Head coach of the Argentina National side, Diego Maradona, has chosen his 30 man preliminary squad for the FIFA 2010 world cup in South Africa.
The major surprise in the Argentina squad is that, Inter Milan duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso are not in the squad which will go South Africa.
The major surprise in the Argentina squad is that, Inter Milan duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso are not in the squad which will go South Africa.This is not the first time Zanetti has endured the pain of not being included in a World Cup competition.
The 36-year-old veteran footballer who is currently playing for Inter Milan, and having one of the best seasons of his carrier, had also been controversially axed by Jose Pekerman for the 2006 World Cup.
Cambiasso is also a big surprise though the 29-year-old has not been included in the Argentina squad since the World Cup in 2006 held in Germany when defensive midfielder, missed a penalty in the quarterfinal against Germany.
Cambiasso is particularly a big surprise considering the players success with Inter Milan, with the team already winning the Italian Cup, one match away from winning the Seria A and also in the Champions League Final.
Gabriel Milito, Barcelona’s defender and Fernando Gago the Real Madrid midfielder have both been taken out of the Argentina squad and replaced by Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez who have had a key role in Newcastle’s Championship success this season.
Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez and Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez were all also included in the Argentina squad.
Diego Maradona, who captained Argentina in the World Cup triumph of 1986 would be proud of his side which arguably have the best striking force in the competition with the likes of Player of the year Lionel Messi, Real Madrid goal machine Gonzalo Higuain, Atletico Madrid young gun, Sergio Aguero and Manchester City ace, Carlos Tevez.
Argentina who are in Group B of the World Cup 2010, will face Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece
Argentina’s preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Diego Pozo (Colon)
Defenders: Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell’s Old Boys), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Ariel Garce (Colon)
Midfielders: Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jesus Datolo (Olympiacos), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Forwards: Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli)
Leave your thoughts and comments bellow
Zanetti, Cambiasso, And Gaby Milito must be included. Maradona has a Great team, but, what was he thinking of to leave these 3 guys out…??
where is cambiasso diego milito and gabriel why heinz and veron , coliccini in the squad
Hi,
Iwant your 1986 magic from messi,against brazil i am sure it wouldnot be any problem Messi is after all Messi,
Messi is enough for us
Come back with cup
BEST OF LUCK.
Hi,
Iam sure that if 30 shadow of our team players go to feeld that will be much enough for won worldcup for
us.
i want to see zanetti,requelme&
cambiasso also in the team bec they are allso important for this year
Zanetti and Cambiasso have had a great season.I am a bit concerned but never the less we have a good squad.The big surprise is Martin Palermo hes not good enough.Imagine the season for Zanetti winning the trebble and the world cup wow that would be a great season for a player that has always been on top of hes game I really am dissapointed.
my first request is to include riquelme and second 1 is dont forget mario rosales.hes an excellet player.Hope maradona sees this commet.All the best argentina all the best maradona
argentine is the only one team with powerfull guys
Apart from excluding the Football Magician, Riquelme, one possible disater for Argentina and Maradona is the inclusion of Gabriel Heinze in the squad; he makes more fatal mistakes than useful tackles! Please, Maradona, think twice and avoid Heinze!!
I love and respect Diego Maradona more than any other footballers and coaches! He is the best football star and entertainer on Planet Earth! The only time that the Great Maradona has disappointed me bitterly is when he quarreled with Juan Roman Riquelme!! Is there no one to save the Argentine National Team by bringing back the Eccentric Football Genius, Riquelme?! Remeber what the British professional football commentator said during the 2006 World Cup: “When Riquelme plays, Argentina play!”
I understand leaving out Zanetti who has poor technical abilities, comepnsating with lots of work.But to select Gabriel Heinze beats my minimal understanding. This guy makes errors in every single match, errors that sometimes affect the result. Even if not excellent, Gabriel Millito would have been a better choice. Also, I don’t believe Mascherano is a quality player for such a World Cup. Martin Palermo, too old, but who knows?
does not matter whos who in team, if maradona can give the result at the end , thats matter…so we will see
Where is Harnan Crespo??????????
Zanetti would have been crucial in the defence, all the best my team. Maradona please make it happen ….
Julian Spironi (Goalkeeper at Crystal Palace) deserves to be included in his national squad. It is a honour to watch this man as our Number 1. We may be in the English 2nd division, but I believe he could easily walk into any top clubs first team. Over the last 2 or 3 years, he has matured in to great keeper and has all the elements of his game that is needed at the highest level. He is a really nice and humble guy and fully deserves to make it big. We are hugely greatful that he is still at our club and prey that he stays. (From my point of view, it is a shame that he is not english)