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Let’s hear it for the World Cup’s 33rd team

While a lucky pool of soccer millionaires can now get down to some serious daydreaming about World Cup glory in South Africa next year, there’s another group of equally well renowned and respected players who will be spending the summer sprucing up the gardens (or getting their agents to buy them fridges).

Here at the Reuters Soccer Blog we’re a little bit saddened by this fact and, doing some daydreaming of our own, we’ve come up with a plan for a 33rd team at the World Cup, made up of players whose countries have failed to qualify.

I’m nominating Sven-Goran Eriksson for the job of coaching them, provided he will agree to swap his plush office at League Two Notts County for a month whipping our World Cup ‘unfortunates’ into shape.

Here’s my stab at a starting XI for the opening game, with a few standbys for the bench.

Sven’s unfortunates (4-3-3): 1-Petr Cech; 2-Yiri Zhirkov, 3-Thomas Vermaelen, 4-Josip Simunic, 5-Christian Chivu; 6-Andrei Arshavin, 7-Luka Modric, 8-Mohamad Zidan; 9-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 10-Eduardo da Silva, 11-Emanuel Adebayor.

Subs: Shay Given, Razvan Rat, Robbie Keane, Martin Petrov, Dimitar Berbatov, Edin Dzeko, Adrian Mutu.

Razvan Rat makes the cut purely because of the headline grabbing potential of his name, while Shay Given and Robbie Keane deserve something to go right for them.

Bulgaria’s new record goal-scorer Dimitar Berbatov also makes the squad as one of a ridiculous amount of strikers, another is Edin Dzeko who has taken the Bundesliga by storm this season and the last for VfL Wolfsburg.

Have we missed someone obvious? How far could this side go? And, removing tongue from cheek for a second, is this an idea FIFA should consider?

MAKE SURE THIS MAN ISN’T STUCK DOING THE GARDEN: Barcelona’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his second goal against Zaragoza during their Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona October 25, 2009. REUTERS/Gustau Nacarino

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Tags: adebayor, adrian mutu, Christian Chivu, da silva, dimitar berbatov, division soccer, edin dzeko, goal scorer, gustau, josip simunic, lucky pool, luka modric, martin petrov, Petr Cech, plush office, reuters, Robbie Keane, spanish first division, world cup glory, zlatan ibrahimovic

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The all-star XI in World Cup trouble

Some of football’s biggest names, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, are in danger of missing out on next year’s World Cup, as countries such as Argentina, Portugal and France struggle in qualification.

Most, if not quite all of them, may make it in the end, of course, but for a bit of pre-weekend qualifier fun, here’s my stab at a world XI wtill fretting over their places at South Africa 2010.

Think I’ve got it about right? Missed anyone out? Let me know in the comments.

Petr Cech (Czech Republic): The Chelsea keeper is arguably the best in the business, but the Czech Republic are currently fourth in group three and could be eliminated on Saturday if results go against them.

Patrice Evra (France): The left back could pick up his fourth consecutive Premier League crown with Manchester United this season, but he could miss out on the World Cup with France currently second in their group behind Serbia and hoping for a play-off place at a realistic best.

Thomas Vermaelen (Belgium): The former Ajax defender has enjoyed a superb opening to the season since completing a move to Arsenal, but he will not get the chance to showcase his talents in South Africa after Belgium were eliminated from their qualifying group.

Dmytro Chygrynskiy (Ukraine): Barcelona paid €25 million for the former Shakhtar Donetsk defender, but Ukraine will need to overhaul Croatia in Group Six for the centre back to stand a chance of playing in the World Cup.

Christian Chivu (Romania): The Inter defender was a €16 million signing for Serie A champions Inter in 2007 and has since won consecutive Italian titles. But his Romania side need to beat Serbia on Saturday for them to stand any chance of making the finals.

Javier Mascherano (Argentina): The Argentina captain is one of the most highly regarded holding midfielders in the world, but his team have suffered an accident-prone qualifying campaign that has left them fifth in their group, clinging on to a play-off place.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal): The World Footballer of the Year became the most expensive player in history when he completed his move to Real Madrid from Manchester United. With Portugal currently third in their qualifying group, he could be the biggest absentee from this summer’s tournament.

Lionel Messi (Argentina): The miniature magician has lit up pitches across Europe for Barcelona, but he is another who could be absent from South Africa, if Argentina cannot get results from their final two group games against Peru and Uruguay.

Franck Ribery (France): He was reportedly being lined up by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo after some devastating displays in the Bundesliga for Bayern Munich. But France are currently four points behind Serbia in their group, and are likely to need the play-offs to make it to the finals.

Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo): The Togo international has courted controversy since leaving Arsenal for Manchester City, but has proved an instant hit at his new club. His country, however, are currently third in their qualifying group behind Cameroon and Gabon with only two games left to play.

Karim Benzema (France): The France striker’s move to Real Madrid was overshadowed by the signings of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo, but he has made an early impact at the Bernabeu. He may not have the same effect in South Africa, however, with France needing to beat Faroe Islands just to guarantee a play-off place.

Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni: Trap is one of the most successful coaches in the history of club football having won 10 league titles in four different countries. But as manager of Republic of Ireland, he needs to beat the country of his birth on Saturday to stand any chance of winning the group and booking a spot in South Africa.

Let me know in the comments if you disagree with my choice…

PHOTO: Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi shake hands before the start of the Champions League final soccer match at the Olympic Stadium in Rome May 27, 2009. REUTERS/Albert Gea

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Tags: Ajax, arsenal, best in the business, Christian Chivu, cristiano ronaldo, italian titles, league crown, lionel messi, manchester united, midfielders, patrice evra, premier league, qualifying group, ronaldo, shakhtar donetsk, south africa 2010, World Cup, world xi

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Vidic: Draw against France would be enough

Serbia defender Nemanja Vidic says a draw against beleaguered France in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday would be as good as a victory.

The Serbs will reach next year’s World Cup if they win on Wednesday, while France is clinging to its fading hopes of direct qualification from Group 7 after stumbling to a 1-1 draw against Romania at Stade de France on Saturday.

“We have to keep our heads cool and be aware that a point against France is as good as a win,” Vidic of Manchester United said Monday.

Serbia leads the group with 18 points from seven matches, with France trailing four points behind. A French win in Belgrade would leave Raymond Domenech’s side one point behind Serbia with two games to play.

A draw on Wednesday would mean that Serbia needed to win only one of its two remaining group matches – against Romania at home or Lithuania away – and still clinch a direct World Cup spot, no matter what France did against the Faeroe Islands and Austria at home.

“We must not rush toward the French goal,” Vidic said. “We have to be disciplined and organized because their players are great individuals who can easily solve one-on-one situations.”

Serbia captain Dejan Stankovic agreed with Vidic, although he said that “it would be a pity to waste this match point against France.”

Stankovic said he spoke to his Inter Milan teammate Christian Chivu, who led Romania’s defense on Saturday against France and who gave him some advice.

“Christian said that the French midfield and defense are very strong and that we should keep our defense tight without giving them much space,” Stankovic said.

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: Austria, Belgrade, Christian, Christian Chivu, dejan stankovic, faeroe islands, four points, France, inter milan, Lithuania, Manchester, manchester united, match point, midfield, Milan, raymond domenech, Romania, stade de france, teammate, two games, victory, vidic, world cup qualifier, world cup spot

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Sampdoria humiliate Mourinho´s out of form Inter

ROME (AFP) – Inter Milan’s recent run of poor form continued on Wednesday as an admittedly under-strength side were soundly beaten 3-0 by Sampdoria in their Italian Cup semi-final, first leg clash making it a long shot that the Serie A leaders reach their fifth successive Cup final.

Inter, who were second best in a Champions League last 16 first leg match with Manchester United last week and then were held 3-3 by AS Roma last weekend, went down to goals from badboy Antonio Cassano and a double by strike partner Giampaolo Pazzini.

Inter coach Jose Mourinho, with a mind towards this weekend’s tough Serie A match with fifth-placed Genoa and next week’s Champions League match at Old Trafford against United, had decided to rest players such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Julio Cesar and Christian Chivu.

Their replacements could not handle it and a disastrous error by Colombian defender Nelson Rivas, who had a catastrophic first-half against United before being withdrawn by Mourinho at half-time, let in Cassano, who made no mistake and shot past Francesco Toldo in the ninth minute.

Padalino then added a double through a header and then a shot three minutes from the break to wrap up victory for Sampdoria.

Inter’s night hardly got better after the break as talented young striker Mario Baslotelli had to go off injured in the 52nd minute having collided with a post.

Inter could not even take advantage of Sampdoria being reduced to 10 men on the hour as defender Daniele Gastaldello was sent off.

Mourinho, who is subject of disciplinary proceedings after making inflammatory remarks following the draw with Roma, took defeat in his stride.

"We conceded a ludicrous first goal and a second off a rebound," said the Portuguese. "When not everybody is there (as in first choice players), the team is obviously not of the same calibre.

"But I decided I had to make changes because it is not humanly possible for them to play every match."

Lazio came from behind on Tuesday to beat Juventus 2-1 in their Italian Cup semi-final, first leg after second-half goals from Macedonian forward Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi cancelled out Marco Marchionni’s opener on 34 minutes.

Written by: AFP

Tags: antonio cassano, champions league, Christian Chivu, disciplinary proceedings, first choice, francesco toldo, genoa, goran, inflammatory remarks, inter milan, itali, italian cup, jose mourinho, julio cesar, lazio, Manchester, manchester united, marco marchionni, Mario Baslotelli, Milan, Nelson Rivas, old trafford, pazzini, Roma, ROME, sampdoria inter, Serie A, striker, three minutes, zlatan ibrahimovic

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