as Chelsea go in search of their 1st league and FA Cup double when they face Portsmouth at Wembley next Saturday.

For now, however, the Premier League title will do for starters and the respect for Ancelotti was obvious in the way his players and staff raced to hug him at the final whistle.

Chelsea's early nerves - if indeed there were any - were settled as Anelka put them on the way to the title after only 6 minutes.

Wigan failed to clear Drogba's free-kick and when Florent Malouda, from a suspiciously offside position, chested the ball into Anelka's path he drilled a finish past Mike Pollitt at his near post.

Despite Wigan enjoying plenty of possession as well as territory without posing any serious threat to Petr Cech's goal, Chelsea scored the 2nd goal that sealed their title win 13 minutes before half-time.

Lampard raced on to Drogba's flick and was hauled down by Caldwell as he closed in on goal. The Wigan defender was shown the red card by the match referee Martin Atkinson and Lampard scored from the spot with his customary expertise.

As Stamford Bridge celebrated there was one unlikely dissenter in the shape of Drogba, who appeared miserable that he had not been allowed to take the penalty as he battled with Manchester United's Rooney for the Golden Boot.

It was a huge over-reaction from the fabulously gifted, but on this evidence high-maintenance, striker - with Lampard rightly reasoning the title still needed to be won and came before personal honours.

Chelsea emerged early for the 2nd half and went into a team huddle, before putting their stamp on the title in superb style.

Kalou banished any lingering doubts that this would not be a day of festivity for the west Londoners when he exchanged passes with Lampard before beating Pollitt. And 2 minutes later Anelka started to put the gloss on one more goal glut with a perfect right-foot volley from Branislav Ivanovic's cross.

It was the signal for Ancelotti to send on Joe Cole for what could have been his final Stamford Bridge appearance as a Chelsea player, with a new contract still unsigned.

No team has been as ruthless as the Blues at punishing stricken opponents, and they set about putting Wigan to the sword as the home fans revelled in the slaughter.

Drogba at last got the goal he so clearly craved when he headed Chelsea's 5th from Lampard's cross - their 100th league goal this season.

The Ivorian striker was at it again for number 6 after 68 minutes when he lastly got to take a penalty after Mario Melchiot fouled Ashley Cole. Lampard stood to one side as Drogba scored via a post - followed by elaborate celebrations that even involved a touchline hug for Ancelotti.

And they made it another 7-goal show with 10 minutes left as Drogba turned home from close range after Mike Pollitt could only parry Joe Cole's shot.

If the game required the perfect finish, Ashley Cole provided it with a low finish past the shell-shocked Pollitt - before joyous scenes engulfed Stamford Bridge at the final whistle.

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Germany announces provisional squad for 2010 FIFA World Cup

Germany, one of Ghana’s Black Stars opponents at the 2010 FIFA World Cup have announced their provisional 27-man squad for the tournament.

Head Coach Joachim Loew named his squad on May 6 in Frankfurt with Hamburg defender Dennis Aogo and Bayern Munich youngster Holger Badstuber as the surprise names in the team whilst striker Kevin Kuranyi was left out.

The 2 uncapped players were included in the provisional squad after impressing with their respective clubs this season.

And Information gathered by GNA Sports indicates that 19-year old midfielder Toni Kroos, the Golden Ball winner at the FIFA U-17 Championship held in Korea in the year 2007 has also been included in the squad.

Only 8 members of the provisional team were part of the squad that played at the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

The invited players include Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin fc), Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose (bayern munich fc), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen fc), Lukas Podolski (Cologne fc), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg fc) and Michael Ballack (Chelsea fc) the only foreign based player.

Die Mannschaft as the Germans are nicknamed will play warm-up games vs. Malta in Aachen on may 13, Hungary in Budapest on May 29 and Bosnia-Herzegovina in Frankfurt on June 3.

Joachim Loew will name is his final 23-man squad on June 1.

The Germans will open their campaign against Australia on June 13 in Durban, play Serbia 6 days later in Port Elizabeth before winding up the Group stage vs. Ghana’s Black Stars on June 23 in Johannesburg.

Germany are 3 times winners of the Mundial in 1954, 1974 and 1990.

FULL SQUAD:

Goalkeepers: Hans-Jorg Butt (bayern munich fc), Manuel Neuer (schalke 04 fc), Tim Wiese (werder bremen fc)

Defenders: Per Mertesacker (werder bremen fc), Heiko Westermann (schalke 04 fc), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich fc), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg fc), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim fc), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Serdar Tasci (stuttgart fc), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg fc), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich fc), Dennis Aogo (Hamburg fc).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea/ENG), Sami Khedira (Stuggart), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg fc), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen fc), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich fc), Christian Trasch (stuttgart fc), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen fc), Toni Kroos (bayer leverkusen fc).

Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Cologne fc), Miroslav Klose (bayern munich fc), Stefan Kiessling (bayer leverkusen fc), Cacau (stuttgart fc), Thomas Muller (bayern munich fc), Mario Gomez (bayern munich fc).

2010 FIFA World Cup Venues