South Africa 2010 t-shirts, colours, kits

All the National squads are ready, at least his t-shirts.

Brands Standings:

Adidas: 12 National Teams

Nike: 9

Puma:7

Hummel (North Korea)

Joma (Honduras)

Brooks (Chile)

Umbro (England)

All t-shirts:

GROUP A

South Africa

México

Uruguay

France

GROUP B

Argentina

Nigeria

South Korea

Grecia

GROUP C

England

United States

Algeria

ESlovenia

GROUP D

Germany

Australia

Serbia

Ghana

GROUP E

The Netherlands

Denmak

Japan

Cameroon

GROUP F

Italy

Paraguay

New Zealand

Slovak Republic

GROUP G

Brazil

North Korea

Ivory Coast

Portugal

GROUP H

Spain

Switzerland

Honduras

Chile

Michael Essien is out of World Cup South Africa 2010 with knee injury

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien will miss the World Cup after failing to recover from a knee injury. Essien injured a hamstring while playing for Chelsea against APOEL Nicosia in the European Champions League on Dec. 8.

He returned to play the second half for Ghana against Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations of Jan. 15, then injured his right knee two days later during training. He has not played since.

"An evaluation by a combined team of medical experts from the Ghana Football Association and Chelsea Football Club revealed that Essien will not make full recovery until the end of July," the association said Thursday on its website.

Ghana opens the World Cup on June 13 against Serbia, then plays Australia on June 18 and Germany on June 23. Essien helped Ghana reached the second round of the 2006 World Cup in its first appearance at the tournament.

France squad numbers

Goalkeepers

1 : Hugo Lloris (Ol. Lyonnais)

23: Cédric Carrasso (FCG Bordeaux)

16: Steve Mandanda (Ol. Marseille)

Defenders

3 : Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone)

22: Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC)

13: Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

5 : William Gallas (Arsenal FC)

6 : Marc Planus (FCG Bordeaux)

4 : Anthony Reveillère (Ol. Lyonnais)

2 : Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC)

17: Sébastien Squillaci (Séville FC)

Midfielders

19: Vassiriki Diaby (Arsenal FC)

18: Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux)

8 : Yoann Gourcuff (FCG Bordeaux)

15: Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC)

14: Jérémy Toulalan (Ol. Lyonnais)

Forwards

21: Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC)

9 : Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos Athènes)

11: André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse FC)

10: Sidney Govou (Ol. Lyonnais)

12: Thierry Henry (FC Barcelone)

7 : Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern Munich)

20: Mathieu Valbuena (Ol. Marseille)

Argentina squad numbers

Maradona squad numbers are confimed:

1) Diego Pozo

2) Martín Demichelis

3) Clemente Rodríguez

4) Nicolás Burdisso

5) Mario Bolatti

6) Gabriel Heinze

7) Angel Di María

8) Juan Sebastián Verón

9) Gonzalo Higuaín

10) Lionel Messi

11) Carlos Tevez

12) Sergio Romero

13) Walter Samuel

14) Javier Mascherano

15) Nicolás Otamendi

16) Sergio Agüero

17) Jonás Gutiérrez

18) Martín Palermo

19) Diego Milito

20) Maximiliano Rodríguez

21) Ariel Garcé

22) Javier Pastore

23) Mariano Andújar

Maradona confirms Argentina official 23-man list road to South Africa 2010

This is the Argentinian list confirmed by Diego Maradona today:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Mariano Andujar (Calcio Catania, Italy), Diego Pozo (CA Colón).

Defenders: Nicolás Otamendi (CA Vélez Sarsfield) , Martín Demichelis (Bayen Munchen, Germany), Walter Samuel (Internazionale FC, Italy) , Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille, France), Nicolás Burdisso (AS Roma FC, Italy), Clemente Rodríguez (CA Estudiantes de La Plata) , Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United FC, England), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (CA Newell’s Old Boys) , Ariel Garcé (CA Colón).

Midfielders: Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United FC, England), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool FC, England), Juan Sebastián Verón (CA Estudiantes de La Plata), Angel Di María (Benfica FC, Portugal), Juan Mercier (AA Argentinos Juniors), Javier Pastore (Citta di Palermo Calcio, Italia), Mario Bolatti (ASF Fiorentina, Italy), José Sosa (Bayern München, Germany), Jesús Dátolo (Olympiakos CFP, Greece), Maxi Rodríguez (Liverpool FC, England) , Sebastián Blanco (CA Lanús).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona FC, Spain), Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid, Spain), Martín Palermo (CA Boca Juniors) , Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid, Spain), Diego Milito (Internazionale FC, Italy) , Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, England).

Out: Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United FC, England), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (CA Newell’s Old Boys), José Sosa (Bayern München, Germany), Jesús Dátolo (Olympiakos CFP, Greece), Juan Mercier (AA Argentinos Juniors), Sebastián Blanco (CA Lanús), Ezequiel Lavezzi (SC Sportiva Napoli, Italy).

Michael Ballack is out of the World Cup South Africa 2010

German captain Michael Ballack will not be able to play at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. This is the result of an MRI scan performed this Monday in Munich.

The tomogram showed a torn interior ligament and a partial rupture of the syndesmosis ligament of his right ankle, which for the time being will have to be immobilized and put in a cast. Ballack will then wear a specially designed shoe for two weeks.

German team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt said, that according to today’s diagnosis, Ballack can look forward to a complete recovery, but that a minimum eight weeks will be required before the German skipper may consider returning to regular training.

South Africa 2010: North Korea will have Chinese fans

Few North Koreans will be able to cheer their team at the World Cup in South Africa. So the country is recruiting 1,000 Chinese fans.

The Beijing office of the North Korean Sports Committee is giving out tickets to the tournament, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

The Chinese fans will attend North Korea's games against Brazil and Portugal, Xinhua said. This is just the second time North Korea has qualified for the World Cup. It shocked the world with its first appearance in 1966 when it beat Italy and reached the quarter-finals.

The Chinese fans who will support North Korea this time include celebrities who have led similar groups to cheer for Chinese teams in the past. The Beijing office of the North Korean Sports Committee could not be reached on Friday.

North Korea is the great unknown in the World Cup. News in the communist regime is strictly controlled. Broadcaster APTN in Pyongyang reported that the national team received a festive send-off on Saturday, with residents waving North Korean flags outside the airport as the players arrived. Footage showed women waving flowers as the team boarded the plane.

Coach Kim Jong Hun promised "a great success." China is North Korea's chief benefactor, and it apparently respected the wishes of the country's reclusive leader Kim Jong Il last week when it refused to confirm his secretive visit to Beijing until he had left.

Chinese support for North Korean sports teams is not new. A China-based sports apparel maker, Erke, sponsored all of North Korea's teams in the Beijing Olympics two years ago, and it now sponsors the country's soccer team.

Source: AP

Mexico National Team roster includes Rafael Marquez and Jonathan Dos Santos

Mexico's national team coach Javier Aguirre has named 26 players to compete for the final 23 spots on Mexico's World Cup squad.

Aguirre on Saturday named 10 who are playing in Europe with 16 playing in Mexico's national league. The notable absence from Europe-based players was forward Nery Castillo, who plays with Ukrainian club Dnipro.

The 16 Mexico-based players will make up the core of the team playing friendly matches in the next few weeks in the United States. Europe-based players will be incorporated when they complete their league seasons.

Mexico plays Ecuador on May 7 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, then faces Senegal on May 10 at Chicago and Angola on May 13 at Houston before hosting Chile on May 16 in Mexico City.

Mexico travels to Europe in late May for more World Cup warm-ups before opening against host South Africa on June 11.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (Club America), Luis Michel (Guadalajara), Oscar Perez (Jaguares).

Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Carlos Salcido (PSV), Francisco Rodriguez (PSV), Hector Moreno (AZ), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Efrain Juarez (UNAM), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Jonny Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (Club America), Jorge Torres (Atlas).

Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Dep. Coruna), Jonathan Dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (UNAM), Pablo Barrera (UNAM), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia).

Forwards: Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray), Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Alberto Medina (Guadalajara), Adolfo Bautista (Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Javier Hernandez (Guadalajara).

Argentina list by Diego Maradona, the last Nacional Team roster confirmed

This is the last 30-men list confirmed of the day.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands), Mariano Andujar (Calcio Catania, Italy), Diego Pozo (CA Colón).

Defenderes: Nicolás Otamendi (CA Vélez Sarsfield) , Martín Demichelis (Bayen Munchen, Germany), Walter Samuel (Internazionale FC, Italy) , Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille, France), Nicolás Burdisso (AS Roma FC, Italy), Clemente Rodríguez (CA Estudiantes de La Plata) , Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United FC, England), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (CA Newell’s Old Boys) , Ariel Garcé (CA Colón).

Midfielder: Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United FC, England), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool FC, England), Juan Sebastián Verón (CA Estudiantes de La Plata), Angel Di María (Benfica FC, Portugal), Juan Mercier (AA Argentinos Juniors), Javier Pastore (Citta di Palermo Calcio, Italia), Mario Bolatti (ASF Fiorentina, Italy), José Sosa (Bayern München, Germany), Jesús Dátolo (Olympiakos CFP, Greece), Maxi Rodríguez (Liverpool FC, England) , Sebastián Blanco (CA Lanús).

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona FC, Spain) , Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid, Spain), Martín Palermo (CA Boca Juniors) , Sergio Agüero (Atlético de Madrid, Spain), Diego Milito (Internazionale FC, Italy) , Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, England), Ezequiel Lavezzi (SC Sportiva Napoli, Italy).

Davies left off US World Cup training camp roster

Charlie Davies has failed in his attempt to make the U.S. World Cup team seven months after nearly being killed in a car crash.

Sidelined since the Oct. 13 accident, the forward was omitted Tuesday from the 30-man U.S. preliminary roster despite a furious effort to make a comeback. The team gathers next week for training camp, and coach Bob Bradley will select his final, 23-player roster from the list before the Americans leave for South Africa on May 30.

"Charlie has shown so much heart in his work to get back from his injuries," Bradley said in announcing his decision during a live broadcast on ESPN News. "We've monitored all his workouts. We've had people there. We've observed him and he remained part of the consideration right up until yesterday."

Players will gather next week for training camp at Princeton, N.J. The Americans leave for South Africa on May 30, and open the World Cup against England on June 12.

A 23-year-old from New Hampshire and Boston College, Davies was in his first season with Sochaux in France when he was seriously hurt in a crash on the George Washington Parkway in Virginia that killed another passenger. Davies had a broken and dislocated left elbow, a broken right femur, tibia and fibula, and a broken nose, forehead and eye socket. He also was left with a ruptured bladder, and bleeding on the brain.

Still, he worked diligently in rehabilitation and expressed confidence he'd be ready for the World Cup. "In the end of it, we also had information from his club whereby he had hadn't been given full medical clearance and therefore was not given full release to join the camp," Bradley said. "So when we put that together with everything we just felt that right now, Charlie, it's in his best interest to continue his rehab and continue so that he can get back to level that he was playing last year before the accident."

Bradley didn't rule out a future return of Davies to the national team. "I think that Charlie will continue to work as hard now as he's been since the accident," the coach said. "And that will give him a great chance to get back on the field and play at a high level."

Two forwards came from off the radar to earn invitations to the training camp: Edson Buddle of the Los Angeles Galaxy, and Herculez Gomez of Mexico's Puebla. Eddie Johnson also was picked for forward after scoring three goals for Aris in the Greek playoffs.

Midfielder DaMarcus Beasley, a veteran of the 2002 and 2006 World Cup teams, was selected despite not starting for Glasgow Rangers since March 9.

Houston forward Brian Ching, sidelined since a hamstring injury April 1, also was picked. Colorado forward Conor Casey, whose two goals at Honduras clinched a World Cup berth last October, was omitted, as was Aris' Freddy Adu.

Buddle, a 28-year-old from New York City's Westchester suburbs, has made just one appearance for the national team, getting 11 minutes as a substitute in an exhibition seven years ago. Gomez, a 28-year-old who was born in Los Angeles and grew up in Las Vegas, played twice for the national team for a total of 67 minutes three years ago in the Copa America.

Buddle leads Major League Soccer with nine goals and Gomez became the first American to lead the Mexican league in scoring, tying for the high with 10 goals. Neither was even listed in the U.S. team's 2010 media guide at the start of the year.

AC Milan defender Oguchi Onyewu and Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden also were picked. Onyewu has not played since tearing the patellar tendon in his left knee during the final World Cup qualifier on Oct. 14. Holden has been sidelined since March 3, when his right leg was broken during a challenge by the Netherlands' Nigel de Jong during the Americans' 2-1 exhibition loss in Amsterdam.

Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones, who obtained U.S. citizenship last year, was bypassed along with defender Edgar Castillo, who switched allegiance last year from Mexico to the U.S. Jones missed the entire Bundesliga season because of a shin injury.

The U.S. team starts practicing Monday in Princeton, N.J., where Bradley once coached, and has exhibitions against the Czech Republic on May 25 in East Hartford, Conn., and Turkey four days later in Philadelphia.

After arriving in South Africa, the U.S. has an exhibition against Australia on June 5. The Americans, trying to rebound from their first-round elimination four years ago, open with their first competitive match against England since the 1-0 U.S. upset win at the 1950 World Cup. The United States closes the first round against Slovenia on June 18 and against Algeria on June 23.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Stuart Holden (Bolton, England), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus), Jose Torres (Pachuca, Mexico).

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Brian Ching (Houston), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla, Mexico), Eddie Johnson (Aris, Greece).

Source: AP

Nicolas Anelka, Florent Malouda and Gaël Clichy getting ready to South Africa 2010

Karim Benzema has been left out of France's preliminary World Cup squad, with coach Raymond Domenech saying it's because of the Real Madrid striker's unimpressive season rather than any alleged involvement in a sex scandal.

Benzema has often been left on the bench and scored only eight goals in the Spanish league this season after costing Madrid euro35 million ($44.4 million) in 2009.

Benzema has been linked in the French media with an underage sex scandal involving an escort. Franck Ribery and Sidney Govou have also been linked, but were included in the squad.

Veteran midfielder Patrick Vieira also didn't make the cut.

Domenech has until June 1 to cut the 30-man squad down to 23 players for the tournament in South Africa.

Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Cédric Carrasso (FCG Bordeaux)

Mickaël Landreau (LOSC)

Hugo Lloris (Ol. Lyon)

Steve Mandanda (Ol. Marseille)

Defenders:

Eric Abidal (FC Barcelone)

Gaël Clichy (Arsenal FC)

Patrice Evra (Manchester United)

Rod Fanni (Stade Rennais)

William Gallas (Arsenal FC)

Marc Planus (FCG Bordeaux)

Adil Rami (LOSC)

Anthony Reveillère (Ol. Lyonnais)

Bacary Sagna (Arsenal FC)

Sébastien Squillaci (Séville FC)

Midfielders:

Vassiriki Diaby (Arsenal FC)

Alou Diarra (FCG Bordeaux)

Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid FC)

Yoann Gourcuff (FCG Bordeaux)

Yann M'Vila (Stade Rennais)

Florent Malouda (Chelsea FC)

Jérémy Toulalan (Ol. Lyonnais)

Forwards:

Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea FC)

Hatem Ben Arfa (Ol. Marseille)

Jimmy Briand (Stade Rennais)

Djibril Cissé (Panathinaikos)

André-Pierre Gignac (Toulouse FC)

Sidney Govou (Ol. Lyonnais)

Thierry Henry (FC Barcelone)

Franck Ribéry (FC Bayern Munich)

Mathieu Valbuena (Ol. Marseille)

Brazilian squad for South Africa 2010: Ronaldinho, Neymar and Adriano out of Brazil National Team

Ronaldinho, Adriano and Neymar have been left off Brazil's 23-player World Cup roster.

Coach Dunga was to announce seven others later Tuesday, completing the team's preliminary 30-man list, which was due to FIFA. The 23-man list doesn't have to be finalized until June 1.

Kaka, Robinho, Maicon and Julio Cesar made the cut, but three-time FIFA player of the year Ronaldo and veteran left back Roberto Carlos were not selected.

Dunga is sticking to most of the players who helped Brazil win last year's Confederations Cup and finish first in South American World Cup qualifying.

Squad:

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

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

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

Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar (Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg).

Philippe Senderos, Blaise Nkufo and Alexander Frei in South Africa

Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld named defender Philippe Senderos in his 23-man World Cup squad on Tuesday despite the defender's lack of first team action this season.

Hitzfeld stood by the players who helped Switzerland qualify for the tournament in South Africa. "He has always repaid us with good performances," Hitzfeld said of Senderos who is on loan at Everton from Arsenal.

The only major surprise was the inclusion of 18-year-old Kosovo-born Xherdan Shaqiri, a midfielder who has played one international. Switzerland face Honduras, Chile and Spain in Group H.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (Wolfsburg/GER), Johnny Leoni (Zurich/SUI), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys/SUI)

Defenders: Mario Eggimann (Hanover/GER), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre/FRA), Stephan Lichtsteiner (Lazio/ITA), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal/ENG), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin/GER), Reto Ziegler (Sampdoria/ITA)

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Valon Behrami (West Ham/ENG), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne/FRA), Benjamin Huggel (Basel/SUI), Goekhan Inler (Udinese/ITA), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria/ITA), Pirmin Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Xherdan Shaqiri (Basel/SUI), Hakan Yakin (Lucerne/SUI)

Strikers: Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Alexander Frei (Basel/SUI), Blaise Nkufo (Twente/NED), Marco Streller (Basel/SUI)

Reserves: Fabio Coltorti (Racing Santander/ESP); Francois Affolter (Young Boys/SUI), Fabian Lustenberger (Hertha Berlin/GER), Albert Bunjaku (Nuremberg/GER), Nassim Ben Khalifa (Grasshopper/SUI), Valentin Stocker (Basel/SUI)

Source: Reuters