Le Guen announces Cameroon squad

Cameroon named uncapped Gaetan Bong and Eric Choupo-Moting in their 23-man World Cup squad on Saturday, even though the pair have yet to receive Fifa approval to play for the Indomitable Lions.

Fifa on Friday confirmed receipt of an application from Cameroon to use Bong and Choupo-Moting, previously capped at junior level by France and Germany respectively, but said the documentation was incomplete.

"We have already started the relevant investigations, however, to this day, the files are not yet complete and therefore we are in contact with the Cameroon Football Federation," a Fifa spokesman said.

"Cases can take different periods of time to review, dependent on the amount of information which is supplied by the respective FA, and how quickly."

Coach Paul Le Guen named German-born Marcel Ndjeng on stand-by in case Fifa turn down the application by either Bong or Choupo-Moting.

Le Guen included Vincent Aboubakar from Coton Sport in his final 23, a rare run for the home-based player at a major tournament for Cameroon.

Long-serving defender Rigobert Song will play in a fourth World Cup tournament, having debuted as a teenager in the United States in 1994.

Cameroon are in Group E for the June 11 to July 11 tournament, with the Netherlands, Denmark and Japan.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes), Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor)

Defenders: Benoit Assou-Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Sebastien Bassong (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Stephane Mbia (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Nkoulou (Monaco), Rigobert Song (Trabzonspor).

Midfielders: Achille Emana (Real Betis), Enoh Eyong (Ajax Amsterdam), Jean Makoun (Olympique Lyon), Georges Mandjeck (Kaiserslautern), Joel Matip (Schalke 04), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal)

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Moting (Nuremburg), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan), Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Achille Webo (Real Mallorca).

Llorente nicks late winner for Spain, USA beat Turkey

London - Fernando Llorente headed an injury-time winner as Spain continued their World Cup preparations with a 3-2 friendly victory over Saudi Arabia in Innsbruck.

USA, meanwhile, who face England in the finals in a fortnight, came from behind to beat Guus Hiddink's Turkey 2-1.

Vicente del Bosque's side are second favourites to lift the trophy in South Africa next month, but they struggled for rhythm, and a draw would probably have been a fair result.

Saudi Arabia, as though eager to make a point having missed out on the World Cup after five straight qualification, started brightly and took an 18th-minute lead.

Spain keeper Iker Casillas misjudged the flight of a corner, and Osama Hawsawi headed in.

Playing a 4-2-3-1 with Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso included at the back of midfield, Spain controlled possession, but it took them 13 minutes to pull level, David Villa heading in his 37th international goal.

They went ahead 13 minutes into the second half, Alonso pouncing after Iniesta's attempted through-ball was blocked, to sweep in a 25-yard shot.

But Saudi Arabia were neat and enterprising on the counter, and deservedly levelled with 16 minutes to go, a fluent passing move found Mohamed Al Sahlawi.

He turned and shot, and the ball flicked off Al Numare on its way past Casillas.

But as the clock ticked past 90, Llorente, the Athletic Bilbao target-man, headed in a right-wing corner to make it 3-2.

In Philadelphia, the USA turned in an impressive second-half display to beat Turkey, who will not be in South Africa.

Arda Turan put Turkey ahead on the break after 27 minutes, but Jozy Altidore levelled just before the hour following some fine work from Landon Donovan and Robbie Findley.

Clint Dempsey claimed the winner from another Donovan pass with quarter of an hour remaining.

Enoh Eyong scored a late equalizer as Cameroon drew 1-1 with fellow World Cup-qualifiers Slovakia in friendly in Klagenfurt.

The Indomitable Lions were without their captain and key centre-forward Samuel Eto'o, who began the day threatening to quit the international game after being criticized by Cameroon legend Roger Milla.

Although they had plenty of the ball, Cameroon rarely threatened,and the leveller, scored with four minutes remaining, came from their first real chance.

Playing characteristically intelligent passing football, Slovakia took the lead after six minutes.

Marek Hamsik controlled Miroslav Stoch's pass well in the box,turned and laid it off to Kopunek, who carved the ball into the top corner with the outside of his right foot from just outside the box.

It was his first goal for his country in his eighth international. Running onto a smart pass from one substitute, Vladimir Weiss, another half-time replacement, Stanislav Sestak slammed a shot against the crossbar four minutes after half-time.

The ball bounced down, seemingly over the line, but the goal wasn't given.

It seemed as though it wouldn't matter, but Eyong took down Benoit Assou-Ekotto's cross on his chest and scooped the ball over goalkeeper Dusan Kuciak, who was perhaps a little slow off his line.

It was Cameroon's first goal in three games.

Kuciak was then carried off with a knee injury, but there was better news on the injury front for Slovakia in that Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel, who missed much of the season through injury,passed through the game unscathed.

Germany recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Hungary in Budapest, second-half goals from Mario Gomez and Cacau making the game safe after Lukas Podolski had converted an early penalty.

Serbia, many people's dark horses for the World Cup, suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to New Zealand, Shane Smeltz getting the goal midway through the first half

Cacau shines as Germany down Hungary

Striker Cacau scored his third goal in two games for his adopted country to seal Germany's 3-0 win over Hungary in a World Cup warm-up friendly here on Saturday.

Brazilian-born Cacau, who qualified to play for Germany last year, came off the bench to add to the two goals he scored in the 3-0 win over Malta to strengthen his case for the starting line-up for Germany's World Cup side.

Germany start their World Cup campaign in Group D on June 13 against Australia and fly to South Africa on June 7 after their final warm-up game against Bosnia-Herzegovina next Thursday.

Alongside Cacau, Lukas Podolski and Mario Gomez weighed in with goals to cap impressive performances.

With Germany captain Michael Ballack injured and out of next month's World Cup, Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose took over the skipper's armband.

Having played in last weekend's Champions League final defeat, Bayern Munich quartet Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Hans-Joerg Butt and Germany's new World Cup captain Philipp Lahm were all rested.

Like Loew, Hungarian coach Erwin Koeman opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation with Augsburg forward Sandor Torghelle as the lone striker.

Germany opened the score at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium when Podolski, playing as an attacking midfielder, drilled in a long-range shot which Hungarian goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly palmed over the bar.

From the resulting corner, defender Per Mertesacker was fouled in the penalty area and referee Claus Larsen of Denmark had no hesitation awarding the penalty.

Kiraly dived to his left and Podolski rifled his shot into the top right-hand corner to make it 1-0 to Germany after four minutes.

To compound things for the hosts, defender Laszlo Bodnar was shown the first yellow card moments later for hauling down Podolski on the edge of the penalty area.

Germany hammered the Hungarian defence in the first 20 minutes with Bremen's Mesut Oezil going close with three clear chances to score.

Trochowski was booked in the 41st minute for a heavy tackle.

It finished 1-0 at the break, but early in the second-half Loew brought on Stuttgart striker Cacau for midfielder Oezil and defender Dennis Aogo came on for midfielder Sami Khedira.

Germany temporarily dropped their tempo in the second-half and with 60 minutes gone, Loew introduced Marcel Jansen for rising star Toni Kroos, Marko Marin for Trochowski and Gomez for Klose.

Marin, who was a constant threat, made an instant impression when he slid a pass through to Gomez who beat Kiraly on 69 minutes.

Kiraly's luck did not improve as his clearance kick was headed into the path of Cacau who drew the goalkeeper and tapped home his shot on 72 minutes to seal a convincing display from his side.

Capello prepares to gamble on Barry

Fabio Capello has admitted he is prepared to take a gamble on the fitness of Gareth Barry because he feels the Manchester City midfielder is so central to his World Cup plans.
Barry injured ankle ligaments in City’s Premier League game against Tottenham on May 5th, and is still unable to train, but Capello is prepared to take him to South Africa even if the midfielder will not be fit until after England’s first Group C game, against the USA, on June 12.
England play their final warm-up game, a friendly against Japan in Graz, Austria, today, and it is Capello’s last chance to assess his players before reducing his training squad of 30 to a final 23 on Tuesday.
The Italian coach has previously taken a strong line on injured players, but is prepared to give Barry more time to prove his fitness.
“Gareth Barry is a very important player. He has played in all the qualifying games for us,” said Capello.
“After this game we have to decide if he will be with us in South Africa. He will be with us if we decide he can train normally after the first game, against the USA.” Capello dismissed fears about Steven Gerrard’s fitness, after the Liverpool midfielder appeared to break down in training after playing in last Monday’s 3-1 victory over Mexico. “He is fit and trained very well. He did everything and there is absolutely no problem. He was tired after the game against Mexico but now he is fit,” added Capello. Capello will change his starting lineup against Japan, with David James restored in goal, Sunderland striker Darren Bent in attack and Tottenham pair Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon in midfield.
“I have to know some players better, and try a different style on the pitch.”
Asked if he will consult his senior players before choosing his final squad, Capello replied: “No, I decide because if we lose, I want to know that I lose with my decisions.
“We need leaders on the pitch and leaders in the dressing room. The senior players are sometimes leaders, and they need to understand my ideas and to speak with the other players. They need to be strong and I said to the players I want to see the English spirit.
“You can have an Italian manager, a Brazilian, Swedish or Scottish manager, and learn different styles. But the really important thing I want to see is the English spirit on the pitch.”
England have chosen Japan because of their similarity in style to Brazil and because England have not played an Asian team since a friendly against them six years ago.
“The Japanese team is very good. They play in a style like Brazil, with a lot of touches and always four or five players in front of goal, and it will be interesting for us to play against a team from Asia.”