World Cup Corner

Pavel Nedved, Juventus midfielder and former European Footballer of the Year, will return to help Czech Republic in in this month’s FIFA World Cup play-off against Norway after a 16-month absence. Nedved hurt his knee and retired from international football after the Czechs lost 1-0 to eventual champions Greece in the Euro 2004 semi-finals.

Karel Brueckner has also called up Monaco midfielder Jaroslav Plasil, who is coming back from a foot injury. He told the reporters:

“We have a strong team and with Nedved we are even stronger. I welcome the fact that the team once again can show its quality and that it widens the potential lineup of our midfield.”

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FIFAworldcup.com published an interview with Portugal’s and Paris Saint-Germain ‘goal machine’ Pauleta. The 32-year-old striker recently broke Eusebio’s all-time scoring record for Portugal. He has now scored 42 goals for his country in 77 appearances since his debut in 1997. Eusebio, Portugal’s legendary striker of the 1960s, scored his 41 goals in 64 appearances.

FIFAworldcup.com caught up with the ‘Eagle of the Azores’ and heard his typically modest views on his goalscoring achievements, and Portugal and their FIFA World Cup 2006 prospects.

Eusebio will always be unique and I can’t be compared to him in any way. He will remain the greatest Portuguese player of all time. Our styles are totally different. He was what’s called a complete player, with tremendous pace, power and shooting ability. I would love to see him play today. As I’ve said, I’m really happy to have beaten this record but, like all Portuguese people, I am still a huge admirer of Eusebio.

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Coach Jose Pekerman called Chelsea striker Hernan Crespo in Argentina’s squad for the friendly match against England in Geneva on 12 November. Javier Zanetti, Javier Saviola and Julio Cruz also return to the international fold.

Argentina will play Qatar four days later, on 16 November.

Argentina squad:
Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid);

Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Diego Placente (Celta Vigo), Javier Zanetti, Walter Samuel (both Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna);

Sebastian Battaglia (Boca Juniors), Juan Roman Riquelme, Juan Pablo Sorin (both Villarreal), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Mario Santana (Palermo), Daniel Bilos (Boca Juniors), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid);

Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Javier Saviola (Sevilla), Julio Ricardo Cruz (Inter Milan).

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