Argentina coach Diego Maradona has surprisingly omitted Inter Milan stars Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso from his 30-man preliminary World Cup squad.
The 36-year-old Zanetti, Argentina's most-capped player, was controversially axed by Jose Pekerman for the 2006 World Cup but then brought back by his successor Alfio Basile and retained by Maradona for the 2010 qualifiers -- though he lost the team captaincy to Javier Mascherano.
He has been a key figure in Inter's bid for a hat-trick of trophies this season, having already won the Italian Cup with one match to go in Serie A before the Champions League final against Bayern Munich.
Cambiasso, who played in Germany four years ago and had a spot-kick saved in the quarterfinal penalty shootout defeat to the hosts, has not been called up since Maradona took charge despite establishing himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe.
Inter striker Diego Milito has been selected despite playing a limited role in the qualifiers, and central defender Walter Samuel has the chance to feature at his second World Cup after also missing out in 2006.
Center-back Martin Demichelis, who is also seeking a treble with Bayern after winning the German league title last weekend, has been rewarded for his fine form this season.
Maradona also omitted Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito and Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, but named Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez -- who played for English second-division club Newcastle this season.
England-based Mascherano, Carlos Tevez and Maxi Rodriguez were also included.
Veteran striker Martin Palermo, 36, has the chance to play at his first World Cup, being one of nine Argentina-based players selected by the 1986 title-winner Maradona, with the squad to be trimmed to 23 by June 1.
Brazil coach Dunga ended the World Cup dreams of Ronaldinho and Adriano by omitting the duo from his final 23-man squad for the World Cup in South Korea.
The 30-year-old Ronaldinho, a two-time world player of the year, misses out for the second tournament in a row despite returning to form this season with Italian club AC Milan.
Former Inter Milan striker Adriano raised his profile by returning home to play with Flamengo following well-documented personal problems, but has failed to impress Dunga.
"Adriano was given several opportunities," the 1994 World Cup winner said. "There was a moment when we made a decision about the group. The group always welcomed Adriano, but there is a moment when reason talks louder than the heart."
Ronaldinho's Milan teammate Alexandre Pato also missed out, along with highly-rated Santos teenager Neymar, but Germany-based striker Grafite was included at the age of 31 after his fine form for deposed Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino was able to name Argentina-born Lucas Barrios in his 30-man squad after the Borussia Dortmund striker's change of nationality was ratified.
The 25-year-old, who scored 19 goals for the German club this season, has a Paraguayan mother.
His Dortmund strike partner Nelson Haedo Valdez is also in the squad, but they will be vying for places with Manchester City's Roque Santa Cruz and in-form Benfica forward Oscar Cardozo.
Club America forward Salvador Cabanas was omitted despite being nearly recovered from head wounds after being shot in a bar in Mexico City in January.
Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa has surprisingly brought in midfielders Jaime Valdes and Charles Aranguiz, who did not feature in qualifying.
The 29-year-old Valdes, who plays for Italian club Atalanta, won the first of his two caps in 2001 while Colo Colo's Arnaguiz, 21, was called up once last year and has just recovered from a knee injury.
Flamengo midfielder Claudio Maldonado missed out despite a quick comeback after knee surgery, while Union Espanola's Luis Marin was given the third goalkeeping place behind captain Claudio Bravo of Real Sociedad and Miguel Pinto.
Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabarez omitted Cristian Rodriguez from his 26-man squad, with the Porto winger set to start a two-game ban after his red card in the final qualifier.
Penarol's Egidio Arevalo-Rios, Alvaro Gonzalez of Nacional, Jorge Rodriguez (River Plate of Uruguay) and Defensor Sporting goalkeeper Martin Silva were the only home-based players named.
United States coach Bob Bradley has omitted forwards Charlie Davies and Freddy Adu from his 30-man squad, which includes seven players who featured in the Premier League of opening opponents England this season.
Davies has only just returned to training with French club Sochaux after suffering serious injuries in a car crash in October, while teen prodigy Adu's career has stalled -- he has been loaned to Greek club Aris Thessaloniki by Portuguese giants Benfica.
Adu's clubmate Eddie Johnson, who is on loan from English side Fulham, will appear at his second World Cup.
The squad features 10 U.S.-based players with Los Angeles Galaxy, Columbus Crew, Houston Dynamo and Chivas USA having two each.
Mexico coach Javier Aguirre has named just five specialist midfielders in his 26-man squad, but has picked versatile defenders such as Rafael Marquez, Juan Carlos Valenzuela and Adrian Aldrete who can fill in if needed.
Andres Guardado, Gerrardo Torrado, Israel Castro and the Dos Santos brothers Jonathan and Giovani will patrol the middle of the park.
Striker Miguel Sabah, who scored a late winner in a qualifier against the U.S. last August, was ruled out by injury.
Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda also took the unusual step of naming his 23-man squad well ahead of the June 1 deadline, plus seven reserves.
Key striker Carlos Costly is one of the standby players after being ruled out for four weeks with a foot injury, with his place taken by Georgie Welcome -- who in 2008 was the first Honduran to make his international debut while playing for a second-division side.
England-based Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa are named along with Italy-based forward David Suazo and 36-year-old Carlos Pavon, who is set to win his 100th cap.
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