The race for Championship football hots-up this Friday as Swindon and Charlton meet in the first League One Play-off semi-final. See all the football betting here.

Defender Bevan Fransman has been named in South Africa’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira included the Maccabi Netanya centre-back to the squad after Morgan Gould failed to win his battle against injury.

Parreira also selected four goalkeepers despite having earlier said he would cut that tally down to three earlier this week.

South Africa’s all-time top scorer McCarthy arrives with concerns over his fitness after playing just 112 minutes for West Ham since February.

“Benni arrived this morning and I’m sure the coaches are already putting him through his paces,” said defender Matthew Booth.

“He’s looking good, he’s a professional and he’ll put his shoulder to the wheel and make sure he’s ready for the World Cup.”

The World Cup hosts open the 2010 finals against Mexico on 11 June in before facing Uruguay and France.

Full South Africa squad:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Shu-Aib Walters (Maritzburg United), Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Joseph (Orlando Pirates).

Defenders: Matthew Booth (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Mdledle (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Bryce Moon (PAOK, Greece), Anele Ngcongca (Racing Genk, Belgium), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates), Bevan Fransman (Maccabi Netanya, Israel).

Midfielders: Surprise Moriri (Mamelodi Sundowns), Franklin Cale (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lance Davids (Ajax Cape Town), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Thanduyise Khuboni (Golden Arrows), Steven Pienaar (Everton, England), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia).

Strikers: Benni McCarthy (West Ham United, England), Katlego Mphela (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siyabonga Nomvete (Moroka Swallows), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland).

The race for Championship football hots-up this Friday as Swindon and Charlton meet in the first League One Play-off semi-final. See all the football betting here.

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