SQUADWATCH/Group ECAMEROON: A disgruntled Cameroon World Cup squad were due to leave Paris for Japan last night two days after their expected arrival following a dispute over player bonuses.
A member of the Cameroon Football Federation said that the reason for the delay was discontent by the players at the non-payment of their individual World Cup bonus of €45,734.
It was initially reported that mechanical trouble with their chartered plane left them stranded in France, after travelling to Paris following a friendly in Copenhagen against the Danish team last Friday.
The Olympic and African champions, due to meet Ireland on June 1st, had been originally scheduled to arrive on Sunday in Nakatsue village, deep in the mountains on the southern island of Kyushu.
Because of the delay, Nakatsue villagers had to cancel several events, including a welcome ceremony and a practice match with local high school students.
GERMANY: Rudi Voller yesterday called up Borussia Dortmund midfielder Lars Ricken and Jorg Bohme of Schalke 04 as replacements in his injury-depleted World Cup squad.
Ricken replaces Sebastian Deisler, who has been ruled out of the finals with a knee injury, while Bohme will fill in for Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jorg Heinrich, who has a thigh injury.
The naming of 25-year-old Ricken was expected, but that of 28-year-old Bohme comes as a surprise. Both players had been on a reserve list of eight players which Voller announced on May 6th at the same time as he revealed his squad of 23.
Voller's injury-depleted side is already without Bayern Munich attacking midfielder Mehmet Scholl, who has ruled himself out because of lack of fitness, and Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny, who has torn right knee ligaments, while defender Christian Worns was forced out last week with a knee problem. Germany play their opening Group E game against Saudia Arabia on June 1st with the group also including Ireland and Cameroon.
GERMAN SQUAD: Goalkeepers: Butt (Bayer Leverkusen), Kahn (Bayern Munich), Lehmann (Borussia Dortmund). Defenders: Baumann (Werder Bremen), Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), Linke (Bayern Munich), Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Rehmer (Hertha Berlin), Ziege (Tottenham). Midfielders: Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen), Bohme (Schalke 04), Frings (Werder Bremen), Hamann (Liverpool), Jeremies (Bayern Munich), Ramelow (Bayer Leverkusen), Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Ricken (Borussia Dortmund). Strikers: Asamoah (Schalke 04), Bierhoff (Monaco), Bode (Werder Bremen), Jancker (Bayern Munich), Klose (Kaiserslautern), Neuville (Bayer Leverkusen)
SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Arabia announced their final 23-man squad yesterday. The squad was approved by Saudi Football Federation president Prince Sultan bin Fahd bin Abdul-Aziz.
SAUDI ARABIA SQUAD:Goalkeepers: Mohammad Al-Deayea (Al-Hilal), Mohammad Babakar Al-Khojali (Al-Nasr), Mabrouk Zaid (Al-Ittihad). Defenders: Abdallah Sulaimane (Al-Hilal), Hussein Abel Ghani Al-Solaimani (Al-Ahli), Mohsen Al-Harethi (Al-Nasr), Fawzi Al-Shehri (Al-Ahli), Ahmed Al-Dokhi Al-Dossari (Al-Hilal), Redah Taqer Fallatah (Al-Shabab), Mohamed Ashleya Al-Johani (Al-Ahli), Mansour Al-Thaqafi (Al-Nasr). Midfielders: Khamis Al-Ouairan Al-Dossari (Al-Ittihad), Abdallah Al-Waked (Al-Shabab), Mohamed Nour Al-Hossawi (Al-Ittihad), Nawaf Al-Temyat (Al-Hilal), Abdel Aziz Al-Khathran (Al-Shabab), Omar Al-Gamedi (Al-Hilal), Mohammad Al-Shalhoub (Al-Hilal). Strikers: Sami Al-Jaber (Al-Hilal), Al-Hassan Al-Yami (Al-Ittihad), Abdallah Al-Jamaan Al-Dossari (Al-Hilal), Obeid Al-Dossari (Al-Ahli), Ibrahim Suwayed Al-Shahrani (Al-Ahli) .
