FIFA have confirmed that the deadline for the naming of squads for the World Cup Finals will not change from the current date of May 15 despite calls from national team coaches to have the deadline extended.

Many national coaches, including England head coach Sven Goran Eriksson and Holland boss Marco van Basten had made pleas to the World Cup organisers to extend the deadline until after all club football had finished in Europe.

There are certain cup competiyions that will not have taken place until after the squads have to be named, raising fears that key players could be injured during that time.

But FIFA have said that all coaches will have to name their 23-man squads by May 15.

England coach Sven Goran Eriksson, who had made calls for the deadline to be extended, has now said that he will name his 23 players on May 8, along with three players who will be on standby in case of injury.

These three players are likely to consist of one defender, midfielder and striker, who will be available to travel to Germany to join the squad, should any player be injured.

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