Brazil 2014: FIFA confirms 736 players for World Cup

FIFA on yesterday, June 5, 2014 confirmed a total of 736 players and 32 coaches after they have been officially verified.

The players and coaches are the ones that will potentially feature between 12 June – 13 July.

In a release by FIFA, all the initial provisional squads have been trimmed down, injuries weighed up and fitness assessed as the teams go through their final preparations ahead of the big kick-off in Sao Paulo. From Algeria to USA, the camps are now finalised and all those who have made it in to their team’s final 23 can focus on performing well and trying to get on to the pitch during the global finals.

However, FIFA is disturbed that injury ruled out the likes of Colombia’s Radamel Falcao and Landon Donovan failing to make the USA squad as he failed to regain fitness.   Even so, there are tons of big names on their way, with nine of Real Madrid’s victorious starting line-up from last month’s UEFA Champions League final making the trip to Brazil, and many, more star attractions preparing to line up.

Aside from the two players FIFA had mentioned to be missed, injured Nigeria’s Elderson Echiejile would have listed too but with his name on the final 23-man list of Nigeria, he was cleared.

The Super Eagles media officer, Ben Alaiya,in a mail on yesterday said the player is awaiting the result of his scan.

It would be recalled that the fullback had to be substituted in the closing stages of the first half against Greece after he picked up an injury.

And there were fears he might not recover on time for the friendly game with the United States.

‘’As I speak to you, they are taking him for a scan, he has a muscle strain. He (Echiejile) accompanied us for training this morning but he had individual training; he was just running. We cannot determine how serious his injury is until he comes back from the scan.”

The encounter between the Super Eagles and Team USA comes up on Saturday, June 7 at EverBank Field Jacksonville, Florida.

The June edition of the FIFA World Rankings were released Thursday with Nigeria stuck at the 44th position in the world and sixth in Africa.

Algeria and the Cote d’ Ivoire are 22 and 23 in the world and first and second respectively in Africa.

Egypt placed 36th falling a huge 12 places thanks to two poor results this month against Chile and Jamaica. The Pharaohs were starting to rise again and last month reached a three-year high of 24th, but just like their defence against Chile after leading 2-0, they self destructed dropping 12 places to 36th.

However, at third place Egypt remained unchanged in Africa, with Sierra Leone making the biggest move, 17 places into 9th place and Algeria managed to leapfrog Cote d’Ivorie into first place.