Any anounced yet? What is the deadline? I may as well update PES 2008 in readiness.

Have you seen the numbering on Holland's shirts, Harry? (see the advert on page 16 of the current WSC)

Thoughts?

The deadline is apparently May 28th. I get very excited by squad lists and squad numbers. More than is healthy. I like the way different nations have recognisably different systems of doing it, too - for example the tendency of French first-choice goalkeepers to wear 16.

Like I said, I'm sad.

Big Daves Gussett wrote:

QUOTE:
Have you seen the numbering on Holland's shirts, Harry? (see the advert on page 16 of the current WSC)

Thoughts?

Oh for fuck's sake it's the over-sized Fuzzy Felt font again.

It's pretty big, but I like the square number 9 with a straight, um, tail. Adidas need to sort their numbering out too - what's with the four stripes? I think it was Spearmint Rhino who likened their numbers to the kind of marks you can make by dragging your fork through mashed potato.

Croatia's provisional squad (from www.hns-cff.hr)

Goalkeepers; Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak), Vedran Runje (Lens), Mario Galinovic (Panathinaikos)

Defenders; Robert Kovac (Borussia D.), Josip Simunic (Hertha), Dario Simic (Milan), Dario Knezevic (Livorno), Hrvoje Vejic (Tom), Vedran Corluka (Manchester City), Danijel Pranjic (Heerenveen), Darijo Srna (Shakhtar D.)

Midfielders; Niko Kovac (Salzburg), Jerko Leko (Monaco), Niko Kranjcar (Portsmouth), Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb), Nikola Pokrivac (Monaco), Ognjen Vukojevic (Dinamo Zagreb), Ivan Rakitic (Schalke 04), Mladen Petric (Borussia D.)
forwards; Igor Budan (Parma), Ivica Olic (HSV), Ivan Klasnic (Werder), Nikola Kalinic (Hajduk S.)

On stand by
Manuel Pamic (Salzburg), Anas Sharbini (Rijeka)

Er, the Adidas numbers on that ad are solid and not composed of 3 or 4 stripes.

Anyway, can our correspondents across the world post up any of the squads and squad numbers as they are released here please? Edit: good man, Rowdy.

Bugger, so they are. I based my concerns on the fact that at lunchtime I saw a kid in Wandsworth wearing a new France shirt with Henry 14 on the back with the mashed potato/fork font. I should have known better.

The Croatians haven't released any numbers yet as far as I can see. With the season not quite yet over, final squads won't be released for another few weeks.

Big Daves Gussett wrote:

QUOTE:
Bugger, so they are. I based my concerns on the fact that at lunchtime I saw a kid in Wandsworth wearing a new France shirt with Henry 14 on the back with the mashed potato/fork font. I should have known better.

The fact that Henry wears 12 for France is the giveaway.

Yes Rowdy, I think we might have to wait for UEFA's list after the deadline for most if not all squad numbers.

The Netherlands' pre-selection squad, to be whittled down in two stages; one next week, and the final squad will be announced after the 22nd. (Source: www.knvb.nl)

Goalkeepers: Sander Boschker (FC Twente), Edwin van der Sar (Manchester United), Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax), Henk Timmer (Feyenoord).

Defenders: Wilfred Bouma (Aston Villa), Tim de Cler (Feyenoord), Urby Emanuelson (Ajax), John Heitinga (Ajax), Kew Jaliens (AZ), Joris Mathijsen (HSV), Mario Melchiot (Wigan Athletic), André Ooijer (Blackburn Rovers).

Midfielders: Ibrahim Afellay (PSV), Giovanni van Bronckhorst (Feyenoord), Orlando Engelaar (FC Twente), Nigel de Jong (HSV), Denny Landzaat (Feyenoord), Hedwiges Maduro (Valencia), Clarence Seedorf (AC Milan), Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid), Rafael van der Vaart (HSV), Demy de Zeeuw (AZ).

Forwards: Ryan Babel (Liverpool), Klaas Jan Huntelaar (Ajax), Danny Koevermans (PSV), Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool), Ruud van Nistelrooy (Real Madrid), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Arjen Robben (Real Madrid), Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink (Celtic).

Speaking of Henry's number 12 shirt - what's the official rule on "squad number" style numbering outside of international tournaments?

The majority of European teams I see do it for friendlies and qualifying games, and it's been this way for a while - I recall seeing Zidane wearing his 21 shirt in a friendly and feeling dirty (yet aroused) by the whole prospect. Is it just the home nations flying the flag for 1-11 numbering outside of tournament play?

I thought Zidane was always 10 for France, in tournaments or qualifiers, and only wore 21 at Juve because someone (Del Piero?) wouldn't relinquish it?

I am (unsurprisingly given my obession with him) fascinated by what number Anelka will wear.

I'd guess he'll go for 3 or 9 and then add the second digit in with a clever mix of coal dust and vaseline.

I think he'll go for 9, Govou isn't going to be in the squad to have it is he?