Argentina
Maradona names five home-based players in squad for World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
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| Argentina’s Martin Palermo celebrates a goal against Haiti in a pre-World Cup friendly [AFP] |
Ezequiel Lavezzi was the highest-profile player to miss out on Diego MAradona’s final squad when he cut his provisional list of 30 down to 23.
He had already disregarded the vast experience of Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso and 136-cap record holder Javier Zanetti, along with Marseille defender Lucho Gonzalez and Real Madrid’s young ball-winner Fernando Gago.
Goalkeepers:
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon).
| Group B fixtures |
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Saturday June 12
Thursday June 17
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Argentina v Nigeria 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).