A-Leaque Soccer News Australia

Odds to win the World Cup from Sportinbet.

Brazil 3.70
Germany 8.00
England 9.00
Argentina 10.00
Italy 10.00
France 13.00
Holland 14.00
Spain 17.00
Portugal 23.00
Czech Rep 31.00
Mexico 41.00
Sweden 41.00
Ukraine 67.00
Croatia 71.00
Ivory Coast 81.00
Australia 81.00
USA 81.00
Serbia & Montenegro 101.00
Switzerland 126.00
Poland 126.00
Paraguay 201.00
South Korea 201.00
Tunisia 251.00
Ghana 251.00
Japan 251.00
Ecuador 331.00
Costa Rica 501.00
Togo 501.00
Trinidad & Tobago 751.00
Angola 751.00
Saudi Arabia 751.00
Iran 751.00

In bet365's first goal scorer market on the game, Wayne Rooney is priced at 3/1 to open the scoring. Remember, bet365 will give you your money back if he scores the last goal in the game instead, but there could be even better value in backing Cristiano Ronaldo at 11/2 (6/4 to score anytime), as the Portuguese playmaker's pace looks sure to exploit the Black Cats woeful defence. Looking further ahead to the World Cup and, after all that's been written over the past few days regarding a rift between Rooney and Michael Owen, bet365 make the United striker 11/10 to outscore his England strike partner in Germany.

Visit bet365.

What is the difference between 1x2 Coupon Betting and Handicaps?

A 1x2 line gives a player 3 choices: (1) Team A to win, (x) the draw or (2) Team B to win. If regulation plus anytime added on for stoppages ends with the teams tied, the draw wins (overtime, golden goals or penalty shoot-outs do not count for betting purposes). If the draw wins, wagers on either team will lose regardless of whether a team eventually goes on to win the game in overtime, on golden goals or in a penalty shootout.

A Handicap wager or 'Asian handicap' is similar to an NFL spread. For example, at Pinnacle Sports we're currently offering Germany -1 (-156) versus Costa Rica +1 (+148). If Germany wins by exactly 1 goal, the wager is a push. If Germany wins by 2 or more, $156 wagered wins $100 on Germany. If Costa Rica ties or wins, $100 risked wins $148.

Another feature you'll often see with 'Asian handicaps' and totals are "quarter-balls". In the German Bundesliga this week, we're currently offering Bayern Munich -0.5 and -1 (-111), or Hamburger SV +0.5 and +1 (+107). When a handicap lists 2 spreads, half of your bet is wagered at each spread. If you bet on Bayern and they won by exactly 1 goal, half your bet would be graded as a push and the other half would be graded as a win (paying 100 per 111 risked). Quarter-balls are used on totals as well - if you bet over 2.5 and 3.0, a game total of 3 would be half a push and half a win.

Socceroos play a friendly international against Greece in Melbourne tonight. More than 90,000 fans are expected to attend the game. But not all fans will be barracking for the home side! Melbourne has the second largest Greek population outside of Athens.

Current betting on Sportingbet shows the home team Australia at 2.20 with Greece at 3.30 and the draw 3.25.

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has named Middlesbrough striker Mark Viduka as Australia's captain for the 2006 World Cup in Germany next month. The 30-year-old Viduka first captained the national team in the play-off win over Uruguay with regular captain Craig Moore sidelined due to injury.

Australia begins their World Cup campaign against Japan on June 12 and betting is already open. Australia is priced at 2.40, Japan is priced at 2.95, and the draw at 3.20.

No Euro Skeptics - England are 4/1 Favourites! Following a favourable draw in Montreux last week, England are the 4/1 favourites to win Euro 2008. The Three Lions are 2/5 to win Group G, which also contains Croatia (4/1) and Russia (5/1). Poor Scotland have an horrific group which includes Italy (11/10 to win Group B), France (5/4) and Ukraine, who at 9/2 look the best value. The Ukrainian's are notoriously difficult to beat, and no-one will relish a trip to Kiev. Ukraine qualified for this summer's World Cup in a group which included Turkey, Denmark and Euro 2004 Champions Greece.

Euro 2008 - To Qualify for the Finals: 1/20 England, 6/4 Rep.Ireland, 8/1
Wales, 10/1 Scotland, 50/1 N.Ireland. Visit bet365.

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has named his 23 man World Cup Squad for the 2006 World Cup Finals in German with Inter Milan defender and former captain Javier Zanetti a surprise omission. While Zanetti was left in shock at his omission, Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze was all smiles after he won a place in the World Cup squad having recovered from a knee injury.

Argentina World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Oscar Ustari (Independiente).

Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal, Spain), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza, Spain), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy), Leandro Cufre (AS Roma, Italy).

Midfielders: Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United, England), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Italy), Javier Mascherano (Corinthians, Brazil), Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Pablo Aimar (Valencia, Spain), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal, Spain), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain).

Forwards: Carlos Tevez (Corinthians, Brazil), Hernan Crespo (Chelsea, England), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Javier Saviola (Sevilla, Spain), Julio Cruz (Inter Milan, Italy).

World Cup minnows Angola have named their 23 man squad for the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany. Angola World Cup coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves has drafted in Portugal-based duo of Mateus and Marco Airosa and Rui Marques after Gilberto and Maurito had their World Cup dreams shattered because of injury.

Angola World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: João Ricardo (unattached), Lama (Petro Atletico), Mario (InterClube).

Defenders: Delgado (Petro Atletico), Jamba (AS Aviacao), Kali (FC Barreirense, Portugal), Lebo Lebo (Petro Atletico), Loco (Primeiro Agosto), Marco Abreu (Portimonense, Portugal), Marco Airosa (FC Barreirense, Portugal), Rui Marques (Hull City, England).

Midfielders: Andre (Kuwait SC, Kuwait), Edson (Pacos Ferreira, Portugal), Figueiredo, Mendonca (Varzim, Portugal), Miloy (InterClube), Ze Kalanga (Petro Atletico).

Strikers: Akwa (unattached), Andre Titi Buengo (Clermont Foot, France), Flavio (Al Ahli, Egypt), Love (AS Aviacao), Mantorras (Benfica, Portugal), Mateus (Gil Vicente, Portugal).

England are 11/4 with bet365 to repeat their 2002 quarter final exit in Germany. They also bowed out at the last-8 stage during Euro 2004 so there’s bound to be plenty of takers at the current odds.

England are currently 7/1 to win the World Cup and 8/1 to finish Runner-Up. They're 9/2 to reach the semi-final stages and just 5/2 to fall at the last-16 stage instead. For those doomsayers amongst us, they’re 9/2 to fail at the group stages.

You can bet on the 'Stage of Elimination' for every World Cup team with France 4/1 to reach the semi finals, Holland 10/3 to reach the quarter finals and Spain 15/8 to fall at the last 16 stage

Ronaldo (10/1) and fellow team-mates Adriano (12/1) and Ronaldinho (12/1) lead the way on bet365's Top Goalscorer market. This reflects the view that holders Brazil are expected to score many goals during the tournament.

England's Michael Owen is 12/1 with bet365 to win the Golden Boot, with Wayne Rooney at 16/1 and Peter Crouch a huge 50/1 to grab the honours.

Many Premiership strikers feature in bet365's list, including Thierry Henry (14/1), Hernan Crespo (14/1), Ruud Van Nistelrooy (16/1), Milan Baros (40/1) and Djibril Cisse at 50/1 with bet365.

Bet365 are offering odds of 18/1 that England face Germany in the World Cup 2006 final on 9th July in Berlin. This bet has been popular so far, even though the teams could meet as early as the last 16 stage instead.

It's an 11/1 shot that England face Brazil in the final and a generous 20/1 that they come face-to-face with Argentina instead.

Other interesting 'Name the Finalist' selections are Brazil vs Argentina (10/1), Germany vs France (50/1), Italy vs Spain (40/1) while USA vs Iran is a massive 20,000/1!

Croatian coach Branko Ivankovic has named his World Cup Squad for Iran. Ivankovic a former assistant to Croatian World Cup coach Miroslav Blazevic has named five European based players as Iran attempts to reach the second round from Group D.

Iran World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ebrahim Mirzapour (Foolad Khuzestan), Vahid Talebloo (Esteghlal Tehran), Hassan Roudbarian (Pas).

Defenders: Yahya Golmohammadi (Saba Battery), Mohammad Nosrati (Pas), Rahman Rezaei (Messina, Italy), Sattar Zare (Bargh Shiraz), Hossein Kaabi (Foolad Khuzestan), Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh (Saba Battery), Amir Hossein Sadeqi (Esteghlal Tehran).

Midfielders: Javad Nekounam (Sharjah, United Arab Emirates), Anderanik Teymourian (Abomoslem Khorasan), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Hamburg, Germany), Fereydoon Zandi (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Ali Karimi (Bayern Munich, Germany), Mehrzad Madanchi (Persepolis), Javad Kazemian (Persepolis).

Forwards: Ali Daei (Saba Battery), Vahid Hashemian (Hanover, Germany), Reza Enayati (Esteghlal Tehran), Arash Borhani (Pas), Masoud Shojai (Saipa), Rasoul Khatibi (Sepahan Isfahan).

England are 11/4 with bet365 to win all three World Cup group games. Sven Goran Eriksson's men face Paraguay in their first match, Trinidad & Tobago in their second game and Sweden last of all.

The price of 11/4 may seem huge if they manage a win in their first two games. However, if you think it's an ambitious bet, England to score 6 or 7 points instead is a 10/11 shot while bet365 go 2/1 that they score under 6 points instead.

You can bet on the Group Points of every World Cup team with bet365. Brazil are a tempting 13/8 to win each of their three group games.

Switzerland coach Koebi Kuhn has named his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Germany. Despite selecting a squad that lacks experience, Kuhn has left Hakan Yakin out of his World Cup squad as the Swiss make their first appearance at the World Cup Finals in 12 years.

Switzerland World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (CD Nacional, Portugal), Fabio Coltorti (Grasshoppers Zurich), Pascal Zuberbuehler (FC Basle).

Defenders: Valon Behrami (Lazio, Italy), Philipp Degen (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Johan Djourou (Arsenal, England), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre, France), Ludovic Magnin (VfB Stuttgart, Germany), Patrick Mueller (Olympique Lyon, France), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal, England), Christoph Spycher (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany).

Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Ricardo Cabanas (Cologne, Germany), David Degen (FC Basle), Blerim Dzemaili (FC Zurich), Daniel Gygax (Lille, France), Xavier Margairaz (FC Zurich), Johann Vogel (AC Milan, Italy), Raphael Wicky (Hamburg SV, Germany).

Forwards: Alex Frei (Rennes, France), Mauro Lustrinelli (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Marco Streller (Cologne, Germany), Johan Vonlanthen (NAC Breda, Holland).

Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe has named his 23-man World Cup squad for Germany with Cuauhtemoc Blanco a surprise omission. The 33-year-old Blanco was more than a little irate at missing out on a World Cup place saying, "As far as I'm concerned, there's no valid argument for my not being in the national team." La Volpe also surprised by naming 37-year-old defender Claudio Suarez who has 174 caps for Mexico.

Mexico World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Oswaldo Sanchez (Guadalajara), Guillermo Ochoa (America), Jesus Corona (Tecos).

Defenders: Jose Antonio Castro (America), Rafael Marquez (Barcelona), Mario Mendez (Monterrey), Ricardo Osorio (Cruz Azul), Francisco Rodriguez (Guadalajara), Carlos Salcido (Guadalajara), Claudio Suarez (Chivas USA, USA), Andres Guardado (Atlas), Gonzalo Pineda (Guadalajara).

Midfielders: Luis Perez (Monterrey), Pavel Pardo (America), Antonio Naelson (Toluca), Rafael Garcia (Atlas), Gerardo Torrado (Cruz Azul), Ramon Morales (Guadalajara).

Forwards: Jared Borgetti (Bolton Wanderers, England), Guillermo Franco (Villarreal, Spain), Francisco Fonseca (Cruz Azul), Omar Bravo (Guadalajara), Jesus Arellano (Monterrey).

Swedish coach Alexander Ostlund has named Sweden's 23-man squad for the 2006 World Cup Soccer Finals in Germany. Ostlund will again call on the sharp-shooting skills of veteran striker Henrik Larsson who helped Barcelona to a European Cup win over Arsenal. Along with Juventus striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Arsenal midfielder Freddie Ljungberg the Swedes will have the firepower to trouble their opponents.

Goalkeepers: John Alvbage (Viborg, Denmark), Andreas Isaksson (Rennes, France), Rami Shaaban (Fredrikstad, Norway).

Defenders: Erik Edman (Rennes, France), Petter Hansson (Heerenveen, Holland), Teddy Lucic (Hacken), Olof Mellberg (Aston Villa, England), Mikael Nilsson (Panathinaikos, Greece), Fredrik Stenman (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Karl Svensson (IFK Goteborg).

Midfielders: Niclas Alexandersson (IFK Goteborg), Daniel Andersson (Malmo), Johan Elmander (Brondby, Denmark), Mattias Jonson (Djurgarden), Kim Kallstrom (Rennes, France), Tobias Linderoth (Copenhagen, Denmark), Fredrik Ljungberg (Arsenal, England), Anders Svensson (Elfsborg), Christian Wilhelmsson (Anderlecht, Belgium).

Strikers: Marcus Allback (Copenhagen, Denmark), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Juventus, Italy), Henrik Larsson (Barcelona, Spain), Markus Rosenberg (Ajax, Holland).

USA coach Bruce Arena named his 23-man World Cup squad for the World Cup finals in Germany and quickly had to draft in Los Angeles Galaxy defender Chris Albright to replace Frankie Hejduk who injured his knee.

USA World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Tim Howard (Manchester United), Marcus Hahnemann (Reading).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag), Chris Albright (LA Galaxy), Eddie Lewis (Leeds Utd), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake).

Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (PSV Eindhoven), Bobby Convey (Reading), Clint Dempsey (New England Revolution), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), John O'Brien (Chivas USA), Ben Olsen (DC United), Claudio Reyna (Manchester City).

Forwards: Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Brian McBride (Fulham), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards).

Italy world Cup coach Marcello Lippi has named a 29-man squad for a pre-World Cup team-building exercise in Rome. Veteran striker Christian Vieri has been ruled out of the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany after the Monaco striker injured his left knee playing for Paris St Germain on March 26.

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Massimo De Sanctis (Udinese), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Daniele Bonera (Parma), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Palermo), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus).

Midfielders: Simone Barone (Palermo), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Mauro Esposito (Cagliari), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Fabio Liverani (Lazio), Marco Marchionni (Parma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Franco Semioli (Chievo).

Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno), Francesco Tavano (Empoli), Luca Toni (Fiorentina).

Dutch coach Marco van Basten has named a 28-man pre-World Cup squad with no room for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Edgar Davids. While no room was found for Davids, Van Basten kept faith with out of favour Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Dutch World Cup squad:

Keepers: Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (AZ Alkmaar)

Defenders: Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Barcelona), Tim de Cler (AZ Alkmaar), Kew Jaliens (AZ Alkmaar), Jan Kromkamp (Liverpool), Joris Mathijsen (AZ Alkmaar), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Johnny Heitinga (Ajax), Barry Opdam (AZ Alkmaar)

Midfielders: George Boateng (Middlesbrough), Mark van Bommel (Barcelona), Phillip Cocu (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Hamburg SV), Denny Landzaat (AZ Alkmaar), Hedwiges Maduro (Ajax), Wesley Sneijder (Ajax), Rafael van der Vaart (Hamburg SV)

Strikers: Ryan Babel (Ajax), Romeo Castelen (Feyenoord), Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Dirk Kuyt (Feyenoord), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Manchester United), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Chelsea), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (PSV Eindhoven)

Sven-Goran Eriksson has surprised by naming teenagers Theo Walcott and Aaron Lennon in his provisional 23-man England squad for the World Cup finals in Germany.

Shaun Wright-Phillips and Darren Bent are surprise omissions while Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe is on a five-man standby list with Eriksson preferring to name 17 year old Walcott who is yet to make a first-team appearance for Arsenal preferred.

England World Cup Provisional squad:

Robinson (Tottenham), James (Manchester City), Green (Norwich); G Neville (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Arsenal), Campbell (Arsenal), Carragher (Liverpool), Bridge (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Carrick (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jenas (Tottenham), Downing (Middlesbrough), J Cole (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Owen (Newcastle), Crouch (Liverpool), Walcott (Arsenal).

Standby: Carson (Liverpool), Young (Charlton), Reo-Coker (West Ham), Defoe (Tottenham), Johnson (Crystal Palace).

Croatian Manager Zlatko Kranjcar has named a 24-man squad for the World Cup finals in Germany. Croatia plays their first World Cup Finals match against current World Cup holders Brazil in Berlin on June 13.

Croatia World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Tomislav Butina (Club Bruges), Stipe Pletikosa (Hajduk Split), Joe Didulica (Austria Vienna)

Defenders: Robert Kovac (Juventus), Stjepan Tomas (Galatasaray), Dario Simic (AC Milan), Mario Tokic (Austria Vienna), Josip Simunic (Hertha Berlin), Igor Tudor (Siena), Marijan Buljat (Dinamo Zagreb)

Midfielders: Jerko Leko (Dynamo Kiev), Niko Kranjcar (Hajduk Split), Niko Kovac (Hertha Berlin), Marko Babic (Bayer Leverkusen), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ivan Leko (Club Bruges), Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Jurica Vranjes (Werder Bremen), Anthony Seric (Panathinaikos)

Forwards: Dado Prso (Rangers), Ivan Klasnic (Werder Bremen), Bosko Balaban (Club Bruges), Ivica Olic (CSKA Moscow), Ivan Bosnjak (Dinamo Zagreb)

Argentina coach Jose Pekerman has named 16 definite starters for the World Cup Finals in Germany next month. Pekerman has named only his European based squad with Javier Zanetti and Walter Samuel yet to be added to the squad with matches still to be played this weekend in Italy.

Argentina World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid)

Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna), Leandro Cufre (AS Roma), Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Hernan Crespo (Chelsea)

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink has named his 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Germany next month. Australia's first World Cup finals appearance since 1974 kicks off against Japan on June 12 in Kaiserslautern.

Australian World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Middlesbrough), Zeljko Kalac (AC Milan), Ante Covic (Hammarby)

Defenders: Michael Beauchamp (Central Coast), Craig Moore (Newcastle United), Lucas Neill (Blackburn Rovers), Tony Popovic (Crystal Palace), Mark Milligan (Sydney FC)

Midfielders: Marco Bresciano (Parma), Tim Cahill (Everton), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), Jason Culina (PSV Eindhoven), Brett Emerton (Blackburn Rovers), Vince Grella (Parma), Stan Lazaridis (free agent), Josip Skoko (Stoke City on loan from Wigan Athletic), Mile Sterjovski (Basel), Luke Wilkshire (Bristol City)

Forwards: John Aloisi (Alaves), Harry Kewell (Liverpool), Archie Thompson (PSV Eindhoven), Mark Viduka (Middlesbrough), Josh Kennedy (Dinamo Dreseden)

Trinidad and Tobago coach Leo Beenhakker has named his final 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Germany. Trinidad and Tobago is in Group B and play against Sweden on June 10 before clashing against England and Paraguay.

Trinidad and Tobago squad:

Goalkeepers: Kelvin Jack (Dundee), Shaka Hislop (West Ham), Clayton Ince (Coventry City).

Defenders: Dennis Lawrence (Wrexham) Cyd Gray (San Juan Jabloteh), Marvin Andrews (Rangers), Brent Sancho (Gillingham), Ian Cox (Gillingham), Atiba Charles (W Connection), Avery John (New England Revolution).

Midfielders: Silvio Spann (no club), Chris Birchall (Port Vale), Aurtis Whitley (San Juan Jabloteh), Anthony Wolfe (San Juan Jabloteh), Densill Theobald (Falkirk), Carlos Edwards (Luton), Dwight Yorke (Sydney FC), Russell Latapy (Falkirk).

Forwards: Stern John (Coventry), Kenwyne Jones (Southampton), Collin Samuel (Dundee United), Jason Scotland (St Johnstone), Cornell Glen (LA Galaxy).

Magistrates have questioned Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as the fallout continues over alleged match fixing allegations against Seria A league leader Juventus.

Magistrates questioned Buffon for more than two hours over allegations that see Juventus officials under investigations for "criminal association" and "sporting fraud."

The Italian football federation has already withdrawn accreditation for Italian referee Massimo de Santis and assistant referees Alessandro Griselli and Marco Ivaldi who will now not officiate at the World Cup Finals in Germany this summer after being implicated in the match-fixing scandal.

Ghana has named their 23-man World Cup squad on Friday. The Black Stars didn't enjoy the best of luck at the World Cup Draw. They are due to kick off their World Cup campaign against Italy on 12 June. Before taking on fellow Group E opponents in the Czech Republic and the United States.

Ghana World Cup Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sammy Adjei (Moadan Sport Ashdod, Israel), Richard Kingston (Ankaraspor, Turkey), George Owu (AsantiGold).

Defenders: Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Issah Ahmed (Randers, Denmark), Shilla Alhassan Illiasu (Asante Kotoko), Samuel Osei Kuffour (AS Roma, Italy), John Mensah (Stade Rennes, France), Habib Mohammed (King Faisal Babes, Ghana), John Painstil (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Emmanuel Pappoe (Hapoel Kfar Saba, Israel), Daniel Quaye (Hearts of Oak), Hans Sarpei (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany)

Midfielders: Otto Addo (FSV Mainz, Germany), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Derek Boateng (AIK Stockholm, Sweden), Haminu Dramani (Red Star Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Sulley Ali Muntari (Udinese, Italy)

Strikers: Matthew Amoah (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Asamoah Gyan (Modena, Italy), Razak Pimpong (FC Copenhagen, Denmark), Alex Tachie-Mensah (St. Gallen, Switzerland)