Brazil leave out Romario

Veteran striker Romario, one of the world’s most charismatic players and the hero of Brazil’s 1994 World Cup conquest, was left out as the four-times world champions named their 23-man squad for the World Cup on Monday. The exclusion of the 36-year-old Vasco da Gama player had been expected but is still likely to make coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hugely unpopular.

The squad: Rogerio Ceni (Sao Paulo), Marcos (Palmeiras), Dida (Corinthians), Cafu (AS Roma), Belletti (Sao Paulo), Junior (Parma), Roberto Carlos (Real Madrid), Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen), Roque Junior (AC Milan), Anderson Polga (Gremio), Edmilson (Olympique Lyon), Gilberto Silva (Atletico Mineiro), Emerson Ferreira (AS Roma), Juninho Paulista (Flamengo), Kaka (Sao Paulo), Kleberson (Atletico Paranaense), Vampeta (Corinthians), Ronaldinho Gaucho (Paris St Germain) Forwards – Ronaldo (Inter Milan), Luizao (Gremio), Edilson (Cruzeiro), Denilson (Real Betis), Rivaldo (Barcelona).

Deisler included in German squad

Germany coach Rudi Voeller picked Sebastian Deisler in the 23-man squad for the finals he announced despite doubts about the inspirational midfielder’s fitness. Deisler had just recovered from knee surgery when he tore a thigh muscle in training last month. Voeller also called up Hertha Berlin defender Marko Rehmer, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, in a squad with no major surprises.

The squad: Oliver Kahn, Jens Lehmann, Hans-Joerg Butt, Thomas Linke, Christian Woerns, Sebastian Kehl, Christoph Metzelder, Joerg Heinrich, Marko Rehmer, Christian Ziege, Michael Ballack, Carsten Ramelow, Bernd Schneider, Sebastian Deisler, Torsten Frings, Jens Jeremies, Dietmar Hamann, Gerald Asamoah, Oliver Bierhoff, Oliver Neuville, Carsten Jancker, Miroslav Klose and Marco Bode.