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Chile boss makes surprise picks

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Luis Marin, Jaime Valdes and Charles Aranguiz were the surprise names in Chile (9/2 to win Group H) coach Marcelo Bielsa’s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup.

Union Espanola’s Marin has won the battle for the third goalkeeping berth over Universidad Catolica’s Cristopher Toselli and will travel to South Africa alongside Real Sociedad’s Claudio Bravo and Miguel Pinto.

Atalanta midfielder Valdes and Colo Colo midfielder Aranguiz, who has just recovered from a knee injury, did not feature in qualifying, but both make the squad.

Flamengo midfielder Claudio Maldonado was not included despite getting over cruciate ligament surgery very quickly.

Universidad Catolica defender Hans Martinez and Osvaldo Gonzalez, who reached the Mexican Bicentenario semi-finals with Toluca, also missed out.

Squad: Claudio Bravo (Real Sociedad), Miguel Pinto (Universidad de Chile), Luis Marin (Union Espanola); Roberto Cereceda (Colo Colo), Pablo Contreras (PAOK), Ismael Fuentes (Universidad Catolica), Mauricio Isla (Udinese), Gary Medel (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Jara (West Brom), Waldo Ponce (Universidad Catolica), Arturo Vidal (Bayer Leverkusen); Charles Aranguiz (Colo Colo), Carlos Carmona (Reggina), Marco Estrada (Universidad de Chile), Matias Fernandez (Sporting Lisbon), Gonzalo Fierro (Flamengo), Jose Pedro Fuenzalida (Colo Colo), Manuel Iturra (Universidad de Chile), Rodrigo Millar (Colo Colo), Pedro Morales (Dinamo Zagreb), Rodrigo Tello (Besiktas), Jorge Valdivia (Al-Ain), Jaime Valdes (Atalanta); Jean Beausejour (America), Mark Gonzalez, Hector Mancilla (Toluca), Fabian Orellana (Xerez), Esteban Paredes (Colo Colo), Alexis Sanchez (Udinese), Humberto Suazo (Real Zaragoza).

Meanwhile, Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi feels Italy (12/1 to win World Cup) have “a very strong squad for the World Cup and nobody wants to take us on.”

Camoranesi has had a poor campaign, but remains in Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list.

“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” said the 2006 winner.

“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”

The Azzurri are the reigning holders with many of the same players who were in Berlin four years ago.

“We feel in good shape and now need to work ourselves very hard indeed over the next two weeks,” continued Camoranesi.

“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France.

“On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.

“With Fabio Capello’s arrival, England have improved a great deal.”

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1966 hero makes case for Scholes

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France legend Zinedine Zidane once famously described Paul Scholes as “my toughest opponent” in a trophy-laden career that saw him win domestic titles in Italy and Spain, as well as the Champions League and World Cup (11/2 England – World Cup outright).

It was a remarkable statement given that Zidane was a giant among his peers and rightly regarded as the best player in world football at his peak.

“Scholes is undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation,” added the former Juventus and Real Madrid icon.

The Scholes appreciation club gained a new member this week when World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst suggested the 35-year-old Manchester United star should end his international exile with England.

The Old Trafford favourite won 66 caps – the last was in the European Championship quarter-final defeat by Portugal – and scored 14 goals for his country before retiring in 2004, largely down to the fact that Sven Goran Eriksson played him in a wide-left position.

Steve McClaren made four unsuccessful attempts to try and persuade Scholes to return to the international stage and the consensus now is that his time has gone.

However, Hurst, England’s 1966 hat-trick hero, believes current manager Fabio Capello should make one last attempt to convince one-club man Scholes he could do a job at the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

Hurst said: “If Paul Scholes changed his mind and came out of international retirement I would pick him, definitely, for the World Cup.”

Scholes, a winner of nine Premier League titles, scored a crucial winner in the recent derby against Manchester City to keep Sir Alex Ferguson’s side in the chase for a record 19th domestic crown (6/4 Man United – Premier League outright).

Hurst said on current form Scholes is still as good as any other England midfielder and deserves his place at the World Cup this summer.

Speaking at Lilleshall National Sports Centre, he added: “There is a position for him in the England squad this summer if he changes his mind. Six months ago I was not so sure but now I would say ‘put him in’.”

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Lennon makes timely Spurs return

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Harry Redknapp and Sir Alex FergusonTottenham winger Aaron Lennon is set to hand England coach Fabio Capello a boost ahead of the World Cup after returning to the Spurs squad for the final Premier League games of the season (Three Lions 5/2 Top European Team in South Africa).

Capello has seen his options down the right side of midfield cut by former captain David Beckham’s Achilles injury which has ruled him out of the finals in South Africa in a playing capacity.

Lennon has not featured for his club since December because of a groin injury but he is back in training and White Hart Lane chief Harry Redknapp has confirmed the former Leeds United youngster will make the bench at Manchester United on Saturday (United 4/9, draw 16/5, Spurs 11/2).

He said: “He (Lennon) is a top player. He won’t start but could be available if we need him for 20 minutes.”

Spurs currently occupy the final Champions League place and know a win will pile the pressure on fifth-placed Manchester City who kick off at teatime on Saturday at Arsenal.

But Redknapp will know he is in for a tough game given the fact United (11/8 Outright) need the points to overhaul Chelsea (4/7f) in the title race.

The Blues do not play until Sunday – at home against Stoke – by which time the Red Devils could be two points clear.

Spurs did United a favour last weekend by beating Chelsea 2-1 but a week in football is a long time and that will be forgotten when the two sides clash at Old Trafford.

Famously, Sir Alex Ferguson once referred to this stage of the season as “squeaky bum time” and the Scot concedes it takes a toll on managers at both ends of the table.

He remarked: “I don’t think the next few weeks keeps you healthy.

“It is not good for you but it is there. You have to accept there is pressure in life. I can deal with it.”

Ferguson added: “We just have to concentrate on our own job. If we do that we can let Chelsea deal with their situation.

“After tomorrow there are only two games left so games become paramount in terms of where you are in the league.

“We have to win. The players are aware of that.”

Ferguson has versatile defender Wes Brown back after a broken foot but Owen Hargreaves’ long-awaited comeback from knee surgery has been put on ice because of a calf strain.

Spurs are still without the Croatian duo of Nico Kranjcar and Vedran Corluka because of ankle problems but midfielder Jermaine Jenas has shaken off illness and Ledley King is also in the running as well.

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