McCarthy out of South Africa's World Cup squad

Host South Africa left all-time leading scorer Benni McCarthy off its World Cup squad, while Gareth Barry hopes to make England's 23.

Although many of the 32 teams had already set their final squads ahead of FIFA's deadline on Tuesday, defending champion Italy and former winners Germany and England are among those who left it until the final day.

So did the host country, which made the widely expected decision not to include McCarthy. The 32-year-old striker, who has scored 32 goals in 78 games for South Africa, has struggled with fitness and form all season while playing in England for Blackburn then West Ham.

"It was a sad thing to have to split apart our family," coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said at a news conference as he announced the six players who will not play in the first World Cup to be staged in Africa.

"But I told them, 'Put your heads up; life goes on. All of you deserve to be here.' Unfortunately we have to obey FIFA rules and we can only name 23."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), 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 Ngcongca (Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)

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

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