Sports/Olympics / Tournament News

All squads for World Cup confirmed
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-16 10:28

Togo became the first team to arrive for the World Cup when it landed Monday and headed to its training camp in Wangen.

Togo plays its World Cup opener on June 13 against 2002 semifinalist South Korea on June 13, then faces Switzerland and France.

Czech Republic

Midfielder Vladimir Smicer, who hasn't played since Feb. 25 because of a knee injury, was picked for the Czech Republic's World Cup roster.

"Doctors guaranteed that he should be fit," coach Karel Bruckner said.

Smicer will not be able to fully participate during a 10-day training camp in Seefeld, Austria, where the team travels Saturday.

Also coming off injuries are defender Zdenek Grygera and Salzburg forward Vratislav Lokvenc, who missed almost the entire season with a knee injury.

Jan Koller, the 6-foot-8 forward sidelined from Sept. 24 to May 2 with a torn knee ligament, also was included. He scored twice Saturday in the season finale for Germany's Borussia Dortmund.

Only two players are from Czech clubs and just four were not on the roster for the 2004 European Championship.

The Czechs open June 12 against the United States.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Prague), Petr Cech (Chelsea, England), Antonin Kinsky (Saturn Ramenskoye, Russia).

Defenders: Zdenek Grygera (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Marek Jankulovski (AC Milan, Italy), Martin Jiranek (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Radoslav Kovac (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Pavel Mares (Zenit St. Petersburg, Russia), David Rozehnal (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Tomas Ujfalusi (Fiorentina, Italy).

Midfielders: Tomas Galasek (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), David Jarolim (Hamburger SV, Germany), Pavel Nedved (Juventus, Italy), Karel Poborsky (Ceske Budejovice), Jaroslav Plasil (AS Monaco), Jan Polak (Nuremberg, Germany), Tomas Rosicky (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Vladimir Smicer (Bordeaux, France).

Forwards: Milan Baros (Aston Villa, England), Jiri Stajner (Hannover 96, Germany), Marek Heinz (Galatasaray, Turkey), Jan Koller (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Vratislav Lokvenc (Salzburg, Austria).

Spain

Liverpool forward Fernando Morientes was left off Spain's World Cup roster by coach Luis Aragones.

Raul Gonzalez, Fernando Torres and David Villa were picked as forwards.

"A national coach has to think in the way the team plays, in the system, and the players that fit into that system," Aragones said. "You don't think about individual players, you think about the team."

Among those selected was 19-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who made his national team debut in March.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Santiago Canizares (Valencia), Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Manuel Reina (Liverpool, England).

Defenders: Asier Del Horno (Chelsea, England), Juanito Gutierrez (Real Betis), Pablo Ibanez (Atletico de Madrid), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Michel Salgado (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: David Albelda (Valencia), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool, England), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, England), Xavi Hernandez (Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Antonio Lopez (Atletico de Madrid), Joaquin Sanchez (Real Betis), Marcos Senna (Villareal).

Forwards: Luis Garcia (Liverpool, England), Raul Gonzalez (Real Madrid), Jose Antonio Reyes (Arsenal, England), Fernando Torres (Atletico de Madrid), David Villa (Valencia).
Page: 1234