WC build up - the squads!

[Neil Young]

I agree fully that his head is far to big for his own standards

On the international level he is far more consistent than at arsenal, and basically play every game like when he is best for them (so far).

He fits the system and plays well as the lone striker and have at times even played on the inside forward position with succes.

OK, maybe I've been unfair on him because inevitably I was using his very inconsistent Arsenal performances as a yardstick.

I'm still struggling to accept the idea he's effective consistently but I bow to your superior knowledge of the Danish national team.

[little dave hedgehog]

as you know, I'm a huge fan of the danes, but I think they might look very pedestrian this time out. in the absence of a mobile, dynamic striker, they'll be relying on their wingers, who will be nullified by any manager worth his salt.

[leftpeg]

plus he is the kind of player who would get a run if they are already qualified for the next stage after two games

You're making him sound like Pepe Reina.

[Fernandinho]

lol, i have already put in prayers the casillas gets a short term injury for 1 month and pepe comes in to save the winning penalty in the final

[SB]

Denmarks final squad

GK
Thomas Sørensen (Stoke)
Stephan Andersen (Brøndby)
Jesper Christiansen (FC København)

Defence
William Kvist (FC København)
Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn)
Simon Kjær (Palermo) Picked up a knee injury that could rule him out ??
Per Krøldrup (Fiorentina)
Daniel Agger (Liverpool)
Patrick Mtiliga (Malaga)
Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfield
Martin Jørgensen (AGF)
Christian Poulsen (Juventus)
Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen)
Jakob Poulsen (AGF)
Dennis Rommedahl (Ajax)
Jesper Grønkjær (FC København)
Thomas Kahlenberg (Wolfsburg)
Thomas Enevoldsen (Groningen)
Christian Eriksen (Ajax)
Mikkel Beckmann (Randers)

Attack
Jon Dahl Tomasson (Feyenoord)
Søren Larsen (Duisburg)
Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal)

[SB]

essian out of world cup! players in the our group are dropping like flies! come on you aussies!!

Harry Kewell apparently limped out of training in SA.

[Darkon]

yes Kjær took a knock in the last test game against senegal before going to SA, but so far it looks good and he expects to be ready for the first game. But the defence will be seriously weakened if he is left out.

[Darkon]

as you know, I'm a huge fan of the danes, but I think they might look very pedestrian this time out. in the absence of a mobile, dynamic striker, they'll be relying on their wingers, who will be nullified by any manager worth his salt.

Yes, we have the hedgehog on our side

But I have to say that during a lot of our qualification matches we didn't look convincing, so I'm a bit nervous about where our form is. We had **** loads of injuries though, which hit a small country quite hard, we don't have the depth at international level that England and such does.

[Fernandinho]

Harry Kewell apparently limped out of training in SA.

i wouldnt read too much into it, he is returning from injury still, i think he is just gonna make it for the first game, match fitness is a different question..

[SB]

i wouldnt read too much into it, he is returning from injury still, i think he is just gonna make it for the first game, match fitness is a different question..

Bench at best for the 1st game IMO. As you said, a question on his match fitness ???

[Fernandinho]

yeah he has been out for a while, listening to news down here Pim seems to be saying that Emerton is going to be fit for sure and Kewell is a maybe for the Denmark game...

[Darkon]

Mexicos squad:

GK's: Luis Michel, Memo Ochoa, Oscar Perez

Def.: Jonny Magallon, Jorge Torres Nilo, Efrain Juarez, Paul Aguilar, Francisco Javier Rodriguez, Hector Moreno, Rafael Marquez, Carlos Salcido, Ricardo Osorio

Mid: Gerardo Torrado, Israel Castro, Andres Guardado, Giovani dos Santos

Strikers: Javier Hernandez, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Alberto Medina, Carlos Vela, Pablo Barrera, Guillermo Franco

**** loads of defenders, wonder what formation they play?

[Fernandinho]

maybe a few defender step up into midfield, i get the feeling rafa marquez might play CDM for them...

[Shaggy]

Giovani dos Santos is considering quitting the Mexico squad in protest at his brother Jonathan being left out.

[Daffy Duck]

Slovenia's final 23:
Goalies: Samir Handanovič (Udinese), Jasmin Handanovič (Mantova), Aleksander Šeliga (Sparta Rotterdam)

Defence: Bojan Jokič (Chievo), Boštjan Cesar (Chievo), Matej Mavrič Rožič (Kapfenberg), Marko Šuler (Gent), Branko Ilič (Lokomotiva Moskva), Elvedin Džinič, Suad Filekovič (both Maribor), Mišo Brečko (Koln)

Midfield: Andraž Kirm (Wisla), Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Inter), Dalibor Stevanovič (Vitesse), Valter Birsa (Auxerre), Aleksander Radosavljevič (Larissa), Robert Koren (West Bromwich)

Attack: Milivoje Novakovič (Koln), Zlatko Dedič (Bochum), Tim Matavž (Groningen), Zlatan Ljubijankič (Gent), Nejc Pečnik (Nacional)

I'm extremely disappointed with this final selection, especially because of the inclusion of both Maribor's defenders and that spacker Komac. I hope none of them ever get on the bench. This really ruined my day