Irish plan to make it a family affair
I made a slight mistake earlier; the Irish are bringing the wives along, but are limiting contact with them!

 
Japan World Cup squad announced

I only recognise Hidetoshi Nakata and I think that Japan need him if they are to move on through to the second round.

On the other hand, I think that they will make it through to the next round.

 
Scholes: Divers will surface

So, if Michael Owen runs into peoples' thighs and then falls over them (as he is prone to do), is he diving or intentionally tripping?

 
French encouraged to bring wives along

"The French doctor said no specific psychological work was to be undertaken, adding that players' wives would be allowed to join their husbands before the first two games.

'Bringing wives or friends to an event like this one is not only good,' Ferret said. 'It's crucial.'"

 
Rivaldo certain to play at World Cup

Hurrah! Hopefully, that means we can see him play in Malaysia too!

 
Belgium name World Cup Squad

Mpenza, Wilmots et al.

 
Soup is Russian recipe for glory
Makes me wonder what sort of menu the Malaysian team would bring along...

"Eh, that fish no good lah... it's like they didn't cook it properly. Come, mix it up with this sambal belacan, it tastes much better!"

 
Desailly writes off England's chances
A bit of psychology never hurt anyone, eh? Personally I think it's a load of old tosh, but he's the World Cup winner and not me, so maybe I shouldn't really say so.

Sven has got it right when he picked a team that didn't include 'trouble-makers' and included people with a desire to win and an ability to lead, as well as the raw skills to succeed. It's a different matter if your most talented players are also the ones most likely to go out for a tankup the night before a match, but I believe England has enough talent that this shouldn't be a problem. Alan Smith, John Terry - take note.

Anyway, it's the will to win that's important. And the more that people rubbish England, the harder they seem to try to prove critics wrong.

 
Sven-Goran Eriksson was today banking on the 'English character' to overcome adversity in the World Cup

Oh dear.

 
McCarthy plays down Roy Keane fears
Noooo... the most influential player in the Irish squad, his loss would be even more strongly felt than an England squad missing both Beckham and Gerrard. Hope he gets better.

 
Chilavert promises pain for Spain

It isn't often you hear one goalkeeper threatening another that he's going to put one past him!

 
Poles must pay to take wives along
Hmm... I remember that the Irish FA said something similar and the wives were not happy with it.

What's the problem? These people are going overseas to work, and when people normally go on business trips, their significant others don't usually come along for free.

Even if they do boost morale.

 
More World Cup Squads announced

• Russia - Vetran Onopko is still in the squad, along with Valery Karpin.
  
• Spain Oooh... lick your lips in anticipation. You would think that any squad with players like Mendieta, Helguera, Luis Enrique, Raul and Morientes would do well at the World Cup... and I think they will this time!
  
• Portugal No surprises here, with Figo, Rui Costa, Paulo Sousa, Nuno Gomes and Joao Pinto named in the squad.
  

 
Beckham will not play before Sweden
"Even in Germany, where Beckham is rather less popular, a team of scientists spend every working hour developing the shoe that will protect his fast-healing metatarsal from uninvited attention in Japan this summer."

I can just see the potential for sabotage:

"Eh, how come my right boot so heavy?"

"Erm... it's just the way the steel welding pinches on the foot, I guess"

 
Sven's men suffer battle fatigue

I'm just waiting for The Sun to start encouraging readers to send in any zinc they can find to Dubai...

 
Gerrard gloom is Sinclair jackpot

Sinclair is in, but shurely he's more of a Dyer replacement?

Anyway, understatement of the World Cup season so far: "Steve McManaman yesterday described his omission from the squad as 'very confusing'."

 
"Which injured player will England miss the most?"

There's a poll at the Soccernet website asking this question. Their choices are: Jamie Carragher, Kieron Dyer, Gary Neville and Steven Gerrard.

 
Gerard out, Dyer needs miracle
Sven must be cursing out loud now. Despite his insistance that he would not blame anything on 'bad luck' and that England has enough talent within its shores (or even in Madrid, if you ask me), the truth is that only one man in the named original England squad delivered goal-scoring chances to Michael Owen, week in and week out.

Even the talismanic right boot of Beckham may not be of much use if he's going to be stuck on the right-hand side of the field. Despite Owen's impressive prowess in the air for his size, the fact is that he still prefers the ball in front of him to pounce on.

Teddy Sheringham suddenly looks to be a possible midfield provider, good with his head and able to provide the telling pass when necessary, but putting him in instead of Heskey provides one less target man for Beckham's crosses and it's not likely that England would play without the free-scoring Paul Scholes.

Perhaps Sven would consider playing three at the back...?

 
England can turn adversity to advantage
An article promoting the benefits of having real left-sided players playing on the left (stand up, Mr Bridge) as well as the possibilityof playing 4-3-3.