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Tuesday, 18 January, 2005, 20:39 GMT

Beckham gets tsunami game invite

Beckham hints at Man Utd return

David Beckham England duo David Beckham and Steven Gerrard have been invited to play in the international benefit match for the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster.

The 'Football for Hope' match will be played at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on 15 February at 2000 GMT.

Over 50 stars have been invited, with world player of the year Ronaldinho and European footballer of the year Andriy Shevchenko to captain the two sides.

Arsenal's Arsene Wenger is one of four coaches involved in the game.


Other English-based players getting invites include Arsenal pair Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira, Manchester United's Gabriel Heinze, Didier Drogba of Chelsea, Bolton's Radhi Jaidi, Leeds' Lucas Radebe, Blackburn's Brett Emerton and Everton's Li Tie.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter said he hopes the match will "help the individuals and football associations that have been so severely affected by the terrible tsunami tragedy".

Uefa president and Fifa vice-president Lennart Johansson echoed Blatter's sentiments.

He added: "We hope that the message of hope disseminated by the world of sport will help to alleviate the terrible suffering."

Team captains Ronaldinho and Schevchenko also released a statement, offering their sympathies to those affected by the tsunami.


It read: "We had no hesitation in pledging our support for the 'Football for Hope' match.

"Through this match, we hope to be able to offer relief to the people affected and help them rebuild their homes and their lives."

Cricket held a benefit game in Melbourne, which was broadcast in 122 countries to an estimated global television audience of one billion, raising nearly £6m for the relief effort.


Shevchenko XI

Coaches: Marcello Lippi Marcello (Italian national team), Arsene Wenger (Arsenal).

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (ITA, Juventus), Iker Casillas Iker (Spain, Real Madrid).

Defenders: Kakhaber Kaladze (Georgia, AC Milan), Christian Karembeu (France, FC Servette), Vincent Kompany (Belgium, Anderlecht), Paolo Maldini (Italy, AC Milan), Carles Puyol (Spain, Barcelona), Jaap Stam (Netherlands, AC Milan), Lilian Thuram (France, Juventus),.

Midfielders/Attackers: Roberto Baggio (Italy), Michael Ballack (Germany, Bayern Munich), David Beckham (England, Real Madrid), Deco (Portugal, Barcelona), Alessandro Del Piero (Italy, Juventus), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool), Thierry Henry (France, Arsenal), Pavel Nedved (Czech Republic, Juventus), Raul Gonzalez (Spain, Real Madrid), Sergei Semak (Russia, CSKA Moscow), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine, AC Milan), Francesco Totti (Italy, AS Roma), Patrick Vieira (France, Arsenal), Johann Vogel (Switzerland, PSV Eindhoven), Zinedine Zidane (France, Real Madrid).

Ronaldinho XI

Coaches: Carlos Alberto Parreira (Brazilian national team), Frank Rijkaard (Barcelona).

Goalkeepers: Dida (Brazil, AC Milan), Idriss Kameni (Cameroon, Espanyol).

Defenders: Cafu (Brazil, AC Milan), Cordoba Ivan (Colombia, Inter Milan), Cris (Brazil, Lyon), Gabriel Heinze (Argentina, Manchester United), Radhi Jaidi (Tunisia, Bolton), Samuel Kuffour (Ghana, Bayern Munich), Lucio (Brazil, Bayern Munich), Rafael Marquez Alvarez (Mexico, Barcelona), Lucas Radebe (South Africa, Leeds), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, Inter Milan).

Midfielders/Attackers: Adriano (Brazil, Inter Milan), Delron Buckley (South Africa, Arminia Bielefeld), Cambiasso Esteban (Argentina, Inter Milan), Cha Doo-ri (South Korea, Eintracht Frankfurt), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea), Brett Emerton (Australia, Blackburn), Michael Essien (Ghana, Lyon), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, Barcelona), Juninho (Brazil, Lyon), Kaka (Brazil, AC Milan), Li Tie (China, Everton), Mehdi Mahdavikia (Iran, Hamburg), Obafemi Martins (Nigeria, Inter Milan), Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan, Fiorentina), Ronaldo (Brazil, Real Madrid), Ronaldinho (Brazil, Barcelona).




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