The train has left for South Africa and several of soccer’s biggest names have missed the trip. With just a month remaining before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, coaches have named their preliminary rosters which will begin training together in preparation for the finals starting June 11.
In a changing of the guard, several established stars now reaching the ends of their careers have been left at home. In Brazil, highly recognized national team regulars Ronaldinho and Adriano were not selected, while young AC Milan starlet Pato also missed out on the action.
Controversial France Coach Raymond Domenech did nothing to keep his name out of the news by not informing 109 cap player Patrick Viera about his non inclusion until it was announced on TV. Also hard to believe, Domenech has left ex-Lyon star and current Real Madrid player Karim Benzema and Arsenal youngster Samir Nasri out of the squad.
Over in Holland Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s bid for one last World Cup run was ended when Holland National Team Coach Bert van Marwijk’s 30-man preliminary roster. Van Nistelrooy played on loan at Hamburg this season in the hope of making the squad, but it was not to be.
Want to know who was selected for the US team? Click Here.
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