Reuters Soccer Blog

Like many, Ronaldinho’s World Cup bid may have come too late

Ronaldinho has been left out of Brazil’s squad for next month’s friendly with Ireland, making it highly unlikely he will make Dunga’s list of 23 for June’s World Cup.

It’s quite a come down for the former world player of the year but he has been having a much better season at AC Milan following three years of problems. 

Ultimately, Ronaldinho may have timed his bid for South Africa too late just like several other players in Serie A.

Outside of Italy, MICHAEL OWEN is probably the best of example of a big name player looking set to miss the first finals in Africa.

A Champions League hat-trick for Manchester United in the group stages failed to persuade Alex Ferguson to give him more first team opportunities and the only way he can realistically make Fabio Capello’s squad now is to hope for a several injuries upfront.

But it is Serie A where a host of World Cup hopefuls are struggling to realise their dream. Here’s a list in no particular order. 

FRANCESCO TOTTI – Yes I know he is officially retired from international football but the AS Roma striker has been giving strong hints that he will make himself available for Italy’s World Cup squad after quitting following their 2006 triumph.

Is naturalising players for internationals a good idea?

Brazil-born Juventus striker Amauri failed to get an Italian passport in time for Italy’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria but he hopes the documentation will come through soon.Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi has indicated he will then consider Amauri for international duty but said he did not want the situation to be repeated.This seems to have ended any chance of Inter Milan midfielder Thiago Motta following Amauri’s lead. The former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid player could qualify for Italy if FIFA decided his two Brazil appearances in the CONCACAF Gold Cup did not count as full caps because it was a under-23 team.After Diego’s classy brace in his second game for Juventus, many Italians became excited when they realised the playmaker has Italian lineage. However, they forgot the basic rule that Diego had played competitively for Brazil and therefore was not eligible for Italy.Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva plays for Croatia despite being born in Brazil while the London club’s uncapped Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has often been talked about as a potential England candidate.Is the situation out of hand? I’m just old enough to remember when domestic clubs had a majority of players from the local town. Now few top sides have players from the same country.Is international football going the same way? Why not have Premier League v Serie A rather than England v Italy?Liverpool’s Alberto Aquilani and Andrea Dossena may feel a bit torn.PHOTO: Juventus forward Amauri warms up during a training session at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin March 9, 2009.REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi