Thursday, May 20, 2010

Argentina squad announced

Diego Maradona has confirmed his 23-man squad for SA2010 - nearly a fortnight before the June 1 deadline
And, as usual, things did not pass without incident after Maradona ran over a journalist on the way to a press conference to make the announcement, and then insulted him.
"What an ***hole you are," he said. "How can you put your leg there where it can get run over, man?"
His provisional selections caused controversy when he left out Inter Milan players Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti despite their fine form for the Italian side.
In cutting his 30 players by seven, Maradona axed Fabricio Coloccini, Jose Sosa, Ezequiel Lavezzi, Jesus Datolo, Juan Mercier, Sebastian Blanco and Juan Insaurralde.
But he found room for Diego Milito despite previous indications he would not make the cut.
Maradona, whose selections in the past have caused controversy, backed a number of players who impressed in Argentina's 4-0 friendly win over Haiti.

He has continued to raise eyebrows though by promising to play four central defenders - and no full backs - against Nigeria in Argentina's Group B opener.
However his proposed deployment of Lionel Messi is more conventional.
"I don't want him stationed on the [right touch] line," said Maradona. "All the balls have to pass through him.
"I'm going to defend with four centre-backs but I'm also going to have full-backs available in case we need to improve coming out of defence."
Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)
Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

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