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Pep Guardiola started the fire and Pep Guardiola would have to put it out. It was supposed to be a eulogy, a tribute. He was trying to prove that he hadn't been lying all along. He was also trying to provoke pride. Instead, he provoked a panic, a moral outcry. His comforting message for Barcelona fans became a threat for the rest of Spain. Guardiola had inflamed national sensibilities; soon he was having to cool them down again. But the specter he raised still haunted them.

It happened in the build-up to Barcelona's crucial clash with Villarreal on May 1. Barcelona had just been knocked out of the Champions League by Inter Milan; fail to win against Villarreal three days later and it would effectively be knocked out of the league title race, too. Xavi Hernandez had missed training and was struggling to make it. Guardiola announced that he would probably be without the central midfielder who makes Barcelona tick. The man who makes Spain tick, too -- and that was the point.

In the end, Xavi played. Barcelona won 4-1. The title race was still on. But, some said, what Guardiola had done was not. Many saw sneaky mind games in his pregame comments. Others saw a barefaced lie. After the match, Guardiola insisted that Xavi was indeed injured -- in fact, he had a tear in his calf -- but that, given what was at stake, he had risked his physical well-being for the sake of his club. He had risked more than that.

"Xavi played with an injury that could cost him the World Cup, but he showed his commitment," Guardiola said. "That's why he's the best midfielder in the history of the club."

The reaction was as immediate and as fearful as it was furious. If he was risking the World Cup, then commitment to his club meant a lack of commitment to his country. One headline spoke for all in declaring pointedly: "Xavi prefers Barca to Spain." A television station wheeled out a doctor who bitterly attacked Guardiola for "forcing" his player to take the risk; in his "professional" opinion, Xavi shouldn't have played for Barca.

The attacks awoke a familiar demon, one that seemed to have been buried and long forgotten, utterly undermined by success at the European Championships: that smidgen of suspicion over Catalan commitment to the Spanish national team. Some claimed that a Catalan would risk missing out for Spain because he was already playing for his "national" team -- FC Barcelona. A Basque at Athletic Bilbao might, too. A Madrileno, an Andalucian or an Asturian would never do the same.

That was a minority opinion; regional divisions have traditionally been exaggerated. The notion that a lack of "national" feeling has historically undermined the selection does not convince.

But even those who accepted Xavi's right to choose and to take a risk -- after all, they judged, he might not aggravate the injury, there was still time before the World Cup, and there was a hell of a lot at stake for his club team -- were concerned. What, they asked, if he did make the injury worse? What would that do to Spain? After all, Guardiola had described him as the club's best midfielder but he was the country's best, too, the player of the tournament at Euro 2008. How could he risk it? How could he do that to us? "Our hopes rest on him," sniffed one newspaper.

The outcry was such that Guardiola had, a little sheepishly, to insist that the injury wasn't that bad. So, too, did Xavi himself. "My calf was sore but there was so much at stake that I wanted to be there for the team," Xavi said. "Besides, it's not serious. I'll be at the World Cup, too." Guardiola agreed. He didn't explicitly say so, but he essentially admitted that he might have exaggerated a little in order to make a point. It was time to get everyone off his, and Xavi's, back.

"Relax," Guardiola said, "Xavi will be in South Africa."

Trouble is, it's not easy to relax. In February 2007, Andres Iniesta's goal beat England. Since then, Spain has played 45 games and lost just once, winning 41, including 10 out of 10 in qualifying. For once, its status as favorite was completely justified. When it demolished France, Thierry Henry complained that his side barely saw the ball and coach Raymond Domenech admitted he did not know how to stop the Spanish. Suddenly, the fear was that he might not need to: Injuries would do the job for him. And for every other national team coach.

With the European Championships followed by last year's treble for Barcelona, the Confederations Cup, the European Super Cup and the World Club Cup, plus a semifinal in this year's Champions League, Xavi has barely stopped in two years. The same is true of Carles Puyol.

And throughout the Spain midfield, Xavi is not alone in struggling. Iniesta still has not returned from a muscle tear. Nor has Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas reappeared since he suffered a fractured shin. Marcos Senna has limped his way through the season. So has his Villarreal teammate Santi Cazorla. Valencia's David Silva and Sevilla's Jesus Navas have had problems. Only Real Madrid's Xabi Alonso has been ever-present.

It's not just in the middle, either. Barely days after Guardiola's attempt to keep everyone calm -- an attempt that didn't entirely work, with most people insisting that either he was fibbing the first time or he was fibbing the second time -- doctors at Liverpool admitted that Fernando Torres might not make it for Spain's first match against Switzerland on June 16.

Two days after that, David Villa was left out of the Valencia side. He needed to rest. Villa has been carrying a shoulder injury, as well as suffering minor problems with both knees, and was shattered physically. Meanwhile, although Bilbao's Fernando Llorente has played extremely well this campaign, Spain's other strikers don't entirely convince: Alvaro Negredo has had a largely disappointing season for Sevilla and Dani Guiza has played only 20 of Fenerbache 32 games, scoring nine times.

Watching Spain can sometimes leave you with the sensation that it is the perfect team. Strong at the back, controlling in midfield, creative in attack and deadly in front of goal. With often-astounding superiority, it has often appeared to be the team that has everything.

Well, almost everything. When Guardiola was forced into a rapid climb down, obliged to put out the fire he had accidentally started, it revealed the one concern the Spanish still have. The risk now is that Spain might just have everything it needs except the one thing it needs more than anything else: a clean bill of health.

SOUTH AFRICA (29): Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld),

Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs),

Shu-Aib Walters (Mariztburg United); Defenders: Matthew Booth

(Mamelodi Sundowns), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya), Siboniso Gaxa

(Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (SuperSport United), Tsepo

Masilela (Maccabi Haifa), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates), Aaron

Mokoena (Portsmouth), Bryce Moon (PAOK Salonika), Anele Ngcongca

(Racing Genk), Siyabonga Sangweni (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Lucas

Thwala (Orlando Pirates); Midfielders: Franklin Cale (Mamelodi

Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham),

Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Thanduyise Khuboni (Lamontville Golden

Arrows), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Orlando

Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Steven Pienaar

(Everton), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer

Chiefs); Forwards: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United), Katlego Mphela

(Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard

Parker (FC Twente).

FRANCE (30): Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Lyon), Steve Mandanda

(Marseille), Cedric Carrasso (Bordeaux), Mickael Landreau (Lille);

Defenders: Bacary Sagna (Arsenal), Patrice Evra (Manchester United),

William Gallas (Arsenal), Eric Abidal (Barcelona), Rod Fanni (Rennes),

Sebastien Squillaci (Sevilla), Adil Rami (Lille), Marc Planus

(Bordeaux), Gael Clichy (Arsenal), Anthony Reveillere (Lyon);

Midfielders: Lassana Diarra (Real Madrid), Alou Diarra (Bordeaux),

Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon), Florent Malouda (Chelsea), Yoann Gourcuff

(Bordeaux), Abou Diaby (Arsenal), Yann M'Vila (Rennes); Forwards:

Thierry Henry (Barcelona), Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea), Andre-Pierre

Gignac (Toulouse), Franck Ribery (Bayern Munich), Sidney Govou (Lyon),

Djibril Cisse (Panathinaikos), Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Mathieu

Valbuena (Marseille), Jimmy Briand (Rennes)

MEXICO (26): Goalkeepers: Oscar Perez (Chiapas), Guillermo Ochoa

(America), Luis Ernesto Michel (Guadalajara); Defenders: Rafael

Marquez (Barcelona), Ricardo Osorio (VfB Stuttgart), Francisco

Rodriguez, Carlos Salcido (both PSV Eindhoven), Hector Moreno (AZ

Alkmaar), Paul Aguilar (Pachuca), Efrain Juarez (Pumas UNAM), Jonny

Magallon (Guadalajara), Juan Carlos Valenzuela (America), Jorge Torres

Nilo (Atlas), Adrian Aldrete (Morelia); Midfielders: Andres Guardado

(Deportivo Coruna), Jonathan dos Santos (Barcelona), Gerardo Torrado

(Cruz Azul), Israel Castro (Pumas UNAM), Giovani dos Santos

(Galatasaray); Forwards: Pablo Barrera (Pumas UNAM), Adolfo Bautista,

Alberto Medina (both Guadalajara), Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Veracruz),

Carlos Vela (Arsenal), Javier Hernandez (Manchester United), Guillermo

Franco (West Ham United)

URUGUAY (26): Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Lazio), Juan Castillo

(Deportivo Cali), Martin Silva (Defensor Sporting) Defenders: Diego

Lugano (Fenerbahce), Diego Godin (Villarreal), Andres Scotti (Colo

Colo), Mauricio Victorino (Universidad de Chile), Martin Caceres

(Juventus), Jorge Fucile (Porto), Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica)

Midfielders: Sebastian Eguren (AIK Stockholm), Alvaro Pereira (Porto),

Walter Gargano (Napoli), Diego Perez (AS Monaco), Alvaro Fernandez

(Universidad de Chile), Alvaro Gonzalez (Nacional), Jorge Rodriguez

(River Plate, Uruguay), Nicolas Lodeiro (Ajax), Jorge Martinez

(Catania), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Penarol), Ignacio Gonzalez

(Levadiakos) Forwards: Luis Suarez (Ajax), Diego Forlan (Atletico

Madrid), Sebastian Abreu (Botafogo), Edinson Cavani (Palermo),

Sebastian Fernandez (Banfield)

ARGENTINA (30): Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano

Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Defenders: Gabriel Heinze

(Olympique Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas

Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Juan

Insaurralde (Newell's Old Boys), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes de La

Plata), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle

United), Ariel Garce (Colon); Midfielders: Javier Mascherano

(Liverpool), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria

(Benfica), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Sebastian Veron, Jose Sosa

(both Estudiantes de La Plata), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Jesus Datolo

(Olympiakos), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Sebastian Blanco

(Lanus), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool); Forwards: Lionel Messi

(Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester

City), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan),

Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).

GREECE (30): Goalkeepers: Michalis Sifakis (Aris Salonika), Alexandros

Tzorvas (Panathinaikos), Kostas Chalkias (PAOK Salonika); Defenders:

Giorgos Seitaridis (Panathinaikos), Loukas Vintra (Panathinaikos),

Evangelos Moras (Bologna), Socrates Papastathopoulos (Genoa), Sotiris

Kyrgiakos (Liverpool), Avraam Papadopoulos (Olympiacos), Vasilis

Torosidis (Olympiacos), Nikos Spiropoulos (Panathinaikos), Stelios

Malezas (PAOK Salonika), Giorgos Tzavellas (Panionios), Kostas Manolas

(AEK Athens), Giorgos Galitsios (Olympiacos), Stergos Marinos

(Panathinaikos); Midfielders: Kostas Katsouranis (Panathinaikos),

Alexandros Tziolis (Siena), Giorgos Karagounis (Panathinaikos),

Sotiris Ninis (Panathinaikos), Christos Patsatzoglou (Omonia),

Grigoris Makos (AEK Athens), Sakis Prittas (Aris Salonika), Lazaros

Christodoulopoulos (Panathinaikos); Forwards: Angelos Charisteas

(Nuremberg), Dimitris Salpigidis (Panathinaikos), Pantelis Kapetanos

(Steaua Bucharest), Theofanis Gekas (Hertha Berlin), Giorgos Samaras

(Celtic), Kostas Mitroglou (Olympiacos).

NIGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv), Dele

Ayenugba (Beni Yehuda FC), Bassey Akpan (Bayelsa United), Austine

Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva); Defenders: Taye Taiwo (Marseille),

Elderson Echiejile (Rennes), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow) Onyekachi Apam

(Nice), Joseph Yobo (Everton), Daniel Shittu (Bolton), Ayodele Adeleye

(Sparta Rotterdam), Rabiu Afolabi (Salzburg), Peter Suswan (Lobi

Stars); Midfielders: Kalu Uche (Almeria), Dickson Etuhu (Fulham), John

Obi Mikel (Chelsea), Sani Kaita (Alaniya), Lukman Haruna (Monaco),

Ayila Yussuf (Dynamo Kiev), Peter Osaze (Lokomotiv Moscow); Forwards:

Yakubu Ayegbeni (Everton), Victor Anichebe (Everton), Chinedu Obasi

(Hoffenheim), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth), Obafemi Martins (Wolfsburg),

Ideye Brown (Sochaux), Ikechukwu Uche (Zaragoza), John Utaka

(Portsmouth), Peter Utaka (Odense), Victor Obinna (Malaga)

SOUTH KOREA (30): Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-Jae

(Suwon), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam); Defenders: Kang Min-Soo (Suwon),

Kwak Tae-Hwi (Kyoto), Kim Dong-Jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-Il (Pohang), Oh

Beom-Seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal), Lee Jung-Soo (Kashima

Antlers), Hwang Jae-Won (Pohang), Cho Won-Hee (Wigan), Cha Du-Ri (SC

Freiburg), Cho Yong-Hyung (Jeju); Midfielders: Koo Ja-Cheol (Jeju), Ki

Sung-Yong (Celtic), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita), Kim Nam-Il (Tom Tomsk), Shin

Hung-Min (Pohang), Kim Jae-Sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju), Lee

Chung-Yong (Bolton), Kim Chi-Woo (Seoul), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester

United); Forwards: Park Ju-Young (AS Monaco), Ahn Jung-Hwan (Dalian

Shide), Lee Seung-Ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon), Lee Keun-Ho

(Jubilo Iwata), Lee Dong-Guk (Jeonbuk).

ENGLAND (30): Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green

(West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Defenders: Ashley Cole

(Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United),

Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Jamie

Carragher (Liverpool), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Michael Dawson

(Tottenham Hotspur), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen Warnock (Aston

Villa); Midfielders: Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Frank Lampard

(Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), James Milner (Aston

Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe

Cole (Chelsea), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Scott Parker

(West Ham United), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson

(Manchester City), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Forwards:

Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur),

Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Darren Bent (Sunderland), Jermain Defoe

(Tottenham Hotspur).

USA (30): Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton),

Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton); Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra

(Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover),

Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall

(Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas),

Jonathan Spector (West Ham United); Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley

(Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (rebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia

Monchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey

(Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers),

Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan

(Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Jos Torres (Pachuca);

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles

Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt

Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)

SLOVENIA (30): Goalkeepers: Samir Handanovic (Udinese), Jasmin

Handanovic (Mantova), Aleksander Seliga (Sparta Rotterdam), Jan

Koprivec (Maribor); Defenders: Bojan Jokic (Chievo Verona), Marko

Suler (Ghent), Bostjan Cesar (Grenoble), Branko Ilic (Lokomotiv

Moscow), Matej Mavric (Koblenz), Dejan Kelhar (Cercle Brugge), Elvedin

Dzinic (Maribor), Miso Brecko (Cologne), Aleksandar Rajcevic (Koper),

Suad Filekovic (Maribor); Midfielders: Andraz Kirm (Wisla Krakow),

Andrej Komac (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Rene Krhin (Internazionale), Mirnes

Sisic (Giannina), Darjan Matic (Rapid Bucharest), Dare Vrsic (Koper),

Dalibor Stevanovic (Vitesse Arnhem), Robert Koren (West Bromwich

Albion), Aleksander Radosavljevic (Larissa), Valter Birsa (Auxerre).;

Forwards: Milivoje Novakovic (Cologne), Zlatko Dedic (VfL Bochum),

Zlatan Ljubijankic (Ghent), Nejc Pecnik (Nacional), Miran Burgic (AIK

Solna), Tim Matavz (Groningen).

ALGERIA (30): Goalkeepers: Faouzi Chaouchi (Entente Setif), Lounes

Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), Rais Ouheb Mbouli (Slavia Sofia), Mohamed Lamine

Zemmamouche (Mouloudia Algiers); Defenders: Habib Belaid (Boulogne-sur-

Mer), Nader Belhadj (Portsmouth), Majid Bougherra (Rangers), Rafik

Halliche (Nacional), Abdelkader Laifaoui (Entente Setif), Carl Medjani

(Ajaccio), Mohamed Meftah (JS Kabylie), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce), Hocine

Metref (Entente Setif), Antar Yahia (VfL Bochum); Midfielders: Djamel

Abdoun (Nantes), Lazhar Hadj Aissa (Entente Setif), Riad Boudebouz

(Sochaux), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Fouad Kadir

(Valenciennes), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santanader), Khaled Lemmouchia

(Entente Setif), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient), Mourad Meghni (Lazio),

Hassan Yebda (Portsmouth), Karim Ziani (VfL Wolfsburg); Forwards: Amri

Chadli (Kaiserslautern), Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens), Abdelkader

Ghezzal (Siena), Karim Matmour (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Rafik

Saifi (Istres).

GERMANY (30): Goalkeepers: Hans-Jorg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel

Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Bremen); Defenders: Per Mertesacker

(Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich),

Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich

(Hertha Berlin), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg),

Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Dennis Aogo (Hamubrg); Midfielders:

Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Piotr Trochowski

(Hamburg), Marko Marin (Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern

Munich), Christian Trasch (Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil (Bremen), Toni Kroos

(Leverkusen); Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Miroslav Klose

(Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Leverkusen), Cacau (Stuttgart),

Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich).

SERBIA (30): Goalkeepers: Vladimir Stojkovic (Wigan), Zeljko Brkic

(Vojvodina Novi Sad), Bojan Isailovic (Cukaricki Belgrade), Andjelko

Djuricic (Leiria); Defenders: Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), Antonio

Rukavina (1860 Munich), Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United), Neven

Subotic (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Lukovic (Udinese), Ivan

Obradovic (Real Zaragoza), Aleksandar Kolarov (Lazio); Midfielders:

Dejan Stankovic (Inter Milan), Nenad Milijas (Wolves), Milos Krasic

(CSKA Moscow), Milan Jovanovic (Standard Liege), Milos Ninkovic

(Dynamo Kiev), Zdravko Kuzmanovic (Stuttgart), Zoran Tosic (Manchester

United), Miralem Sulejmani (Ajax), Gojko Kacar (Hertha Berlin),

Nemanja Matic (Chelsea), Radosav Petrovic (Partizan Belgrade);

Forwards: Nikola Zigic (Valencia), Marko Pantelic (Ajax), Danko

Lazovic (Zenit St Petersburg), Dragan Mrdja (Vojvodina), Dejan Lekic

(Red Star Belgrade)

GHANA (29): Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei

(Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions), Stephen

Adams (Aduana Stars); Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Eric Addo

(Roda JC), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim

Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon),

Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham); Midfielders: Sulley

Muntari (Inter Milan), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan

(Rosenborg), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah (both Udinese),

Andre Ayew (Marseille), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Stephen Appiah

(Bologna), Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moscow), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al

Sadd), Bernard Kumordzie (Panionios), Laryea Kingston (Hearts), Kevin-

Prince Boateng (Portsmouth); Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda),

Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (AC

Milan)

AUSTRALIA (31): Goalkeepers: Mark Schwarzer (Fulham), Adam Federici

(Reading), Brad Jones (Middlesbrough), Eugene Galekovic (Adelaide

United); Defenders: Lucas Neill (Galatasaray), Craig Moore

(unattached), Scott Chipperfield (Basel), David Carney (Twente

Enschede), Luke Wilkshire (Dynamo Moscow), Rhys Williams

(Middlesbrough), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Mark Milligan (JEF

United), Jade North (Tromso), Michael Beauchamp (Al-Jazira);

Midfielders: Tim Cahill (Everton), Mark Bresciano (Palermo), Vince

Grella (Blackburn) Brett Emerton (Blackburn), Jason Culina (Gold

Coast), Harry Kewell (Galatasaray), Brett Holman (AZ Alkmaar), Carl

Valeri (Sassuolo), Mile Jedinak (Antalyaspor), Richard Garcia (Hull),

Nick Carle (Crystal Palace), Tommy Oar (Utrecht), Dario Vidosic

(Nuremberg), James Holland (AZ Alkmaar); Forwards: Josh Kennedy

(Nagoya), Scott McDonald (Middlesbrough), Nikita Rukavytsya (Twente

Enschede)

NETHERLANDS (30): Goalkeepers: Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax Amsterdam),

Sander Boschker (Twente Enschede), Michel Vorm (Utrecht); Defenders:

Vurnon Anita (Ajax Amsterdam), Khalid Boulahrouz (VFB Stuttgart),

Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), John

Heitinga (Everton), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg SV), Andre Ooijer (PSV

Eindhoven), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax

Amsterdam); Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Otman Bakkal

(PSV Eindhoven), Mark van Bommel (Bayern Munich), Wout Brama (Twente

Enschede), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), Nigel de Jong (Manchester

City), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar),

Wesley Sneijder (Inter Milan), Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid),

Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax Amsterdam); Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool),

Eljero Elia (Hamburg SV), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (AC Milan), Dirk Kuyt

(Liverpool), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar), Robin van Persie (Arsenal),

Arjen Robben (Bayern Munich)

DENMARK (30): Goalkeepers: Thomas Sorensen (Stoke City), Stephan

Andersen (Brondby), Kim Christensen (IFK Gothenburg), Jesper

Christiansen (FC Copenhagen); Defenders: William Kvist (FC

Copenhagen), Lars Jacobsen (Blackburn Rovers), Simon Kjaer (Palermo),

Per Kroldrup (Fiorentina), Daniel Agger (Liverpool), Patrick Mtiliga

(Malaga), Leon Jessen (FC Midtjylland), Simon Poulsen (AZ Alkmaar),

Anders Christensen (OB Odense), Midfielders: Martin Jorgensen (AGF

Aarhus), Christian Poulsen (Juventus), Daniel Jensen (Werder Bremen),

Jakob Poulsen (AGF Aarhus), Michael Silberbauer (FC Utrecht), Dennis

Rommedahl (Ajax), Christian Eriksen (Ajax), Thomas Enevoldsen (FC

Groningen), Mikkel Beckmann (Randers), Thomas Kahlenberg (VfL

Wolfsburg), Jesper Gronkjaer (FC Copenhagen), Mikkel Thygesen (FC

Midtjylland), Michael Krohn-Dehli (Brondby) Forwards: Jon Dahl

Tomasson (Feyenoord), Nicklas Bendtner (Arsenal), Soren Larsen (MSV

Duisburg), Morten Rasmussen (Celtic).

JAPAN (23): Goalkeepers: Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus), Eiji

Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata);

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos), Marcus Tulio Tanaka

(Nagoya Grampus), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima

Antlers), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto

Uchida (Kashima Antlers); Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F.

Marinos), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba

Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble),

Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA

Moscow); Forwards: Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo

(Vissel Kobe), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata), Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-

Pulse), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania).

CAMEROON (30): Goalkeepers: Guy Roland N'Dy Assembe (Valenciennes),

Idriss Carlos Kameni (Espanyol), Hamidou Souleymanou (Kayserispor),

Patrick Tignyemb (Bloemfontein Celtic); Defenders: Patrick Abouna

(Astres Douala), Benoit Assou Ekotto (Tottenham Hotspur), Sebastien

Bassong (Tottenham Hotspur), Gaetan Bong (Valenciennes), Aurelien

Chedjou (Lille), Geremi (Ankaragucu), Boukar Makadji (Al Nahdha),

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), Patrick Mevoungou (Canon Yaounde), Marcel Ndjeng

(Augsburg), Landry Nguemo (Celtic), Alexandre Song (Arsenal);

Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar (Coton Sport), Eric Choupo-Mating

(Nuremburg), Paul Alo'o Efoulou (Nancy), Samuel Eto'o (Inter Milan),

Mohamadou Idrissou (Freiburg), Dorge Kouemaha (Club Bruges), Achille

Webo (Real Mallorca), Jacques Zoua (Basle)

ITALY (29): Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De

Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu

(Palermo); Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Domenico Criscito

(Genoa), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini,

Fabio Grosso, Nicola Legrottaglie (all Juventus), Mattia Cassani

(Palermo), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan);

Midfielders: Mauro German Camoranesi, Antonio Candreva, Claudio

Marchisio (all Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Gennaro Gattuso,

Andrea Pirlo (both AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo

Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese); Forwards: Marco Borriello

(AC Milan), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino

(Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini

(Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli)

PARAGUAY (30): Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla

(Deportivo Independiente de Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno);

Defenders: Claudio Morel Rodriguez (Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza

(Leon), Paulo da Silva (Sunderland), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Julio

Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro), Julio Manzur (Tigres), Carlos Bonet

(Olimpia), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo de Almagro), Marcos Caceres

(Racing), Antolin Alcaraz (FC Bruges); Midfielders: Edgar Barreto

(Atalanta), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Osvaldo Martinez

(Monterrey), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Enrique Vera (Liga Deportiva

Universitaria de Quito), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg), Sergio Aquino

(Libertad), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos

Juniors), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys);Forwards: Roque

Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund),

Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Toluca), Lucas Barrios

(Borussia Dortmund), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad), Jorge Achucarro

(Newell's Old Boys)

SLOVAKIA (39): Goalkeepers: Jan Mucha (Legia Warsaw), Dusan Kuciak

(Vaslui), Lubos Kamenar (Nantes), Dusan Permis (Dundee United);

Defenders: Peter Pekarik (Wolfsburg), Martin Petras (Cesena), Martin

Skrtel (Liverpool), Lubomir Michalik (Leeds United), Jan Durica

(Lokomotiv Moscow), Radoslav Zabavnik (Mainz), Marek Cech (West

Bromwich Albion), Tomas Hubocan (Zenit St. Petersburg), Kornel Salata

(Slovan Bratislava); Midfielders: Kamil Kopunek (Spartak Trnava), Jan

Kozak (Timisoara), Juraj Kucka (Sparta Prague), Miroslav Karhan

(Mainz), Marek Sapara (Ankaragucu), Mario Pecalka (MSK Zilina),

Stanislav Sestak (Vfl Bochum), Marek Hamsik (Napoli), Vladimir Weiss

(Manchester City), Miroslav Stoch (Chelsea), Dusan Svento (Salzburg),

Zdeno Strba (Skoda Xanthi); Forwards: Erik Jendrisek (Schalke), Robert

Vittek (Ankaragucu), Martin Jakubko (Saturn Ramenskoye), Filip Holosko

(Besiktas).

NEW ZEALAND (23): Goalkeepers: James Bannatyne (Team Wellington), Glen

Moss (Melbourne Victory) Mark Paston (Wellington Phoenix); Defenders:

Andy Boyens (New York Red Bulls), Tony Lochhead (Wellington Phoenix),

Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers), Winston Reid (FC Midtjylland), Ben

Sigmund (Wellington Phoenix), Tommy Smith (Ipswich Town), Ivan

Vicelich (Auckland City); Midfielders: Andy Barron (Team Wellington),

Leo Bertos (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Brockie (Newcastle Jets), Tim

Brown (Wellington Phoenix), Jeremy Christie (Tampa Bay Rowdies), Aaron

Clapham (Canterbury United), Simon Elliott (unattached), Michael

McGlinchey (Central Coast Mariners), David Mulligan (unattached);

Forwards: Rory Fallon (Plymouth Argyle), Chris Killen (Middlesbrough),

Shane Smeltz (Gold Coast), Chris Wood (West Bromwich Albion)

BRAZIL (23): Goalkeepers: Julio Cesar (Inter Milan), Doni (AS Roma),

Heurelho Gomes (Tottenham Hotspur); Defenders: Maicon (Inter Milan),

Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Michel Bastos (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto

(Cruzeiro), Lucio (Inter Milan), Juan (AS Roma), Luisao (Benfica),

Thiago Silva (AC Milan); Midfielders: Gilberto Silva (Panathinaikos),

Felipe Melo (Fiorentina), Ramires (Benfica), Elano (Galatasaray), Kaka

(Real Madrid), Julio Baptista (Roma), Kleberson (Flamengo), Josue (VfL

Wolfsburg); Forwards: Robinho (Santos), Luis Fabiano (Sevilla), Nilmar

(Villarreal), Grafite (VfL Wolfsburg).

PORTUGAL (24): Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Braga), Daniel Fernandes

(Iraklis), Beto (Porto). Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira

(Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Rolando

(Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao

(Benfica). Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting), Pepe (Real Madrid),

Ze Castro (Deportivo Coruna), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea),

Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting). Forwards: Simao

Sabrosa (Atletico Madrid), Danny (Zenit St Petersburg), Liedson

(Sporting), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real

Madrid), Nani (Manchester United).

IVORY COAST (29): Goalkeepers: Vincent Angban (ASEC Abidjan), Boubacar

Barry (Lokeren), Aristides Zogbo (Maccabi Netanya), Daniel Yeboah

(ASEC Abidjan); Defenders: Souleymane Bamba (Hibernian), Arthur Boka

(VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Brou Angoua (Valenciennes), Guy Demel

(Hamburg SV), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal), Abdoulaye Meite (West Bromwich

Albion), Steve Gohouri (Wigan Athletic), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes),

Kolo Toure (Manchester City); Midfielders: Emerse Fae (Nantes), Jean-

Jacques Gosso Gosso (Monaco), Abdelkader Keita (Galatasaray), Emmanuel

Kone (International Curtea Arges), Gervais Yao Kouassi (Lille),

Christian Koffi Ndri (Sevilla), Cheik Ismael Tiote (Twente Enschede),

Yaya Toure (Barcelona), Gilles Yapi Yapo (Young Boys Berne), Didier

Zokora (Sevilla); Forwards: Kanga Akale (Racing Lens), Aruna Dindane

(Racing Lens), Seydou Doumbia (Young Boys Berne), Didier Drogba

(Chelsea), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea), Bakary Kone (Marseille).

NORTH KOREA (23): Goalkeepers: Kim Myong-gil (Amrokgang), Kim Myong-

won (Amrokgang), Ri Myong-guk (Pyongyang City); Defenders: Cha Jong-

hyok (Amrokgang), Nam Song-chol (April 25), Pak Chol-jin (Amrokgang),

Pak Nam-chol (Amrokgang), Ri Jun-il (Sobaeksu), Ri Kwang-chon (April

25), Ri Kwang-hyok (Kyonggongop); Midfielders: An Yong-hak (Omiya

Ardija), Ji Yun-nam (April 25), Kim Kyong-il (Rimyongsu), Kim Yong-jun

(Pyongyang City), Mun In-guk (April 25), Ri Chol-myong (Pyongyang

City), Pak Nam-chol (April 25), Pak Sung-hyok (Sobaeksu); Forwards: An

Chol-hyok (Rimyongsu), Choe Kum-chol (April 25), Hong Yong-jo

(Rostov), Jong Tae-se (Kawasaki Frontale), Kim Kum-il (April 25)

SPAIN (30): Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Pepe Reina

(Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal), Victor Valdes (Barcelona),

David de Gea (Atletico Madrid). Defenders: Raul Albiol (Real Madrid),

Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid), Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna), Joan

Capdevila (Villarreal), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Gerard Pique

(Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona),

Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Javi Martinez

(Athletic Bilbao), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), David Silva (Valencia),

Xavi (Barcelona). Forwards: Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Jesus Navas

(Sevilla), Juan Mata (Valencia), Pedro (Barcelona), Daniel Guiza

(Fenerbahce), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao), Alvaro Negredo

(Sevilla), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).

CHILE (30): Goalkeepers: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto

(Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Defenders: Waldo

Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Gonzalo Jara (West Bromwich Albion),

Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Pablo Contreras

(PAOK Salonika), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica); Midfielders:

Marco Estrada, Manuel Iturra (both Universidad de Chile), Roberto

Cereceda, Rodrigo Millar, Jose Fuenzalida (all Colo Colo), Arturo

Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Jorge Valdivia (Al

Ain), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Jean Beausejour (Club

America), Pedro Morales (Dinamo Zagreb), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo),

Charles Aranguiz (Colo Colo), Jaime Valdes (Atalanta), Rodrigo Tello

(Besiktas); Forwards: Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza), Esteban Paredes

(Colo Colo), Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese),

Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Mark Gonzalez (CSKA Moscow).

SWITZERLAND (23): Goalkeepers: Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg), Johnny

Leoni (FC Zurich), Marco Woelfli (Young Boys Berne); Defenders: Mario

Eggimann (Hanover 96), Stephane Grichting (Auxerre), Stephan

Lichtsteiner (Lazio), Philippe Senderos (Arsenal), Christoph Spycher

(Eintracht Frankfurt), Steve Von Bergen (Hertha Berlin), Reto Ziegler

(Sampdoria); Midfielders: Tranquillo Barnetta (Bayer Leverkusen),

Valon Behrami (West Ham United), Gelson Fernandes (St Etienne),

Benjamin Huggel (FC Basel), Marco Padalino (Sampdoria), Pirmin

Schwegler (Eintracht Frankfurt), Goklan Inler (Udinese); Forwards:

Eren Derdiyok (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexander Frei (FC Basel), Blaise

Nkufo (Twente Enschede), Hakan Yakin (FC Luzern), Xherdan Shaqiri (FC

Basel), Marco Streller (FC Basel).

HONDURAS (23): Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober (both

Olimpia), Ricardo Canales (Motagua); Defenders: Sergio Mendoza, Emilio

Izaguirre (both Motagua), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Greentown),

Osman Chavez (Platense), Johnny Palacios, Boniek Garcia (both

Olimpia), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan Athletic), Victor Bernardez

(Anderlecht); Midfielders: Danilo Turcios, Ramon Nunez (both Olimpia),

Hendry Thomas (Wigan Athletic), Edgard Alvarez (Bari), Roger Espinoza

(Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Wilson Palacios

(Tottenham Hotspur), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino); Forwards: Walter

Martinez (Marathon), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real

Espana), David Suazo (Genoa)

La Fundación Apascovi celebrará mañana, en el campo de golf del RACE, la tercera edición del Pro-Am Benéfico Sergio Ramos-Fundación Apascovi-Aymerich, con el objetivo de obtener fondos para ampliar las instalaciones que la fundación tiene en Villalba.

El reto de la organización de este Pro-Am es mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con discapacidad y sus familias, a través de unas piscinas y otras dependencias, en las que puedan realizar los ejercicios necesarios para mantener la agilidad y movilidad del cuerpo.

Como en las anteriores ediciones, el ´padrino´ del torneo, Sergio Ramos, ha convocado a numerosas personalidades de diferentes ámbitos para que colaboren en este acto benéfico. Así, acudirán futbolistas de la talla de Zinedine Zidane, el cantaor jerezano José Mercé, el torero Javier Valverde, o destacados jugadores de los equipos madrileños de fútbol de primera división.

El campeonato se disputará en la modalidad de ´scramble´, y los equipos estarán formados por un profesional, un famoso y dos jugadores.

The defender is having his best season at Real Madrid

Sergio Ramos has been following in the steps of Fernando Hierro since he joined the team in 2005. The Andalusian defender is currently having his best-ever season at the Club. At 24 years of age, Ramos has taken part in 200 games with Real Madrid.

Sergio Ramos made his First Division debut when he was just 17 years old at Sevilla, playing for the southern club's first team between 2003 and 2005. Real Madrid wanted to turn him into one of the best defenders in the world and he accepted the challenge when he was just 19.

The defender always gives solid performances either as a centre back or right back. His great speed allows him to reach the opponent team's goal with ease. He's started in 32 games this season and scored 4 goals (22 overall in La Liga with Real Madrid), three of them from headers. He has also served three assists.

In his first year with the Whites, Sergio Ramos made 227 steals, but this year he's made well over 280. This figure truly shows the progress he's made throuogh the years. Back in 2005/06 he made 1,190 successful passes, but this season he's pulled off more than 1,600.

Following the 2 May clash with Osasuna, Sergio became the fifth youngest footballer to play 200 games in La Liga at 24 years and 30 days of age. The ranking is currently led by Raul, who reached the number when he was 22 years and 204 days old.

Durante la presentación del torneo ''III ProAm Benéfico Sergio Ramos-Fundación Apascovi-Aymerich'', en cierta forma le ha respondido al jugador del Barcelona, quien dijo que no vio al equipo merengue el fin de semana porque vio "una película que también era mala". ¿Qué dijo el defensa? "Al que no le guste lo tiene tan fácil como apagar la televisión".

El defensa del Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos, en cierta forma le ha respondido al jugador del Barcelona Andrés Iniesta, quien dijo que no vio al equipo merengue el fin de semana porque vio "una película que también era mala". En ese sentido, el defensa dijo que el conjunto de Pellegrini "no juega mal", y que al que no le guste, apague la televisión.

Consejoi a Iniesta: "El Madrid no juega mal. Estoy súper contento del estilo y del juego del equipo, y al que no le guste lo tiene tan fácil como apagar la televisión".

Mentalidad ganadora: "El equipo tiene espíritu ganador y es hora de sacarlo para conseguir llegar a los 98 puntos. No ganar la Liga sería un palo duro para cualquiera de los dos equipos. Ni al club ni a lo futbolistas les gustaría quedarse en blanco. Pero, desgraciadamente, no depende de nosotros".

Una ayuda de sus ex: "Es inevitable pensar en el partido del Sevilla, que tiene un gran campo y unos formidables futbolistas. El Sevilla también se juega la ''Champions'' y esperamos que plante cara al Barcelona, aunque los partidos ante el Tenerife y el Valladolid también serán importantes".

Barça-Tenerife: "Desgraciadamente dependemos del líder, y aunque en Tenerife perdimos dos ligas esperemos que hoy nos den una alegría".

Su futuro: "Es un tema apartado. Mi principal objetivo es recuperar la línea y mi mejor forma posible. Estoy muy contento en el Madrid y si me llaman para renovar lo haría con los ojos cerrados".

La lesión de Xavi: "Creo que tanto los médicos como Xavi saben si puede jugar o no. No creo que tenga una rotura, porque sería casi imposible que jugase, y como dijo Guardiola, confío en que llegue al Mundial".

Las críticas de CR9: "No es cuestión de crear polémica. Cuando sales de un partido en el que te juegas la vida muchas veces te acaloras, pero no hay que echarle nada en cara a Cristiano".

PUERTA NUNCA SE HA IDO DEL VESTUARIO SEVILLISTA

Jesús Navas definió con acierto cómo el Sevilla recuerda a Puerta: "Tu espíritu está vivo y nos sentimos contagiados de él". En la ciudad deportiva, en la 'fábrica de los sueños', quedó plasmado el busto de la zurda de diamantes que se marchó un dramático 28 de agosto de 2007.Compose

El espíritu de Puerta sigue vivo. "Nadie muere mientras sea recordado y nosotros día a día hemos querido inmortalizar la figura de Antonio", recitó Del Nido, con la voz entrecortada, antes de descubrir la estatua del canterano que lucirá en la ciudad deportiva "por los siglos de los siglos".

El club reunió a los más pequeños de la escuela de fútbol para envolver un acto cargado de sentimientos y sevillismo en el que no faltó nadie. Drago se bajó del avión procedente de Finlandia para estar con todos sus compañeros; el secretario de Estado para el Deporte, Jaime Lissavetzky, que entregó a la madre de su hijo Aitor, Mar Roldán, la Medalla de Oro al Mérito Deportivo concedida justo después de su fallecimiento; Eduardo Herrera, José Luis Astiazarán, el secretario general para el Deporte de Andalucía, Manuel Jiménez Barrios. José León representó al Betis, consolidando los lazos que unieron a los dos clubes tras la dramática pérdida. "Puerta que murió sudando la camiseta del Sevilla, era uno de los nuestros y se crió en esta ciudad deportiva. Procuraremos que todos estos chicos que están hoy aquí aprendan y recuerden siempre su figura", añadió el presidente, quien quiso agradecer al escultor Constantino Gañán "la verdadera obra de arte que ha realizado".

La plantilla en pleno, engordada por ex compañeros como Javi Navarro, Aitor Ocio y David Castedo, presenció el bonito recuerdo. "Hoy se inmortaliza tu figura porque eres el máximo representante de esta cantera y su alma. En ti se dan todas las cualidades para llegar a lo más alto: la humildad, la sencillez y el trabajo. Eres el alma de este vestuario sevillista de donde nunca has salido porque nunca te has ido. Tu espíritu, que está vivo y del que nos sentimos contagiados, hoy y siempre podrá contemplarse. Gracias amigo, gracias Antonio", dijo emocionado Jesús Navas en representación de todos los futbolistas de la plantilla.

Jiménez regresó a esa ciudad deportiva que tuvo que abandonar hace unas semanas y curioso fue el reencuentro de Del Nido con Juande. El presidente cogió del brazo al ex técnico y lo saludó cariñosamente. Y es que el espíritu de Puerta puede con todo, hasta con los roces más crueles.

Víctor Fernández  

De los ocho millones de ciudadanos censados en Nueva York, pocos son los futboleros confesos. Pero entre ellos, hispanos en su mayoría, existe un reducto de fans irreductibles del Madrid, liderados por una valenciana de pro, aunque también exhibe su espontaneidad manchega por la parte de su familia, que es de Cuenca.

Paloma Elena Ponce nos cuenta el secreto de esta animosa peña madridista fundada hace nueve años en la Gran Manzana: "Junto a Sergio Carrasco, un mexicano que idolatra a Hugo Sánchez, montamos esta peña en un coqueto bar irlandés que se llama Mr. Dennehy's. Los días de partido grande como éste nos juntamos los 225 socios de la peña. Tenemos hindúes, paquistaníes, uruguayos, argentinos, británicos... Messi no nos lleva al huerto. En Nueva York los fans del soccer somos fieles al Madrid".

Paloma Elena Ponce revela el momento cumbre que relanzó la Peña New York City: "Fue gracias a la Liga del Clavo Ardiendo y la fe que nos transmitió el AS con sus artículos".

Hoy se llenará a rebosar el Dennehy's y la cerveza pasará de mano en mano para evitar morderse las uñas en el Clásico: "Ganaremos 2-1. El Imperio del Bien se impondrá. Dile a Florentino que monte aquí un Real Café como el del Bernabéu. ¡A por ellos!".

Cocido entre madridistas y culés

Los peñistas de Real Madrid y Barcelona quieren dar un ejemplo de rivalidad cívica y saludable compartiendo horas antes del Clásico un cocido madrileño en el mismo corazón del Santiago Bernabéu. La cita de los representantes de la Federación de Peñas del Madrid y del Barça se ha fijado en el Real Café a las 14:00 horas. Por otra parte, anoche celebró su 16º aniversario la Peña barcelonista de Ocaña (Toledo), que invitó a las peñas madridista y atlética de la localidad como muestra de señorío.

Ramos recupera su nivel un año después del 2-6

Sergio Ramos cumple hoy 24 años y posiblemente lo hace en el momento más maduro de su carrera deportiva. Superados los pequeños problemas de confianza del final de la temporada pasada, el de Camas vuelve a transmitir la seguridad que siempre le ha caracterizado. Eso lo convierte en uno de los líderes de la defensa de Manuel Pellegrini e imprescindible en el once.

Sin embargo, este último año no ha sido nada fácil para el internacional. Quedó marcado tras el 2-6 del Barça en el Bernabéu del pasado mayo de 2009, pese a que asistió a Higuaín en el 1-0 y marcó el 2-3. Juande Ramos le sustituyó en la segunda mitad después de los numerosos problemas que tuvo para marcar a Henry por su banda. El francés se sintió comodísimo, anotó dos goles e hizo del carril izquierdo su autopista particular. Tras el clásico, el rendimiento del cuatro bajó considerablemente, hasta que llegó la presente campaña.

Esta temporada vuelve a mostrar su mejor cara, ya sea jugando como lateral derecho o como central (Pellegrini varía su ubicación en el campo según las necesidades del equipo tras la llegada de Arbeloa, que puede ocupar el carril diestro). Ha disputado 25 partidos en Liga y ha marcado tres goles. En total como madridista suma 156 encuentros en el campeonato nacional y 21 tantos.

Muy rentable. Y es que los 27 millones que le costó su fichaje al Madrid en 2005 están siendo rentabilizados con creces. Precisamente, 27 es el número de goles del de Camas con la camiseta blanca en todas las competiciones, uno más que Roberto Carlos en el mismo número de encuentros. Ahora tiene una fecha marcada en su calendario: el 10 de abril con un nuevo clásico...

sort of google translation:

Sergio Ramos completes today 24 years and is possibly at the most mature of his football career. After overcoming the small problems of confidence at the end of last season, the one from Camas portrays the security that has always characterized him. That makes him one of the leaders of the defense of Manuel Pellegrini and essential in the eleven.

However, this last year has not been easy for the international. He scored against Barca in the 2-6 at the Bernabeu last May 2009, assisted Higuain to score the 1-0 and scored the 2-3. Juande Ramos replaced him in the second half after the many problems he had to guard Henry for his side. The Frenchman felt extremely comfortable, scored two goals and made the left side into a freezone. Following the classico, the performance of #4 dropped substantially, until he reached this season.

This season again shows his best side, either playing at right back or central (Pellegrini changes his location in the field according to the team's needs after the arrival of Arbeloa, who can fill the lane right-handed). He played 25 games in the league and has scored three goals. In total as a Madridista he has a sum of 156 encounters in the national championship and 21 others.

Very profitable. And those 27 million it cost for his signing at Madrid in 2005 profitable by far. Indeed, 27 is the number of goals he scored for the club in all competitions, one ahead of Roberto Carlos in the same number of games. He now has a date marked on his calendar: April 10 with a new classico ...

Sergio, un veterano de 24 añitos...

Llegó por aquí en el verano de 2005 con la ilusión de un niño y el cuerpo de un hombre. Era un chaval ingenuo y tímido, como revela esta anécdota acontecida dos meses antes de firmar su contrato junto a Florentino en el despacho oval del Bernabéu. El cantaor José Mercé se encontraba comiendo en el VIPS situado junto al Sánchez Pizjuán. En ese momento se le acercó un joven con perfil de atleta que le dijo casi susurrando por la vergüenza: "Señor Mercé, ¿me podría firmar usted un autógrafo?". El genial intérprete de la emotiva versión flamenca del Hala Madrid le miró y le sacó los colores: "Pero si tú eres Sergio Ramos. El autógrafo te lo debería pedir yo a ti". Una vez roto el hielo, el multiusos de Pellegrini le confesó a su ídolo de los escenarios que soñaba con firmar pronto por el Madrid: "Don José, el único problema es que Del Nido no está muy por la labor...".

Para fortuna de Sergio, Florentino y Del Nido siempre tuvieron una magnífica relación y sellaron el traspaso más caro y sonado por un jugador de sólo 19 años. La grada de Nervión no se lo perdonó al chico nunca, algo que jamás entenderé. Fue un acuerdo entre clubes y no un pago de cláusula, el Sevilla llenó la caja y Ramos siempre habló maravillas de la casa que dejaba...

Hoy cumple 24 años consolidado como cuarto capitán (le preceden Raúl, Guti y Casillas) y como baluarte de una defensa que ha recuperado el crédito pese a la baja dolorosa de Pepe. Ramos es ahora un cañón de dos o de cuatro. De hecho, en el corazón de Manhattan, en la sede de la Peña New York City, corearon su nombre mientras veían el derbi por la televisión. Sergio, ya eres un jugador universal. ¡Feliz cumpleaños, máquina!

* this was written after Alfredo Relaño, the director of AS saw the derby with our peña *

sort of google translation:

He arrived here in the summer of 2005 with the dream of a boy and a man's body. He was a naive and shy boy, as revealed in this anecdote which occurred two months before signing his contract with Florentino in the Oval Office of the Bernabeu. The singer José Mercé was eating in the VIPS next to the Sanchez Pizjuan. At that time he was approached by a young athlete profile you said almost in a whisper of shame, "Señor Mercé, could you sign an autograph?". The great interpreter of the emotional flamenco version of Hala Madrid looked at him and made him blush: "But you are Sergio Ramos. An autograph I should be asking of you." After breaking the ice, Pellegrini’s talented one confessed to his idol of how he dreamed of being confirmed to go to Madrid. "Don Jose, the only problem is that Del Nido is not in favor for it to work out...".

Fortunately for Sergio, Florentino and Del Nido always had a wonderful relationship and sealed the most expensive transfer heard of by a player of only 19 years. The VIP section of the Nervión never forgave the boy, something I will never understand. It was a deal between clubs and not a payment clause, Sevilla filled the position and Ramos spoke wonders of the house he left.

Today at the fulfillment of 24 years, having turned into fourth captain (preceded by Raul, Guti and Casillas) and as a bulwark of defense that has regained the credit in spite of the painful loss of Pepe. Ramos is now cannon, two or four. In fact, in the heart of Manhattan at the headquarters of the Peña New York City, they chanted his name while watching the derby on television. Sergio, you are a universal player. Happy birthday, badass! (Machine)