Tim Cahill looks set to play in a fourth World Cup finals.
Sydney - Injury-hit Russia named their team with their hopes of performing respectably as hosts riding on attacking duo Fyodor Smolov and Artem Dzyuba
Published: Sun 3 Jun 2018, 9:31 PM
Updated: Sun 3 Jun 2018, 11:42 PM
Tim Cahill looks set to play in a fourth World Cup finals at the age of 38 this month after being included in Bert van Marwijk's final 23-man Australia squad for Russia on Sunday. The totemic forward made the cut along with 32-year-old defensive midfielder Mark Milligan, who is also included in the Socceroos squad for a fourth successive tournament even if he never got on to the pitch in Germany in 2006.
Squad:Goalkeepers: Mat Ryan, Danny Vukovic, Brad Jones. Defenders: Aziz Behich, Milos Degenek, Matthew Jurman, James Meredith, Josh Risdon, Trent Sainsbury. Midfielders: Mile Jedinak, Jackson Irvine, Robbie Kruse, Massimo Luongo, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic. Forwards: Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Matthew Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, Dimitri Petratos, Daniel Arzani, Jamie Maclaren.
Smolov and Dzyuba to spearhead Russia's attack
Injury-hit Russia named their World Cup 23 on Sunday with their hopes of performing respectably as hosts riding on attacking duo Fyodor Smolov and Artem Dzyuba. Coach Stanislav Cherchesov has lost Spartak full-back Georgi Dzhikiya, CSKA defender Viktor Vasin and Zenit St Petersburg striker Alexander Kokorin to knee ligament injuries, while Spartak Moscow goalkeeper Alexander Selikhov has ruptured his Achilles tendon.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev, Vladimir Gabulov, Andrey Lunev. Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fyodor Kudryashov, Ilya Kutepov, Andrey Semyonov, Igor Smolnikov, Mario Fernandes, Sergei Ignashevich. Midfielders: Yury Gazinsky, Alan Dzagoev, Alexander Golovin, Alexander Erokhin, Yury Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev, Roman Zobnin, Alexander Samedov, Anton Miranchuk, Denis Cheryshev. Forwards: Artem Dzyuba, Alexei Miranchuk, Fyodor Smolov.
Lee makes it to South Korea team
South Korea left Sunday for their pre-World Cup camp with youngster Lee Seung-woo in their final 23-man squad and Swansea midfielder Ki Sung-yeung named as captain. Tottenham's talismanic forward Son Heung-min leads the Taeguk Warriors front line, though Crystal Palace midfielder Lee Chung-yong failed to make it to a third World Cup when he was cut late Saturday from the 28-man provisional squad before they departed for a pre-World Cup camp in Austria.
South Korea squad: Goalkeepers: Kim Seung-gyu, Kim Jin-hyeon, Cho Hyun-woo. Defenders: Kim Young-gwon, Jang Hyun-soo, Jung Seung-hyeon, Yun Yong-sun, Oh Ban-suk, Kim Min-woo, Park Joo-ho, Hong Chul, Go Yo-han, Lee Yong. Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng, Jung Woo-young, Ju Se-jong, Koo Ja-cheol, Lee Jae-sung, Lee Seung-woo, Moon Seon-min. Forwards: Kim Shin-wook, Son Heung-min, Hwang Hee-chan.
Nigeria pic Echiejile and Nwankwo
Experienced fullback Elderson Echiejile, whose career has been languishing in the Belgian second division, and Simeon Nwankwo, who won a first cap last week, were both included as Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr on Sunday finalised his 23-man squad for the World Cup.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Francis Uzoho. Defenders: Chidozie Awaziem, Leon Balogun, Tyronne Ebuehi, Elderson Echiejiole, Brian Idowu, Kenneth Omeruo, Abdullahi Shehu, William Ekong Troost. Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo, John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Joel Obi, John Ogu, Ogenyi Onazi. Forwards: Odion Ighalo, Kelechi Iheanacho, Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, Ahmed Musa, Simeon Nwankwo.