The final line-up for the world cup is out, with all nations having announced their squads on May 15th. A look at the teams of strong contenders.

Hosts Germany’s squad, which will be captained by Michael Ballack who moved to Chelsea recently, has a surprise in the form of debutant David Odonkor . The Borussia Dortmund striker is coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s choice.

The German team

Goalkeepers
Jens Lehmann & Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich). Lehmann will be the first goalie.

Timo Hildebrand, Robert Huth, Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen, Per Mertesacker, Christoph Metzelder, Jens Nowotny, Philipp Lahm , Michael Ballack , Thorsten Frings , Tim Borowski, Thomas Hitzlsperger , Bastian Schweinsteiger , Bernd Schneider , Sebastian Kehl , Lukas Podolski, Gerald Asamoah, Miroslav Klose, Mike Hanke, Oliver Neuville & David Odonkor.

England

Sven Goran Eriksson’s English team has little surprises but the coach has kept injury-hit stars Ronney of Manchester United and Michael Owen of Newcastle in the team. England are one of the tournament favourites. Theo Walcott is the lone unexpected inclusion in the Group B side.

Robinson, James , Green, G Neville , Ferdinand , Terry , Cole , Campbell, Carragher, Bridge, Beckham, Carrick , Lampard , Gerrard, Hargreaves , Jenas , Downing , J Cole , Lennon , Rooney , Owen, Crouch, Walcott.

Argentina

Like England Argentina has reposed faith in injured teenage superstar Lionel Messi, considered by many as Maradona’s successor. Argentina are in what is being described as the group of death (Group C), with strong teams Ivory Coast, Serbia & Montenegro & Holland. Gabriel Heinze of Manchester United has been retained. The surprise omission is Javier Zanetti of Inter Milan, who had been in the last word cup squad in Japan and Korea.

Roberto Abbondanzieri, Leonardo Franco, Oscar Ustari, Fabricio Coloccini , Leandro Cufre, Roberto Ayala, Nicolas Burdisso, Gabriel Milito, Gabriel Heinze , Juan Pablo Sorin , Juan Roman Riquelme, Luis Gonzalez , Javier Mascherano, Esteban Cambiasso , Maximiliano Rodriguez , Pablo Aimar , Lionel Scaloni ,Hernan Crespo, Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez , Rodrigo Palacio , Javier Saviola , Julio Cruz.

Holland

The team has no place for Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Roy Makaay, Edgar Davids & George Boateng.

Edwin van der Sar, Maarten Stekelenburg , Henk Timmer, Khalid Boulahrouz , Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Tim de Cler, Johnny Heitinga, Kew Jaliens, Jan Kromkamp, Joris Mathijsen , Andre Ooijer , Mark van Bommel, Phillip Cocu, Denny Landzaat, Hedwiges Maduro, Wesley Sneijder , Rafael van der Vaart , Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt , Ruud van Nistelrooy , Robin van Persie , Arjen Robben, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink.

Mexico

A player born in Argentina and another born in Brazil find a place in the Mexican squad, -- Guillermo Franco and Zinha. Thirty-seven year old defender Claudio Suarez beat Joel Huiqui for a place in the squad, signalling the importance of defence in Mexico’s scheme of things in Germany. Mexico is in Group D.

Guillermo Ochoa, Oswaldo Sanchez, Jose de Jesus Corona, Jose Antonio Castro, Rafael Marquez, Claudio Suarez, Ricardo Osorio, Francisco Carlos Salcido, avier Rodriguez, Gonzalo Pineda, Pavel Pardo, Mario Mendez, Rafael Garcia, Andres Guardado, Gerardo Torrado, Ramon Morales, Luis Ernesto Perez, Jesus Arellano, Zinha, Jared Borgetti, Francisco Fonseca, Omar Bravo, Guillermo Franco.

Italy

Coach Marcello Lippi has named Francesco Totti, who has been out with injuries since February, to the Italian Squad. Italy are the favourites in Group E.

Gianluigi Buffon, Angelo Peruzzi, Marco Amelia , Gianluca Zambrotta, Alessandro Nesta, Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso, Cristian Zaccardo, Marco Materazzi, Andrea Barzagli, Massimo Oddo, Mauro Camoranesi, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Simone Perrotta, Simone Barone, Alberto Gilardino, Francesco Totti, Luca Toni, Alessandro Del Piero, Filippo Inzaghi, Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Brazil

Few surprises in the squad of all time favourites Brazil. Lyon's Cris has been named in place of the injured Roque Junior in the star-studded team. Brazil are in Group F with Australia, Croatia and Japan.

Dida, Julio Cesar, Rogerio Ceni, Cafu, Cicinho, Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto, Juninho Pernambucano, Cris, Luisao, Edmilson, Emerson, Ze Roberto, Gilberto Silva, Kaka, Ricardinho, Ronaldo, Robinho, Ronaldinho, Adriano & Fred.

France

Though the composition of the squad thre up little surprises, France has stunned soccer fans by naming Marseille’s Fabien Barthez as the first goal keeper, despite the glorious run of Gregory Coupet under the bar.

Fabien Barthez, Gregory Coupet, Mickael Landreau, Eric Abidal, Pascal Chimbonda, Gael Givet, Mikael Silvestre, Jean-Alain Boumsong, William Gallas, Willy Sagnol, Lilian Thuram, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira, Florent Malouda, Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Alou Diarra, Vikash Dhorasoo, Louis Saha, Djibril Cisse, Sylvain , David Trezeguet, Wiltord Franck Ribery.

Spain

The top team in Group H has left out talented striker Fernando Morientes of Liverpool. Morientes is a causality of coach Luis Aragones’ policy to include just four strikers.

Santiago Canizares, Iker Casillas, Pablo Ibanez, Jose Reina, Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Carles Puyol, Juanito, Carlos Marchena, Antonio Lopez, Asier del Horno, David Albelda, Marcos Senna, Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Joaquin, Luis Garcia, Jose Antonio Reyes, Fernando Torres, Raul, David Villa.