Drogba left out of Ivory Coast squad

[Manuf 1,448]

Didier Drogba left out of Ivory Coast squad to face Italy as Chelsea ace recovers from surgery

Didier Drogba has been left out of a 26-man Ivory Coast squad for Tuesday's international friendly against Italy in London.

The Chelsea striker, who has been recuperating from surgery to his groin, is one of just four players missing from the Elephants World Cup squad.

Apart from the captain, Galatasaray midfielder Kader Keita also misses out, along with Monaco's Jean-Jacques Gosso and Maccabi Netanya goalkeeper Aristide Zogbo.

The remaining 19 players who played in South Africa have all been named for the clash against the 2006 world champions, including Manchester City pair Yaya and Kolo Toure, Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue.

The seven players added to the list are Yannick Sagbo, Constant Djakpa, Emerse Fae, Kafoumba Coulibaly, Gilles Yapi-Yapo, Didier Konan Ya and Bakari Kone.

The west Africans, who were knocked out in the first round of the World Cup, are without a coach following the exit of Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Well it's on Tuesday and from what I know training camp begins on 8th. So we won't see Kalou in Community Shield. Thank God!

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Thank god! Now let's hope Capello leaves out Terry, Cole & Lampard.

[EskWeston 696]

Yup lets hope the majority of players are left out of their squads..

[- 25 - 167]

Good, really hope the same happens with Essien.

[Manuf 1,448]

Good, really hope the same happens with Essien.

Your wish is command

Essien, Muntari miss Ghana's South Africa trip

Chelsea's Michael Essien and Sulley Muntari of Inter Milan were missing from the 18-man Ghana squad named on Thursday for the friendly against South Africa in Johannesburg on August 11. Essien, who missed the World Cup because of a knee injury, was ruled out as he has only just returned to action for Chelsea.

Muntari wasn't considered by coach Milovan Rajevac after falling foul of disciplinary rules having left the team's base without permission following Ghana's heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final exit to Uruguay.

Rajevac retained 13 of the players who featured in his World Cup squad.

Midfielder Cofie Bekoe, who plays for Petrojet in Egypt, is the only new name in the squad.

Both Ghana and South Africa begin their qualifying campaign for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in September against Swaziland and Niger respectively.

Ghana squad to face South Africa in an international friendly at Soccer City in Johannesburg on August 11.

Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Unattached), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals)

Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basel/SUI), Jonathan Mensah (Grenada/ESP), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), John Mensah (Lyon/FRA), Harrison Afful (ES Tunis/TUN)

Midfielders: Anthony Annan (Rosenborg/NOR), Kwadwo Asamoah (Udinese/ITA), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (Udinese/ITA), Andre Ayew (Marseille/FRA), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth/ENG), Bernard Kumordzie (Panionios/GRE), Cofie Bekoe (Petrojet/EGY)

Attackers: Asamoah Gyan (Rennes/FRA), Dominic Adiyiah (AC Milan/ITA), Yaw Antwi (Vojvodina/SRB), Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow/RUS)

[- 25 - 167]

Your wish is command

Fantastic. OK here goes, I hope we get Aguero...

[zolayes 14,489]

for once international coaches using common sense ....hope the trend continues

[Krypt 241]

We all know capello will stick to his guns , so that mean Terry , Lampard and Cole will all be playing Wednesday. But this is defiantly good news for Drogba he needs more time to recover after such a quick come back.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

We all know capello will stick to his guns , so that mean Terry , Lampard and Cole will all be playing Wednesday. But this is defiantly good news for Drogba he needs more time to recover after such a quick come back.

Well if you believe such rumours, apparently Capello plans to axe Terry

[Gianfranco_Z 202]

Well if you believe such rumours, apparently Capello plans to axe Terry

Good

[Mário César 811]

Great news. ^^

[Madmax 9,219]

Ah good to see. Meaningless friendlies deserve meaningless squads.

Well it's on Tuesday and from what I know training camp begins on 8th. So we won't see Kalou in Community Shield. Thank God!

Hasn't Carlo already named Kalou in his starting lineup for Sunday?

Edited August 7, 2010 by Madmax201010

[ZanSnake 1,211]

I hope to hell that Kalou isn't going to be played tomorrow. Kakuta is the way forward, not Kalou or Anelka.