Fear not Sam's Army, Brian Ching is on the mend

I feel like every time I mention him, I have to qualify it by saying Shimer and I are not fans. Anywho, Brian Ching is back to training with the Houston Dynamo.

He strained his left hamstring in the Dynamo's home opener on April 1. It looks like he'll return next week, right before the deadline for US coach Bob Bradley to submit his preliminary World Cup roster.

"I've played with him over the past three years now. He knows what I'm capable of," Ching said. "I think he'll understand five weeks off, you need to build your way back into it. But there is definitely an urgency to get out there and playing well."

The 31-year-old forward, a member of the U.S. national team since 2003, desperately wants to make his second straight World Cup roster. Teams must submit 30-man rosters to FIFA next Tuesday, with 23-man rosters due June 1. The U.S. can make substitutions up until 24 hours before its June 12 opener against England.

"I try not to focus on the World Cup," Ching said. "Do I think about it? Yeah. Is there pressure to get back on the field before he has to make his decision? Yeah. At this point, I'm not going to compromise getting injured again with rushing back onto the field."

Whether he's chosen or not, Ching says he may be finished with international soccer after the World Cup. He says he'll make that decision later this year.

"I think there's a good chance I might hang up my boots from international soccer after the World Cup. I think that will be my decision," he said. "I will be 36 for the next World Cup. Honestly, if I look at myself, do I think I can be on a World Cup team when I'm 36? I don't think so. It's something on my mind, but it might help prolong my career."

Ching has 11 goals in 44 appearances with the U.S. team since 2003. He appeared in 11 games, including 10 starts for the U.S team last year, helping the Americans to a second-place finish in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Ching didn't get into a match at the 2006 World Cup as the United States was eliminated in the first round with losses to the Czech Republic and Ghana around a tie with Italy.

Taking the field in a World Cup game is about the last goal in soccer he has yet to reach.

"It's every soccer player's dream to represent their country in the World Cup," he said. "It was a huge disappointment, not being able to play in the last one, when you're so close. I positioned myself well. I just need to get back fit and hopefully, I'll get to experience that again."

If Ching isn't healthy, it could open an opportunity for Colorado's Conor Casey as a target forward. Los Angeles' Edson Buddle and Puebla's Herculez Gomez also have put themselves into contention for the U.S. roster with hot springs.

When healthy, Ching appears to be a favorite to join Hull's Jozy Altidore on the U.S. roster.

Your 2010 Paraguay 30-man roster

Paraguay is part of Group F: Italy, New Zealand and Slovakia. Clearly, everyone will be playing for second-place and you could make a case for New Zealand, Slovakia or Paraguay. With that said, Paraguay got the ball rolling by naming their 30-man training camp roster.

Borussia Dortmund forward Lucas Barrios has been picked by Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino in place of Salvador Cabanas on his 30-man preliminary World Cup roster.

Cabanas, who has been ruled out of the World Cup, is recovering after being shot in the head at point-blank range 3½ months ago in a Mexico City bar. Cabanas, who plays for Mexico's Club America, had been expected to be Paraguay's top attacking player.

Barrios, who has never played for Paraguay, is a 25-year-old forward who was born in Argentina. He has 18 goals this season for Borussia Dortmund.

"I got my Paraguay nationality in March because my mother was born in Paraguay," he said Tuesday in a radio interview. "I want to thank everyone who has had confidence in me and I hope to fit it well with my new teammates."

Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz was included after missing time this season with knee and calf injuries. He has just three goals in 17 Premier League games this season.

Paraguay has exhibitions against North Korea on May 15 in Switzerland, at Ireland on May 25, against Ivory Coast on May 30 in France, and against and Greece on June 2 in Switzerland. Paraguay is in a first-round group with World Cup champion Italy, Slovakia and New Zealand.

Final rosters are due June 1, but teams can make substitutions up until 24 hours before their opener.

Goalkeepers: Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin, Colombia), Justo Villar (Valladolid, Spain)

Defenders: Antolin Alcaraz (Brugge, Belgium), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia, Paraguay), Julio Cesar Caceres (Atletico Mineiro, Brazil), Denis Caniza (Leon, Mexico), Paulo Da Silva (Sunderland, England), Julio Manzur (Olimpia, Paraguay), Claudio Morel (Boca Juniors, Argentina), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo, Argentina), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM, Mexico)

Midfielders: Sergio Aquino (Libertad), Edgar Barreto (Atalanta, Italy), Marcos Caceres (Racing Club, Argentina), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Marcelo Estigarribia (Newell's Old Boys, Argentina), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus, Argentina), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul, Mexico), Jonathan Santana (Wolfsburg, Germany) Enrique Vera (Liga de Quito, Ecuador)

Forwards: Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys, Argentina), Lucas Barrios (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca, Mexico), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica, Lisbon), Rodolfo Gamarra (Libertad), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey, Mexico), Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City, England), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

Prepare to boo this man

Lorient midfielder Yazid Mansouri was named the captain of Algeria.

This matters to you Uncle Sam, because Algeria is in the US' group C along with England and Slovenia at the 2010 World Cup.

Coach Rabah Saadane selected a 25-man preliminary roster Tuesday and must cut down to 23 by June 1.

Algeria opens against Slovenia on June 12, then plays England six days later and closes the first round against the United States on June 23. It has warmup matches at Ireland (May 28) and against the United Arab Emirates in Nuremberg, Germany (June 5).

Several Algerians selected are teammates of players in the U.S. national team player pool: defender Madjid Bougherra (midfielders Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley on Glasgow Rangers); midfielder Riad Boudebouz (forward Charlie Davies on Sochaux); and midfielder Karim Matmour (midfielder Michael Bradley on Borussia Moenchengladbach).

Just four players are based in Algeria: three goalkeepers and defender Abdelkader Laifaoui. Seven players are with French clubs.

Defender Nadir Belhadj has not played since March 20 because of a hamstring injury, and Bougherra has been sidelined since April 18 due to a strained calf.

Goalkeepers: Fawzi Chaouchi (ES Setif), Lounes Gaouaoui (ASO Chlef), M'bohi Rais Ouhed (Slava Sofia, Bulgaria), Mohamed Liamine Zemamouche (MC Alger)

Defenders: Habib Belaid (Boulogne, France), Nadir Belhadj (Portsmouth, England), Madjid Bougherra (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Rafik Halliche (Nacional Madeira, Portugal), Abdelkader Laifaoui (ES Setif), Carl Medjani (AC Ajaccio, France), Djamel Mesbah (Lecce, Italy) Anther Yahia (Bochum, Germany)

Midfielders: Djamel Abdoun (Nantes, France), Riad Boudebouz (Sochaux, France), Adlane Guedioura (Wolverhampton, England), Fouad Kadir (Valenciennes, France), Medhi Lacen (Racing Santander, Spain), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient, France), Karim Matmour (Moenchengladbach, Germany), Mourad Meghni (Lazio, Italy), Hassen Yebda (Portsmouth, England), Karim Ziani (Wolfsburg, Germany)

Forwards: Rafik Djebbour (AEK Athens, Greece), Abdelkader Ghezzal (Siena, Italy), Rafik Saifi (Istres, France)

Skrtel hopes to be back for World Cup

The tattooed one, Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel is fully recovered from his broken foot and he hopes to play for Slovakia at the World Cup this summer.

In a statement on his website he said "I will be back to full training with my teammates on Wednesday."

Skrtel was hurt in the 3-1 Europa League win at Unirea Urziceni on Feb 25 and scans showed he broke a metatarsal in his right foot.

Skrtel said on Tuesday he hoped to be back in decent form for the tournament in South Africa, where Slovakia opens on June 15 against New Zealand before facing Paraguay and defending champion Italy in Group F.

Slovakia won its European qualifying group to secure its first World Cup berth.

Van Nistelrooy left out of Dutch training camp

This isn't a surprise at all but the biggest name so far that won't be going to a World Cup training camp is Ruud Van Nistelrooy.

The Dutchman is 33-years-old which is ancient on a stacked team like the Dutch and he had retired from international football in 2008. Still, he was hoping to get on Bert van Marwijk's squad after he declared himself back for international play.

He transfered from Real Madrid to Hamburg in January and he has scored four goals in 10 appearances. Not exactly bulging the old onion bag like he did in his earlier days.

Van Marwijk, will meet his players in two separate two-day training camps next week, also opted not to call on players involved in the Champions League final.

That means Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben and Mark van Bommel and Inter Milan's Wesley Sneijder will remain with their clubs.

Uncapped duo Jeremain Lens from AZ Alkmaar and Ajax's Vurnon Anita were given their first call-ups.

Van Marwijk will name his 30-man provisional squad for the World Cup on May 11.

Training squad: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Michel Vorm (FC Utrecht); Khalid Boulahrouz (Stuttgart), Joris Mathijsen (Hamburg), Andre Ooijer (PSV Eindhoven), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Gregory van der Wiel (Ajax), Ron Vlaar (Feyenoord); Ibrahim Afellay (PSV Eindhoven), Vurnon Anita (Ajax), Otman Bakkal (PSV Eindhoven), Edson Braafheid (Celtic), Wout Brama (FC Twente), Demy de Zeeuw (Ajax), Orlando Engelaar (PSV Eindhoven), John Heitinga (Everton), Nigel de Jong (Manchester City), Stijn Schaars (AZ Alkmaar), David Mendes da Silva (AZ Alkmaar); Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Eljero Elia (Hamburg), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Jeremain Lens (AZ Alkmaar).

When you look at that list, along with who's playing in the Champions League Final, it's easy to see why the Dutch are always a sexy pick to go far in any international competition. Could this be the year they finally go all the way to a World Cup title?

Kuranyi will not be going to South Africa

In more World Cup news, German coach Joachim Loew has decided not to bring Schalke forward and uberbozo Kevin Kuranyi to the World Cup.

The German federation said Monday that Kuranyi will not be in the provisional World Cup roster announced Thursday.

Kuranyi was kicked off the national team in October 2008 for disciplinary reasons. He is talented though, with proof being that he has scored 18 goals for his German club team Schalke this season.

"It would have been no problem for us to give him another chance. But we came to the conclusion that we have other tactical and personnel ideas for choosing the World Cup squad," Loew said.

Kuranyi left the stadium at halftime of Germany's World Cup qualifier when he was not picked for the game-day roster and sent friends to collect his bags from the team hotel. He later apologized and often expressed hope that he would be allowed to return.

Kuranyi also missed the 2006 World Cup in Germany, when he was dropped by then-coach Juergen Klinsmann shortly before the tournament.

"My dream to play at the World Cup has been dashed for the second time. Clearly, this decision makes me very sad," Kuranyi said. "I gave it my best this season. But it wasn't enough. It's a decision by the coach that I accept and respect."

As always Germany is one of the heavy favorites to do big things in the World Cup, therefore they don't need this joker screwing things up for them. Some teams revel in drama (England) which ultimately becomes their downfall. Germans are known to be straightforward and smart, they didn't feel like dealing with Kuranyi.

Agogo no go for Ghana at World Cup

Since it's now May, training camps for World Cup teams are just days away so famous players are starting to be left out due to injury or loss of form.

Ghana forward Junior Agogo will miss the World Cup after having knee surgery.

The 30-year-old, who used to play in the MLS for the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire, will be out for six months. He currently plays for Apollon Limassol in Cyprus.

Agogo missed this year's African Cup of Nations in Angola because coach Milovan Rajevac said he was not fit enough. Ghana lost to Egypt in the final.

Agogo starred at the 2008 African Cup in Ghana, scoring the winner in the quarterfinals against Nigeria and three goals overall as the Black Stars finished third.