TOKYO - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni announced his 23-man World Cup squad on Monday, picking AC Milans Keisuke Honda among 12 Europe-based players and adding a surprise with the selection of veteran striker Yoshito Okubo. Buffalo Sabres Gear . As expected, Honda was named along with Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa and Mainz forward Shinji Okazaki. Honda has scored just one goal since joining Milan from CSKA Moscow in January but played a key role in Japans qualifying campaign. Okubo was one of the few surprises in the squad Zaccheroni unveiled at a news conference Monday. The 31-year-old Okubo, last seasons top scorer in the J-League, made the squad despite having only been called up once by Zaccheroni since the Italian took over from 2010 World Cup coach Takeshi Okada. His eight goals this season for Kawasaki Frontale made it difficult for Zaccheroni to leave him off the squad. Forward Yoichiro Kakitani, who scored 21 goals in 34 games last season but has only one goal in 12 games for Cerezo Osaka this season, was among 11 J-League players included in the squad. Japan, which co-hosted the World Cup with South Korea in 2002, is preparing for its fifth consecutive World Cup campaign and faces Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia in Group C. ___ Squad: Goalkeepeers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo) Defenders: Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart) Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka) Forwards: Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F Marinos), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich) Matt Hunwick Jersey . The Rainbow FlickNext up is the Rainbow Flick, or as you probably know it, the trick that everybody at soccer camp thought they knew how to do. Zach Bogosian Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with safety Brock Vereen and QB David Fales on four-year contracts. https://www.cheapsabres.com/1043v-toni-lydman-jersey-sabres.html .C. -- Duke sophomore Rodney Hood is entering the NBA draft.SAN DIEGO -- Tyson Ross didnt look like an All-Star when he walked five batters in the first three innings, the same number he had walked in his previous five starts combined. The lanky right-hander worked through his uncharacteristic wildness and pitched the San Diego Padres to a 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night. "Just find a groove. The defence was back there making plays. Just find a way to get outs," said Ross, a first-time All-Star this year. Jedd Gyorko singled in Yangervis Solarte with the go-ahead run with two outs in the sixth inning, and Solarte later added an insurance home run. Ross won his third straight start, holding St. Louis to one run and four hits in six innings. He struck out seven, including fanning the side in his last inning. It was the eighth time Ross (10-10) went six-plus innings and allowed two or fewer runs, the second-longest such streak in the majors. And he did it Tuesday night after struggling with his fastball command. "It was just one of those days where I didnt have it and I had to battle out there," he said. "Hes been so good over the last couple of months, especially this month," manager Bud Black said. "He was just a little bit out of sync, especially with the fastball early, and the harder he tried to reel it in, the tougher it was. ... He did right the ship, but very uncharacteristic, the five walks, especially early in the game." Gyorko returned Monday from a 44-game stay on the disabled list with plantar fasciitis. His run-scoring single to left off Lance Lynn came just as it seemed the Padres would strand two runners. After Solarte and Seth Smith walked, Will Venable popped a bunt to catcher A.J. Pierzynski -- the Padres second botched bunt in as many innings -- and Yonder Alonso flied out to left. Solarte, obtained from the New York Yankeees in the Chase Headley trade, homered into the short porch in right with two outs in the seventh. Doug Gilmour Jersey. It was his second with the Padres and eighth overall. Joaquin Benoit pitched the ninth for his third save in as many opportunities and second since Huston Street was traded to the Angels on July 18. Lynn (11-8) allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in six innings. He struck out six and walked three. "You hate to lose a game that way when you are throwing the ball well and thinking you are making good pitches. But it just wasnt my night." Lynn said. TRAINERS ROOM Padres: Right-hander Ian Kennedy, who missed his scheduled start because of a left oblique strain, is scheduled to throw on the side Wednesday. ... Right-hander Andrew Cashner, on the disabled list with shoulder soreness, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Wednesday. He last threw on Sunday in Atlanta and didnt report any discomfort. ON DECK Cardinals: Right-hander Joe Kelly (2-1, 3.90) makes his first career start against Padres. Padres: Right-hander Jesse Hahn (6-2, 2.12) is 6-1 with a 1.47 ERA since June 14, with 46 strikeouts against 17 walks. MISCUES The Cardinals had three errors, including second baseman Kolten Wongs overthrow on Riveras grounder in the third that led to an unearned run. "Kong just had one sail on him but obviously that one hurt," manager Mike Matheny said. "We are having trouble scoring runs and facing good pitching. Weve got do the little things right and today we didnt necessarily do that." WOOF It was Dog Days of Summer at Petco Park, so the Padres had Olympic slopestyle silver medallist Gus Kenworthy throw out the ceremonial first pitch. Kenworthy gained fame for adopting four stray puppies and their mother he found during the Sochi Games. After throwing the first pitch, he did a flip. ' ' '