Soccer Capsules: Mexico names final squad of 23 for World Cup
HERZOGENAURACH, Germany (AP) — Midfielder Jonathan Dos Santos was dropped from Mexico's final World Cup squad Monday as coach Javier Aguirre named his 23 players for the tournament.
Dos Santos, younger brother of Giovani who plays for Turkish club Galatasaray and is in the reduced group, was the major casualty when the final squad was named by Aguirre on the Mexican federation's website. Aguirre did not offer comment at the team's training base in southern Germany.
Mexico plays the World Cup opener on June 11 against host South Africa, and also faces Uruguay and France in Group A.
Mexico defeated Gambia 5-1 on Sunday, its first victory in its series of friendly matches in Europe. It had previously lost 3-1 to England and 2-1 to the Netherlands. It faces Italy on Thursday before traveling to South Africa.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Guillermo Ochoa (America), Luis Michel (Guadalajara), Oscar Perez (Jaguares). Defenders: Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (Stuttgart), Francisco Javier Rodriguez (PSV Eindhoven), Carlos Salcido (PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas), Jonny Magallon (Chivas), Jorge Torres Nilo (Tigres). Midfielders: Andres Guardado (Deportivo La Coruna), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas). Forwards: Guillermo Franco (West Ham), Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Giovani Dos Santos (Galatasaray), Pablo Barrera (Pumas), Adolfo Bautista (Chivas), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz), Alberto Medina (Chivas), Javier Hernandez (Chivas).
U.S. Soccer
U.S. World Cup team arrives in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The U.S. World Cup team arrived in Johannesburg on Monday following a 17-hour flight and was greeted by the same visible security presence that was on hand for the arrival for other countries.
Armed special task-force members, dressed in dark blue uniforms, surrounded the South African Airways plane at the O.R. Tambo airport as the players emerged on a cool, overcast afternoon.
After leading his team off the plane, coach Bob Bradley immediately picked out the opening game against England on June 12 as a chance to make an impression on the tournament.
"There has been a lot of attention on our first game with England," Bradley said. "It's a great opportunity for us.
"But we certainly know that Slovenia and Algeria are excellent teams. It will be a tough group and we are looking forward to it.
Plainclothes security officials, wearing earpieces and sunglasses, also patrolled the arrivals facility — set aside for World Cup teams — where the Americans cleared immigration.
The U.S. should be familiar with its surroundings after it made an impressive showing in the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year. Bradley's team reached the final and played in Rustenburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg at the same venues it visits in the group stages.
"We're very fortunate that we have had experience here," Bradley said on the airport tarmac. "The people here in South Africa have always treated us so well so in that regard, it's a comfortable feeling to be back for the World Cup.
"We are very excited... The travel went really well and the team is looking to get started with our work here."
Dressed in blue-and-red team tracksuits, the U.S. players then boarded a bus for the 25-minute drive up to their base at the Irene Country Lodge, a luxurious, rural-style hotel in a village between Johannesburg and the capital city Pretoria.
The lodge is billed as "a haven of peace and tranquility in the hub of South Africa's economic heartland."
The group was greeted by dancing and singing staff members on its arrival at the hotel. Police then led sniffer dogs through the rooms in a final security sweep before the players were allowed in.
A colorful vuvuzela — the plastic trumpet which is set to be a constant feature at the World Cup — was left in each player's room as a welcome gift.
The hotel is where the U.S. will begin to get used to the cool, early winter conditions ahead of a final warmup match against Australia on Saturday.
"I think the weather here is great for football," Bradley said. "It's going to mean that the games are played at a good tempo. We have enough time between now and June 12 to acclimatize so I think, on that end, it's going to be a great World Cup."
-- Gerald Imray
World Cup
SAfrica police minister says no WCup terror threat
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The World Cup faces no terror threat at the moment, according to South Africa's police minister, who dismissed speculation less than two weeks before the tournament opens about plots by groups ranging from al-Qaida to homegrown white militants.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said Monday that if a threat were to emerge, his forces would be ready. He said preparations since 2004, when South Africa won the bid to be the first African country to host soccer's premier event, have included working closely with security and intelligence agents from the United States, Britain and the 29 other countries sending teams to South Africa. The monthlong tournament begins June 11.
Mthethwa dismissed concerns that while South African security forces were prepared to respond, its intelligence agencies would be stretched to prevent an attack.
"I don't think that South African intelligence is weak," said Mthethwa, adding that if so, it would have been pointed out by the foreign governments with whom it has been working to prepare for the World Cup.
South African investigators went to Iraq after security forces there announced they had arrested an alleged al-Qaida militant who had talked to friends about attacking the Denmark and Netherlands squads at the World Cup. Mthethwa said investigators dismissed that threat.
STRATFOR, a private security think tank based in Austin, Texas, said in a pre-World Cup review of South Africa that it was unlikely that groups like al-Qaida had the capacity to carry out a major attack here.
Mthethwa also said there was nothing to substantiate a report in a South African newspaper Sunday of terror cells and training camps in the region, and at least one arrest in South Africa linked to the World Cup.
Mthethwa added that white South African extremists arrested in recent weeks for stockpiling weapons are a "lunatic fringe" and no threat to the tournament.
"It would be folly for any country to grandstand and proclaim that it is immune to terror attacks," Mthethwa told reporters in Johannesburg. But "there is no threat to South Africa as we speak now."
The U.S. State Department made a similar point last week when it issued a warning to Americans living in South Africa or traveling here for the World Cup.
"While a number of terrorist threats against the World Cup in South Africa have appeared in the media in recent weeks and months, the U.S. government has no information on any specific, credible threat of attack that any individual or group is planning to coincide with the tournament," the State Department said.
The State Department nonetheless said there was a "heightened risk that extremist groups will conduct terrorist acts within South Africa in the near future."
Asked about the U.S. warning at Monday's news conference, Mthethwa said: "Each country has the right to say whatever they want to say to their citizens.
"All we are saying in South Africa is that together with the security forces of U.S., U.K. and others, we have prepared ourselves for any eventuality."
In what could be read as a vote of U.S. confidence in South Africa's security preparations, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to attend the first U.S. game in the tournament, against England on June 12 in Rustenburg.
When the U.S. squad arrived late Monday at Johannesburg's airport, security appeared no more muscular than it has been for teams that had arrived earlier.
Mthethwa was repeatedly asked Monday whether his forces were preparing for the U.S.-England game as a high-risk event. Mthethwa refused to answer, saying discussing which events, teams or people were considered at higher risk could compromise security.
Terrorists have attacked huge sports events like the World Cup in the past — including the 1972 Munich Olympics, when Palestinian gunmen took hostage athletes and coaches from Israel's Olympic team, killing 11.
Mthethwa said: "Our approach stems from an attitude that says: it is best to over-prepare than be found wanting."
At least 40,000 officers out of a force of more than 190,000 would be devoted to World Cup security. Stations near stadiums, investigation teams and special courts operating 24 hours a day will be dedicated to the event.
Last week, a joint operations center led by police and including military, intelligence and other government agencies took over supervising World Cup security. The center will operate 24 hours a day from an undisclosed location in the capital until the World Cup ends.
The police arsenal has been boosted by $90 million worth of new equipment, including water cannon, helicopters, speed boats, jet skis, new high-performance police cars and heavy-duty emergency rescue vehicles.
In addition to terrorism, Mthethwa highlighted police determination to crack down on soccer hooliganism. He said his officers were working with counterparts in other countries, particularly Britain, to identify potential troublemakers.
Britain has identified some 3,000 hooligans who will not be allowed to travel to South Africa, Mthethwa said Monday. Those that slip through can expect a cool welcome.
"Those people present themselves as tough," Mthethwa said. "We want to show them there are even tougher people out there."
-- Donna Bryson
Rafa, Sergio and Dwight have soccer in common
Sergio Garcia dribbles through the defense as if soccer, not golf, is his natural calling. He nimbly passes to Rafael Nadal, who serves it to Dwight Howard towering in front of the net. Howard heads home the ball. GOAL!!!!
Fantasy for sure. Yet all three of these athletes — and many others from a wide spectrum of sports — have visions of World Cup glory. And while some of them will be busy with golf's U.S. Open or Wimbledon, they'll be paying attention to the planet's most popular sporting event.
"I love football," Nadal says. "Sure, I'm going to watch the World Cup."
And root, of course, for his native Spain which, like Nadal, is a favorite in any tournament. Nadal and top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland, whose mother was born in South Africa, plan to see as many matches as they can — in between their own matches, including Wimbledon later in June and early July.
"I think Spain has an unbelievable team, a complete team: the goalkeeper, the defenders, and the attack is unbelievable. We have a chance to win," Nadal says. "But at the same time, when you play matches ... anything can happen."
And when it does, Orlando Magic center Howard, the NBA's defensive player of the year, will be watching. Perhaps even in person.
"I went to Africa last summer and I had a chance to see where the teams are going to be playing. It's going to be great. It should really be a lot of fun," says Howard, who traveled to Africa with the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program last summer.
Would Howard make an imposing striker, particularly on headers, given his 6-foot-11, 265-pound frame and his athletic ability? Or perhaps he fits best guarding the net?
"One time, I was running around by myself one day and some guys were having a soccer game and they needed a goalie, sort of like a pickup game," he says. "I had never played. They said, 'Hey, you want to play goalie for us?' I played and let in, like, five goals."
Howard could team up with the 6-3, 300-pound Ndamukong Suh, the No. 2 overall NFL draft choice in April, by the Detroit Lions, and Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Michael Roos (6-7, 315) to form an imposing trio on the pitch.
Suh has been to a World Cup match, in 1994 when the United States hosted the tournament. He won't be getting to South Africa, though.
"It's definitely exciting. I wish I could go out there and check it out. But unfortunately I'll probably be training," he said.
"That's going to be amazing. I'll definitely watch it on TV when I get the chance. I don't know if I'll be up late at night watching; I'll probably have to get the reruns."
He has a special rooting interest. Two, actually.
"My World Cup pick is definitely Cameroon," says Suh, whose father is from that African nation and whose first name means House of Spears. "The U.S. is a close second."
For Roos, a second-team All-Pro last season, the plan was to go to the World Cup and follow Italy. But he found the planning logistically impossible and decided to stay home to watch on television.
Born in Estonia, Roos became a soccer fan playing the game as a child before his mother moved her family to Vancouver, Wash., in 1992. Roos doesn't play anymore.
"I still enjoy watching it. It's not as mainstream here in the U.S. as it obviously is in the rest of the world," he says.
"I'll definitely try to watch as many as I can. I don't know if I'll watch any at 4 a.m ... but there's obviously a lot of good teams in there. I don't even know if they've set a time for the U.S.-England game, but I'm sure I'll watch that regardless of where I'm at."
The time is 1:30 p.m. in Nashville on June 12, Michael.
Trevor Pryce, someone Roos has had to block many times, certainly will be watching. Pryce, a defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, is from a Jamaican family, so soccer has been a primary sport for him and his relatives. His sister, Nandi, was an All-American at UCLA.
Like Garcia, Pryce regularly plays in pickup games in Denver, and he talks so much about the sport that he's gotten many NFL teammates interested, including Ravens star safety Ed Reed.
"There's always soccer balls in the locker room now," Pryce says with a laugh. "I play with some Somolian guys, and they play real hard. They refuse to speak English to me, and they don't pass me the ball."
Pryce says he has three teams to root for: the U.S., England and Ivory Coast. He laments the opening matchup is between the Americans and English.
"Yeah, U.S.-England, I wish it wasn't in the first game, but those are three teams I am kind of pulling for," Pryce says. "I don't think any of them will win; there's only a handful of teams that can win it.
"But it's not so much about winning the World Cup for the U.S. When we got to the (quarterfinals) in 2002, that was such a great showing. Non-soccer countries that are able to do well is a victory itself.
"I will watch every game I can. Whoever is playing and whatever, I am watching."
-- Barry Wilner
Kanu makes Nigeria WCup cut
LONDON (AP) — Veteran forwards Nwankwo Kanu and Cuauhtemoc Blanco are headed for their third World Cups, 12 years after their first.
Kanu made Nigeria's cut and Blanco was retained in Mexico's 23 when their coaches announced their squads Monday, a day before the FIFA deadline. But players from England, Germany and Italy look likely to have to wait until late on Tuesday to find out whether they are going to South Africa for the June 11-July 11 competition.
Kanu, who played in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, was the biggest star of Nigeria's dramatic Olympic triumph back in 1996, when his goals and performances helped the team beat Brazil and Argentina to capture the gold medal.
He has also won both the Champions League and UEFA Cup, as well as the Premier League and FA Cup in England, in spells with several clubs, including Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Portsmouth.
But the club future of the 33-year-old striker is in doubt after Portsmouth was relegated from the Premier League in the season just ended.
With a wealth of attacking talent to call on, including Kanu, Obafemi Martins, Yakubu Ayegbeni and Chinedu Obasi, Nigeria's Swedish coach Lars Lagerback cut Everton striker Victor Anichebe.
Lagerback also dropped the only two Nigeria-based players who had been in the provisional squad — goalkeeper Akpan Bassey and defender Peter Suswan.
Now age 37, Blanco is also going to his third World Cup, where Mexico faces host South Africa in the tournament opener on June 11 and then Uruguay and France in Group A. Like Kanu, Blanco played in the 1998 and 2002 competitions.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre left out Jonathan Dos Santos but kept his older brother Giovani in the squad. Jonathan is a 20-year-old midfielder with Barcelona while Giovani is a Tottenham player but has been on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray.
Meanwhile, manager Fabio Capello says he knows his final England World Cup squad but won't divulge it until Tuesday's deadline. Italy coach Marcelli Lippi still needs to cut five players, while Germany's Joachim Loew has to decide whether or not to take six strikers to South Africa.
Capello revealed after his team's 2-1 victory over fellow qualifier Japan on Sunday that he now knew the 23 he wanted to carry England's hopes. He just wasn't going to say who they were.
"You have to wait until June 1," he said after the game in the Austrian city of Graz. "I know. You have to wait."
That means checking on the fitness of midfielder Gareth Barry, who hasn't kicked a ball since he was injured playing for Manchester City on May 5. But he has also left the likes of Scott Parker, Stephen Warnock, Tom Huddlestone, Darren Bent, Michael Carrick, Michael Dawson, Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips wondering whether they will be going back to England instead of heading for South Africa.
Defending the title his team won four years ago in Berlin, Lippi needs to cut players from his provisional 28 — forwards Marco Borriello, Fabio Quagliarella and Giuseppe Rossi are in the firing line.
But Lippi, who will be replaced by Cesare Prandelli after the World Cup, is not giving any clues.
"Just have some patience and on Tuesday evening you'll know everything," the veteran coach told a news conference Sunday.
Germany has not won the title since before unification, having captured three as West Germany, and wants to make up for failing to win it four years ago on home turf.
"It's going to hurt for two players," Loew said after his team beat Hungary 3-0 in Saturday's warmup game in Budapest, although he has given little indication who will be cut.
"No player knows who is seeded and who has to fear," said Lukas Podolski, who looks sure to make the squad after a solid performance and a goal in the win over Hungary.
Marcell Jansen, who is coming back after a long-term foot injury and played 30 unremarkable minutes against Hungary, is in danger. Although Jansen is valuable to Loew because he can be used as a midfielder or a defender, his fitness is a question mark.
Loew has said he will take six strikers to the World Cup but with injuries restricting his choice of midfielders, he may reconsider.
Already without experienced midfielder and captain Michael Ballack through injury, Germany lost defender Heiko Westermann with a broken bone in his left foot during Saturday's victory in Budapest.
Despite lingering injury problems, Spain has already named its final squad as have other leading contenders such as Brazil, Argentina and the Netherlands. France coach Raymond Domenech has said he is sticking with the provisional 23 he has already named.
-- Robert Millward
Adidas surprised at criticism of WCup ball
LONDON (AP) — Adidas hit back Monday at criticism that the World Cup ball is difficult to control and a nightmare for goalkeepers, stressing that it was widely tested and approved long ago.
Company spokesman Thomas van Schaik said he was surprised to hear the critical comments, made by top goalkeepers such as Spain's Iker Casillas and Brazil's Julio Cesar, because the "Jabulani" balls had been used for months without any complaints.
"We started using it in December in a wide variety of leagues," he told The Associated Press. "All the response we have had has been positive.
"On top of that, we have distributed it to all the finalists so that they have been able to get used to the ball. Apparently they have not taken advantage of that if we are only hearing this criticism now. I am quite surprised in these circumstances."
Brazil has been in South Africa since Thursday and Cesar described the World Cup balls as "terrible," comparing them with cheap ones bought in a supermarket. Casillas said the balls were "in an appalling condition."
Field players have been critical too. Brazil striker Luis Fabiano described the ball as "weird" and suddenly changing trajectory and Italy's Giampaolo Pazzini said it was "a disaster."
"It moves so much and makes it difficult to control," the Italian striker said. "You jump up to head a cross and suddenly the ball will move and you miss it."
In contrast, several German players have said they were happy with the new ball, although some of them or their clubs have Adidas sponsorship.
Mario Gomez, who scored with the ball for Bayern Munich, said he found it "a little harder."
"It hurts a little, but if you hit it right, it flies," he said.
Asked why the ball behaved differently at altitude, where many of the games will be played in South Africa, Van Schaik said that applied to all balls.
"It does what every ball does (at altitude) and that really doesn't have anything to do with it," he said. "The different air pressure at altitude does make the ball move faster. We did have extensive testing with regard to altitude."
Van Schaik also said he thinks the criticism will taper off once the games start.
"If you look back in history there have always been criticisms about the ball before the World Cup but not so much afterwards after you've seen great goals or great saves," he said.
"The ball is much more accurate, making the best players in the world even better. If they kick the ball they want it to go where they are aiming for and even the goalkeepers get a better idea of where the ball is going."
-- Robert Millward
Felipe Melo dismisses any problems with Kaka
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo said Monday there was no animosity between him and Kaka after a misunderstanding during practice led to speculation that the two were not talking to each other.
Some Brazilian media reported that Kaka was upset with Felipe Melo after a hard challenge during a practice session at the team's camp in South Africa, but the Juventus player said he was not involved in the play and was unjustly accused.
The misunderstanding occurred after a photograph was published showing Kaka apparently not wanting help from Felipe Melo to get up after the tackle. It was actually Robinho who went in hard on Kaka.
Felipe Melo was upset with the newspapers and websites that published the story, and said he was considering a lawsuit. A Brazilian newspaper ran the story and the photo, which were later picked up by some Italian and Brazilian websites.
"I'm not a bad person," Felipe Melo said. "The way they had it, it seems like I'm a bad person. If I go hard in a challenge, it's because it's the way I play, but not because I'm a bad person. ... I have family, they see this and they will come to me asking why I'm doing this to Kaka."
The Brazilian football confederation said in a statement on its website that the incident between Felipe Melo and Kaka, who are expected to start in Brazil's midfield, did not take place.
"Felipe Melo felt he was unjustly blamed for something that never happened," the confederation said. "He is Kaka's friend."
Felipe Melo said he later talked to Kaka and explained what happened.
"(Kaka's) only word to me was, 'unfair'," the defensive midfielder said.
After Monday's practice, it was clear there were no hard feelings. When Kaka went down hard after a challenge from Daniel Alves, Felipe Melo quickly approached the playmaker and gave him a hug. Laughing, both players turned to the journalists to make sure they were watching.
The Brazilians have been practicing hard since arriving in South Africa last week. Kaka and Luis Fabiano are coming off injuries, but coach Dunga has not asked players to go easy on them or any others.
"On the contrary," striker Luis Fabiano said. "He is asking us to play hard and dedicate ourselves. It's a tough competition and it will require a lot from us. We need to be ready."
Dunga again practiced the starters against the reserves on Monday, keeping Elano in midfield and Michel Bastos at left back. The coach seems to have his starting lineup set for Brazil's opening World Cup Group G match, against North Korea on June 15.
Brazil will then face the Ivory Coast on June 20 and Portugal on June 25.
The five-time champion will play a warmup against Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday.
-- Tales Azzoni
Luis Fabiano aims to win WCup for grandfather
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Brazil striker Luis Fabiano is playing in the World Cup to win a title for his late grandfather.
The Sevilla forward known for his razor-sharp finishing ability and sometimes hot temper turned emotional when asked about his motivation going into the tournament in South Africa. Luis Fabiano was raised by his grandfather Benedito, and said that if Brazil wins the trophy he will dedicate it to the man who helped him become a professional footballer.
"I would like to win this to honor him," the 29-year-old player said. "Unfortunately he has passed away, but the title would be for him."
Luis Fabiano said that since he was young his grandfather would walk around with newspaper clippings about him in his pocket, bragging about him to everybody.
"He was my biggest fan and an idol to me," the striker said. "I think about him in all my victories."
Luis Fabiano is expected to play a large role in Brazil's bid for a sixth World Cup title, having scored five goals in helping the team win the Confederations Cup last year. Before that tournament, the striker pledged to score a goal per game — and lived up to his promise.
He's not making any brash predictions this time, but made it no secret that he hopes to contend for the scoring title.
"The striker is there to score goals and in a World Cup every goal usually is decisive," he said. "I want to help Brazil win the World Cup and I will try to score as many goals as possible."
For a while, however, he worried he may not be able to play at all. He hurt a muscle while playing for Sevilla in May and feared the injury could jeopardize his presence in South Africa.
"I didn't know how serious it was," Luis Fabiano said. "It wasn't until I had the exams and showed them to the Brazilian doctors that I felt relieved. They said there would be enough time for me to recover before the World Cup."
The left thigh injury kept Fabiano from playing with Sevilla in the Copa del Rey final, but he went into intensive treatment after reporting to the Brazilian national team on May 21. He still is undergoing treatment but has been practicing normally and will likely play in Brazil's friendly at Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
"I'll be a bit cautious in the friendly, but I'll be ready," he said.
Besides injuries keeping him off the field, the striker has also been known to earn too many red cards because of his hot temper. He said that's a thing of the past, however, as he has matured with age.
"I didn't accept losing and didn't like getting hit too much on the field," the striker said. "Now I can control myself. I'm not a kid anymore. Time does that to you. I'm a different Luis Fabiano now."
-- Tales Azzoni
Lula asks Brazil to unite for World Cup
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva wants the country to unite for the World Cup and end the debate over the squad that coach Dunga has assembled for the tournament.
Silva is a passionate football fan and made the plea Monday speaking on his weekly radio program "Coffee with the President."
This year's Brazil teams includes fewer stars, and Dunga has been criticized for not picking players like AC Milan playmaker Ronaldinho. Five-time champion Brazil plays in Group G and faces North Korea, Ivory Coast and Portugal.
"I want us to win the World Cup," Silva said. "I believe Dunga has called up the best players we have at the moment. It's not just a team of great individuals, but rather a team that works together and is motivated."
Silva said he expected to visit five African countries in July and anticipated attending the World Cup final on July 11.
"If it's God will, it will be Brazil against some other team."
Mandela's group says World Cup will help Africa
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A group of international statesmen and women brought together by Nelson Mandela have expressed excitement but also some concerns at the prospect of the first World Cup being held in Africa.
The Elders include Nobel Peace Prize winners Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter and the first woman president of Ireland, Mary Robinson.
Another member, Graca Machel, a human rights campaigner who is married to Mandela, said Africa is often portrayed negatively, and the World Cup is an opportunity for it to be seen in a positive manner.
"Sports can express some of the best values we carry as a human family," she said.
Robinson was concerned about small street vendors being pushed aside during the tournament, which starts June 11. Vendors and their advocates have complained that restriction on activity near stadiums established by FIFA, the international football body, make it difficult for hawkers to make a living.
Robinson also said the World Cup will draw attention to the problem of human trafficking. There have been concerns trafficking will increase during the World Cup because of the demand for sex workers and other workers.
The Elders also addressed crises in Zimbabwe and Israel. Jimmy Carter described Zimbabwe as "a tragedy waiting to be solved" and called for elections scheduled there next year should be fair and the outcome should be accepted peacefully.
Overnight, Israeli troops stormed at least one ship in a flotilla of vessels carrying 10,000 tons of relief supplies to Gaza.
The Elders strongly condemned the Israeli attack, saying the violence should draw the world's attention to the suffering of Gaza's 1.5 million people, of which most are children.
-- Tshego Letshwiti
Nigeria names final squad for World Cup
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria coach Lars Lagerback has named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup after cutting seven players, a team spokesman said Monday.
Nigeria Football Federation spokesman Ademola Olajire told The Associated Press that Everton striker Victor Anichebe was among those cut from the Super Eagles' provisional 30-man list. Anichebe had returned to action with the English Premier League club at the beginning of May after suffering an injury during a match against Bolton in March.
Olajire gave no explanation why Anichebe was dropped. Lagerback also left out Peter Utaka, the brother of Portsmouth and Super Eagles forward John Utaka, while defender Onyekachi Apam of Nice failed to make the squad after sitting out a warmup match with an injury.
Lagerback also dropped the only two Nigeria-based players who had been in the enlarged squad — goalkeeper Akpan Bassey and defender Peter Suswan — but the Swedish coach retained veteran forward Nwankwo Kanu, who made his international debut in 1994 and captained Nigeria to gold at the 1996 Olympics.
Nigeria finished third at this year's African Cup of Nations, leading the federation to sack Amodu Shaibu as coach after the tournament and bring in Lagerback, who had resigned as Sweden coach after failing to qualify his country for South Africa.
Nigeria's performances in its friendly matches have not been especially impressive. The Super Eagles drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia, which failed to qualify for the World Cup, and were not able to field Chelsea midfielder Jon Obi Mikel, who sat out the game due to injury. Nigeria then salvaged a 1-1 draw against Colombia on Sunday.
Nigeria will face North Korea in a final warmup match on June 6, and will play Argentina, Greece and South Korea in its World Cup group.
-- Jon Gambrell
Argentina-born Barrios heads Paraguay team
ASUNCION, Paraguay (AP) — Argentina-born Lucas Barrios heads Paraguay's final 23-man World Cup squad named by coach Gerardo Martino on Monday.
Martino, who is an Argentine, announced the final squad a day before the FIFA deadline.
Barrios, who plays for German club Borussia Dortmund, received his Paraguay passport just a few weeks ago. In just two friendlies with Paraguay he has scored twice — once in a 2-1 loss to Ireland, and the other in a 2-2 draw against fellow qualifier Ivory Coast.
Barrios was eligible for a Paraguay passport because his mother was born there.
Barrios is expected to be the replacement for Salvador Cabanas, who survived a point-blank gunshot wound to the head in January in a Mexico City bar. He was playing for Mexico club America.
Cabanas was released just over a week ago from a rehabilitation clinic in Buenos Aires and was expected to attend the World Cup as a fan.
Paraguay is making its fourth straight appearance in the World Cup and plays a friendly against fellow qualifier Greece on Wednesday in the Swiss city of Winterthur.
Paraguay is in Group F in South Africa, along with New Zealand, Slovakia and defending champion Italy.
South Korea names 23-man squad for World Cup
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea coach Huh Jung-moo has named his final World Cup squad of 23 players.
The list was reduced from 26, with midfielders Ku Ja-cheol of Jeju United and Pohang Steelers' Shin Hyung-min missing the cut, along with Japan-based striker Lee Keun-ho.
Defender Kang Min-soo was back on the list to replace Kwak Tae-hwi, who injured his knee in Sunday's 1-0 warm-up loss to Belarus.
Striker Lee Dong-gook made the final team despite not being fully recovered from a hamstring injury.
The final squad was released early Tuesday by the Korea Football Association in Seoul to meet FIFA's June 1 deadline.
"I have considered the opinions of the coaching staff and the medical and physical teams," Huh said from the team's Austrian training camp. "Lee Keun-ho hasn't been able to get over his poor run of form. Shin Hyung-min didn't look sharp against Belarus, and it's unfortunate but Ku Ja-cheol wasn't selected."
The 2002 World Cup semifinalists face European champion Spain in a warmup match on Thursday in Innsbruck before leaving for South Africa and Group B games with Greece on June 12, Argentina five days later and Nigeria on June 22.
Xavi: Spain has "good feeling" ahead of World Cup
SCHRUNS, Austria (AP) — Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez said Monday that Spain was heading to the World Cup in a similar state of mind to the one it had when it won the 2008 European Championship.
Xavi said that although there were new players involved and a new coach in charge, the "good feeling" in the squad was the same as it was two years ago.
The extra experience in top-level competitions should also help Spain at the tournament, Xavi said on Monday at the squad's Austrian training camp.
"It won't be easy but we have to go with excitement, knowing we can compete with anyone, and let's see if it's true that Spain's time has come at the World Cup," he said.
Spain beat Saudi Arabia 3-2 in a World Cup warmup on Saturday and plays South Korea in Innsbruck on Thursday in its next friendly. It takes on Switzerland, Honduras and Chile in Group H at the World Cup.
Brazil referee headed to WCup loudly criticized
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The Brazilian referee headed to the World Cup is being heavily criticized at home after a poor outing in a domestic league match.
Carlos Eugenio Simon is being accused by local media of missing several key calls in Vasco's 1-1 draw against Botafogo over the weekend, and both coaches are complaining about the referee's poor performance.
It was Simon's last match before traveling to South Africa to officiate matches at his second World Cup.
Simon was suspended last year by the Brazilian football confederation for a series of mistakes, the last one a missed call in a decisive league match which helped decide the title.
Simon's linesmen in Sunday's match were also criticized. They also will travel to officiate at the World Cup.
UN chief, Ugandan leader catch World Cup fever
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Uganda president Yoweri Museveni have been caught up in the World Cup fever sweeping Africa.
Both men came on as second-half substitutes in a match Sunday intended to highlight the work of the International Criminal Court. Museveni's "Dignity" team beat Ban's "Justice" team 1-0 at Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
Museveni and Ban played for about 10 minutes, with Museveni being taken down in the penalty area when clear on goal. Despite his appeals, the Ugandan leader was denied a penalty.
The smiling Museveni was then helped up by Ban.
About 2,000 war victims from across Africa were attending the game.
UN's Ban Ki-moon plays in African football match
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon and Uganda president Yoweri Museveni were second-half substitutes in a football game over the weekend as World Cup fever sweeps across Africa.
Both men came on late in a match intended to highlight the work of the International Criminal Court at the Mandela Stadium on Sunday. Museveni's "Dignity" team in white beat Ban's blue-clad "Justice" team 1-0.
Museveni and Ban played for about for 10 minutes, enough time for Museveni to be brought down in the penalty area when clear on goal. Despite his appeals, the Ugandan leader was denied a penalty.
The smiling Museveni was then helped up by Ban.
About 2,000 war victims from across Africa were brought in to watch the game.
Elsewhere
Jose Mourinho presented as Real Madrid coach
MADRID (AP) — Jose Mourinho said Monday he joined Real Madrid due to its "history, its frustrations of recent years and its hopes of winning," and pledged to build a trophy-winning team with a strong identity during his four years as coach.
Mourinho said at his official presentation that the Spanish team needs to add three or four new players this offseason, although he did not specify which.
The coach was speaking alongside Jorge Valdano, the Madrid managing director, who confirmed Mourinho has signed a four-year deal.
Despite speculation that Mourinho would be given a superstar presentation before Madrid fans, his first appearance as club coach was a relatively low-key affair in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium press room.
Answering questions in Spanish, English and Portuguese, the new coach said he could not guarantee Madrid will win the Champions League for the first time since 2002 under him.
The Portuguese confirmed he wanted to join Madrid after his Inter Milan team beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Champions League final in the Spanish capital May 22 — which made him just the third coach to win the European Cup with two teams after securing the trophy with Porto in 2004. However, he said he had not promised Madrid president Florentino Perez that he will deliver Real's 10th European trophy. The competition is too unpredictable to make such promises, he said.
"Real Madrid has an incredible history in the Champions League and in recent years it has an incredibly bad history," he said of the team's failure to reach the quarterfinal in the last six years. "Now we are starting from scratch."
Mourinho said that he expects all his players to adhere to his vision of team spirit over the individual, even stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I understand that (Ronaldo) is an incredible, important player, not just for Real but for the world of football," he said. "The most important thing is the club, not the players, not the coach. We are little compared to the club."
In two years with Inter, Mourinho led the club to two league titles, one Italian Cup and its first European Cup since 1965. Before that, he led Chelsea to two Premier League titles.
Last summer, Madrid spent large sums on Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema but failed to progress past the first knockout round of the Champions League and finished second in the league to Barcelona.
Madrid fired Manuel Pellegrini on Wednesday despite the coach guiding the team to a record haul of 96 points, three fewer than Barcelona.
Mourinho said he does not fear a similar fate.
"I'm a coach with a great deal of self-esteem and a great deal of self-confidence and I don't think about getting the sack," he said.
Mourinho downplayed expectations for his first season in charge, pointing to the fact that his Champions League successes at Inter and Porto both came in his second year at the clubs.
The coach rejected suggestions that his teams don't normally play the kind of attractive football Madrid is known for, pointing to the eight goals his Porto and Inter teams scored in three European finals.
His Inter team, he said, often played with five attacking players and were well-organized rather than defensive.
"When a lie is repeated over and over, for some unintelligent people that lie becomes a truth," he said. "Pretty, pretty, pretty means Real Madrid winning and that's my motivation."
Valdano pre-empted questions about his relationship with Mourinho by acknowledging that he has criticized the Portuguese in the past. However, Valdano insisted the two have put that dispute behind them and he described Mourinho as "one of the most prestigious coaches in the world."
Valdano said Madrid has reached a "satisfactory" agreement with Inter over Mourinho's departure from the Italian side a year before his contract ends. He did not say how much Madrid had paid Inter to rescind the contract.
-- Guy Hedgecoe
Zico named executive director at Flamengo
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Zico, the greatest player in Flamengo's history, has been named the Rio de Janeiro club's executive director.
Flamengo announced the appointment on Monday, saying Zico would be formally introduced at a news conference Tuesday.
Zico had two spells at Flamengo, the second one ending in 1989. He was widely regarded in the 1980s as one of the world's best players, although he never won the World Cup with Brazil.
Zico coached Japan at the 2006 World Cup, and was fired as coach of Greek club Olympiakos earlier this year.
Beckford joins Everton from Leeds
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Everton has announced the signing of Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford on a four-year contract.
The 26-year-old striker's 31 goals helped Leeds gain promotion to the League Championship in the season just ended. But he declined to sign a new deal to stay at Elland Road and the club canceled his contract.
Beckford moved to Leeds from non-League Wealdstone in March 2006 and his arrival in the top flight at Goodison Park will boost a comparatively under-strength Everton attack that has been badly hit by injuries over the past two seasons.
