SOUTH AFRICA have dropped West Ham striker Benni McCarthy from their 23-man World Cup squad.

The 32-year-old, who was recently criticised by Hammers co-owner David Sullivan for being out of shape, has paid the price for the lack of impact he had on the Upton Park outfit since he joined in January.

The World Cup's host nation boss Carlos Alberto Parreira cut six names from the 29-man provisional squad, and McCarthy's was among them.

The former Blackburn Rovers striker is his country's leading goalscorer of all time, but he will not have the chance to add to his tally this summer.