Dubai: Europe's soccer super powers provided plenty of food for thought yesterday as their preliminary squads for this year's World Cup in South Africa were unveiled.
England and Italy finally put pen to paper after months of speculation as fans were left to ponder the wisdom of their respective coaches ahead of the June 11 showcase.
England probably provided the shock of the day with the return of Jamie Carragher after three years of self-imposed exile, although the omission of Francesco Totti from Italy's squad will no doubt be hotly debated by fans of the Azzurri.
Carragher's return to the international fold had been tipped widely by the British press but still represents a significant turnaround for the 32-year-old, who retired from international football in frustration at not being selected in his preferred centre back position.
"The FA got in touch a few weeks ago and asked if I would have a rethink, due to injury problems. I said I would make myself available," Carragher told AFP.
"The World Cup and Champions League are the highest levels of football. I'm not getting any younger, we have no Champions League football next season and I am keen to work under (England manager) Fabio Capello."
Meanwhile, uncapped Manchester City midfielder Adam Johnson and Tottenham Hotspur centre-back Michael Dawson were also surprise names on the England list.
Forwards
Darren Bent, who was third-top scorer in the Premier League last season with 24, was among the forwards bidding to accompany first choice Wayne Rooney, who netted 26 league goals, but there was no place for Carlton Cole or Bobby Zamora.
Capello, who will cut the squad for South Africa to 23 at the end of the month, will take his 30 players to a high-altitude training camp in Austria and has friendlies against Mexico and Japan to help him make his final decision.
Meanwhile, Italy manager Marcello Lippi decided against bringing Totti out of international retirement.
AS Roma captain Totti, who quit the national side after their 2006 World Cup triumph, had considered making himself available for the finals, but the inconsistent Azzurri will have to do without his creativity. Lippi has not disclosed if Totti had offered to play.
The inclusion of Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi at the expense of Juventus centre back Nicola Legrottaglie provided the only other element of surprise in the 30-man squad, which will be cut to 23 next Tuesday.
In other news, striker Adriano and former World Player of the Year Ronaldinho were left out of the Brazil World Cup squad named by coach Dunga yesterday. Playmaker Ronaldinho has not been picked for Brazil since April last year although an improved season with AC Milan had led to hopes of a recall for the finals in South Africa.
England:
- Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
- Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).
- Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Parker (West Ham United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).
- Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Sunderland), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).
Italy:
- Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo).
- Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan).
- Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).
- Forwards: Marco Borriello (AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal).
