Argentina announce final squad

[chris_glasgow 2]

BUENOS AIRES - Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi and defender Fabricio Coloccini missed out when Diego Maradona named his 23-man Argentina World Cup squad on Wednesday.

Liverpool right winger Maxi Rodriguez, like Coloccini a veteran of the 2006 finals in Germany, was retained as cover for Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez.

The only recognised full-back in the 23 was Clemente Rodriguez of Estudiantes with Maradona planning to field four central defenders in Argentina's Group B opener against Nigeria in Johannesburg on June 12.

Javier Zanetti, Argentina's 136-cap record holder and an experienced full-back set to captain Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, missed out on a place in the provisional squad.

The man seen as having muscled Zanetti out is Colon's 30-year-old defender Ariel Garce, who cemented his place in the 4-0 win over Haiti on May 5. He won two caps in 2003.

Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore, the only player in the squad without a cap, will cover 35-year-old playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, who may struggle to last the pace of the finals if Argentina go far.

Lavezzi was the only player dropped among the forwards on the 30-man list.

TOP STRIKERS

Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero, father of Maradona's grandson Benjamin, are leading strikers in Europe's strongest leagues.

Veteran Martin Palermo, Boca Juniors' record scorer with 222 goals and a Maradona favourite, is the sixth striker and one of five home-based players in the squad.

Jose Sosa, on loan at former Club Estudiantes from Bayern Munich, had high hopes of making the cut with his good form in the South America Libertadores Cup but lost out to Maxi Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, a dynamic runner who likes to cut in towards goal and has settled at Liverpool after his January move from Atletico Madrid, scored the goal of the 2006 finals, a left-footed volley from 35 metres into the top corner in the second round 2-1 extra-time win over Mexico.

Argentina, looking for a third world title and first since 1986 when Maradona was captain, were knocked out by hosts Germany in the quarter-finals four years ago.

They last reached the semi-finals in Italy in 1990. The four times that Argentina have reached the last four they have gone on to play the final.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)

Defenders: Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes de La Plata), Nicolas Burdisso (AS Roma), Ariel Garce (Colon)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes de La Plata), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool)

Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors)

[Jonnyboyrfc 296]

The strikers

[chris_glasgow 2]

Lack of CMs

[TexasGers 96]

That's some amount of quality in their forwards

[scotty657 1]

Romero

Otamendi Samuel Demichelis Heinze

Mascherano Veron

Messi Pastore Di Maria

Milito

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

The best strike-force in the tournament.

Glad there is no Coloccini, but I'd have Lavezzi over Palermo.

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

It will be Higuain and Messi up-top, I'm pretty sure.

[MartinGers93 388]

Lack of CMs

Maradona's defensive tactics are very fucked up but they worked against Germany playing 4 CB's as the back 4. I will tell you the starting lineup for Argetina right now

Romero

Heinze Samuel Demichelis Otamendi

Gutierrez Veron Mascherano (captain) Di Maria

Messi

Higuain

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

Lack of CMs

Maradona's defensive tactics are very fucked up but they worked against Germany playing 4 CB's as the back 4. I will tell you the starting lineup for Argetina right now

Romero

Heinze Samuel Demichelis Otamendi

Gutierrez Veron Mascherano (captain) Di Maria

Messi

Higuain

You've got it.

By all accounts, against Germany they were very impressive, with the defensive set-up working excellently.

Germany didn't have a shot the whole game.

[Scott-RFC 308]

11/2 not to make it out the groups....

Nigeria/Greece 33s

Greece/Nigeria 34s

Nigeria/South Korea 54s

South Korea/Nigeria 66s

Greece/South Korea 88s

South Korea/Greece 84s

Going to have a wee think about this between now and the tournament, I cant see them doing anything

[kevpetrie87 0]

Their attacking force is unbelievably awesome, still think Maradona should have included Cambiasso if not for the starting line-up but even for back up he's a brilliant player. Zaneeti also his experience alone is an asset but apart from that he's still a quality player

[kevpetrie87 0]

11/2 not to make it out the groups....

Nigeria/Greece 33s

Greece/Nigeria 34s

Nigeria/South Korea 54s

South Korea/Nigeria 66s

Greece/South Korea 88s

South Korea/Greece 84s

Going to have a wee think about this between now and the tournament, I cant see them doing anything

They're hit or miss but i'd still fancy them strongly to win that group

[bluenose_72 198]

Cambiasso and Zanetti should be in that squad.

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

11/2 not to make it out the groups....

Nigeria/Greece 33s

Greece/Nigeria 34s

Nigeria/South Korea 54s

South Korea/Nigeria 66s

Greece/South Korea 88s

South Korea/Greece 84s

Going to have a wee think about this between now and the tournament, I cant see them doing anything

Put a bet on the group to end:

Argentina/Greece/Nigeria/S.Korea

Around 6/1 IIRC, which is not bad.

[ConorRFC51 38]

Cambiasso and Zanetti should be in that squad.

Was gonna say the exact same thing.

[Guest SandyIniesta-Nordahl]

Cambiasso and Zanetti should be in that squad.

Was gonna say the exact same thing.

They should be 1st picks, and key players.

Cambiasso was very poor when Maradona took over, that is one reason. But you think he'd include him following his performances this season.

[ConorRFC51 38]

Cambiasso and Zanetti should be in that squad.

Was gonna say the exact same thing.

They should be 1st picks, and key players.

Cambiasso was very poor when Maradona took over, that is one reason. But you think he'd include him following his performances this season.

Especially considering they don't have great depth - or any really - in CM. And you have to think you'd prefer Cambiasso over Veron. Since Maradona took over he's never once called Cambiasso up to the squad, despite him performing well on a regular basis for Inter. Something more personal in the matter, imo.

[AndyRfc 20]

No Cambiasso or Zanetti then dropping Lavezzi when Jonas is still in the squad :anguish:

[ConorRFC51 38]

It's such a shame that Argentina don't have a better defence. Their abundance of attacking options is frightening. Lavezzi should be there over Palermo too.

[bluenose andy 1]

What a strikeforce

[bombaybadboy08 15,660]

I can see them struggling,should have binned Maradona after qualification.

[Poetry_In_Blue 1,043]

I wouldn't write Argentina of yet, they will probably be attacking from the start and other teams will have to break down a very solid defence, probably will be playing;

Goalie

4 Defenders

6 Strikers

[BlueSuedeSambas 56,430]

Greece/South Korea 88s

South Korea/Greece 84s

If I was a betting man I'd be having a flutter in that.

Argentina are in dissaray and Nigeria are vasty over rated.

[papaguy51 941]

They'll do nothing this year, maybe get out of their group.

[trueblueal 2,117]

I'd have included Banega of Valencia as creative cover for Veron and at the expense of Palermo who is past it. Too many forwards means he just isnt needed but Palermo seems to be Maradona blind spot.