Time to consider which midfield players Svennie will bring to the World Cup.

I think the lucky players will be:

• David "dodgy foot" Beckham
  
• Steven "dodgy back" Gerrard
  
• Paul "asmathic" Scholes
  
• Kieron "dodgy legs" Dyer
  
• Jamie "play me anywhere" Carragher
  
• Joe "bring him for experience" Cole
  
• Nicky "unfortunate surname" Butt
  

I don't think that Macca will go (although I think he's great to have as a joker in the pack). Some have said that Owen Hargreaves will go, but I'm not sure you want to bring too many inexperienced players; I'd choose Danny Murphy over Hargreaves.

 
Go with Macca, Zidane tells Sven
Would you listen to a Frenchman on who to select for the World Cup, especially since it's likely that France will play England in the Second Round?

 
Another Man Utd England Squad player, another broken metatarsal

Gary Neville was carried off during Manchester United's Champions League semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen at Old Trafford, having broken a metatarsal bone in his foot.

Is this some sort of curse? Have Spain and Germany (along with the Swedes) been plotting against the English national team? You know, "you take out their manager, we'll take out their players".

I wonder who Michael Owen will be going up against in the last two Premiership games...

 
U.S. World Cup squad announced

Well, the yanks look to be first out of the gate. I assume the US league is out of season now.

Who would have thought? The US are only one out of seven teams who will be playing in the World Cup for the fourth time in the row - who are the other six?

 
Italy gripped by 'miracle' of Roberto Baggio
Is Roberto Baggio the Alan Shearer of Italian football? The ponytail wonder seems to have done enough in 20 minutes to push himself back into contention into the world cup squad.

My thoughts? If you're over 30 and you're going to the World Cup, you'd better be in the starting eleven. Otherwise leave your place open to the young 'uns.

 
Small rant against the World Cup
Had to include this: Errolyn put in her ten sen worth of thoughts about the World Cup.

 
Of course, just when you think it's all over, that's when the ex-England managers start backing you. Hoddle and Robson have both lent support to the "Shearer for En-ger-land" campaign, and I'm sure pundits now are penning the phrases "inspirational leader" and "dedicated professional" to fill the column inches (In much the same vein as a Beckham with a broken foot is still of value).

On the other hand, if Lua Lua has an English great-granduncle, that would be something to consider.

BTW, Adik, don't forget to 'publish' after you post things so that they update.

 
Sweden still spurn their most talented striker

An analysis of the upcoming England-Sweden game (a month before it happens!). Looks like the English are going to have to depend on the wings for penetration. So, I ask you, where's McManaman?

 
Ehiogu set for shock comeback

Aha... timely reminder that I should add Ehiogu to my list of defenders.

Well, if I can't get Villa players, ex-Villa will do!

 
By the way: FIFA is going to annouce final squad lists on 24 May, so we have another 30 days or so of hypothesising.

 
Time to also get to the nitty-gritty, I guess. Question of the day: Which keepers and defenders will Sven Go-on-my-Eriks-son bring to the World Cup?

My guesses:

• David "I'm getting too old for this" Seaman
  
• Nigel "Fat Boy" Martyn
  
• David "how does it feel to be a backup to a backup" James
  
• Sol "the quickest way to Japan" Campbell
  
• "can't stand either of them" Neville and Neville
  
• Ashley "good going forward, but can't tackle to save my life" Cole
  
• Rio "positioning" Ferdinand
  
• Gareth "learned his craft at Villa" Southgate
  

and, dare I say it,

• Martin "zimmerframe" Keown.
  

I'd like Southgate to go, I wish the Neville brothers weren't going (try Carragher and Barry/LeSux instead in defence), and I hate the idea the idea that Keown may be going. Really, really dislike it with a passion. Horse-boy will be a target of mine if he plays. On the other hand, he should gel well with Campbell.

 
Let it be known - the Abang-Adik World Cup Story begins here!

First things first: We need a name for the blog that's suitable. All I have at the moment is "My World Cup Runneth Over", which seemed to evoke the passion but it doesn't really make much sense.

Suggestions, adik?