The guessing has came to an end as coaches of all
the 32 teams have confirmed their squad lists for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in
Germany.
Italy
Gianluigi Buffon was included on Italy's World Cup roster Monday despite
allegations the Juventus goalkeeper bet on soccer games.
Buffon has acknowledged he bet large sums on sporting events, but said he
stopped when new rules were put in place at the start of last season. He also
said he did not bet on Italian league or Juventus games.
Playmaker Francesco Totti was included in the 23-man roster after returning
to AS Roma's lineup last week. He broke his left leg and strained ankle
ligaments on Feb. 19.
Filippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Iaquinta gained the final two forward spots, and
Cristiano Lucarelli was omitted. Rosters had to be submitted to FIFA by Monday.
Italy opens against Ghana on June 12, then plays the United States five days
later.
The roster:
Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Angelo
Peruzzi (Lazio).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Fabio
Grosso (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan),
Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Gianluca Zambrotta
(Juventus).
Midfielders: Simone Barone (Palermo), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De
Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea
Pirlo (AC Milan).
Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan),
Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Luca Toni (Fiorentina),
Francesco Totti (AS Roma).
The guessing has came to an end as coaches of all the 32
teams have confirmed their squad lists for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Germany
David Odonkor, a 22-year-old midfielder who has never played for Germany's
national team, was a surprise pick by coach Juergen Klinsmann for his roster.
"He gives us something we need badly: speed and an element of surprise. He
can break down the flanks quickly," Klinsmann said. "We've been watching him a
long time, and he is a great talent. He was really surprised, to say the least,
when I called him this morning."
Odonkor had one goal and five assists in 33 games this season for Borussia
Dortmund.
"This is almost incredible," Odonkor said in a statement posted on the German
soccer federation's Web site. "The coach has been watching out for young players
this season, and that's why I managed to get into the World Cup at the last
moment."
Klinsmann dropped forward Kevin Kuranyi and selected 32-year-old defender
Jens Nowotny, who has not played for Germany since Klinsmann became coach
following the 2004 European Championship.
Klinsmann also omitted midfielder Fabian Ernst and defender Patrick Owomoyela
and selected forward Mike Hanke, suspended for the the World Cup opener against
Costa Rica on June 9 and the June 14 game against Poland because of a red card
he received at the Confederations Cup last year.
Klinsmann picked two injured players he expects to recover before the
tournament: defender Christoph Metzelder (torn calf muscle) and midfielder
Sebastian Kehl (ankle).
