ARGENTINA: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Argentina's coach Jose Pekerman announces final line-up for his World Cup team.

Record ID: 447946

  • Title: ARGENTINA: SOCCER / FOOTBALL - Argentina's coach Jose Pekerman announces final line-up for his World Cup team.
  • Date: 16th May 2006
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (MAY 15, 2006) (REUTERS) WIDE: EXTERIOR OF ARGENTINE SOCCER ASSOCIATION COMPLEX
  • Embargoed: 31st May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVADYWDZA6RX56E6UX63UD0E3S5G
  • Story Text: Former captain Javier Zanetti was left out of Argentina's World Cup squad on Monday (May 15) while Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, who has been out all season with a knee injury, was included.
    Coach Jose Pekerman also selected Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar, who recently suffered an ankle sprain followed by a bout of viral meningitis, and forward Javier Saviola, who has refound his best form with Sevilla this season after two years of uncertainty.
    Nineteen-year-old Oscar Ustari was included as the third-choice goalkeeper but there was no place for his club-mate, 17-year-old forward Sergio Aguero, regarded as one of Argentina's most exciting prospects.
    Argentina, who fell at the first hurdle four years ago, face Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro in their first round group.
    Zanetti, 32, played for Argentina at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups and was present in most of the 18-match qualifying campaign for 2006.
    He said earlier on Monday that Pekerman had called him to tell him he would not be going to Germany.
    The Inter Milan player, who can play on the right side of either the defence or midfielder, has lost his place to West Ham United's Lionel Scaloni.
    Pekerman took a gamble on the fitness of Heinze, who has not played a competitive game since suffering cruciate ligament damage in the Champions League match away to Villarreal on Sept 14.
    Meanwhile, central defender Roberto Ayala, who missed out on the 2002 World Cup through a last-minute injury, only returned to action for Valencia in March after knee surgery.
    "We know that Argentina is going to this World Cup with a lot of hope and a lot of expectation of playing the seven games. The objective is to play the seven games, that is, to continue advancing and if one plays the seven games that means that they are in the finals and that is what we want because it's been a long time since we've achieved that. The players are clear on that and they want it as all of us Argentines want it," said Pekerman.
    Pekerman was previously Argentina's under-20 coach and more than half of the players chosen have played in one of the teams which he coached to victory in the World Youth championships of 1995, 1997 and 2001.
    The other surprises were the inclusion of Boca Juniors forward Rodrigo Palacio, one of only three home-based players in the squad, and Inter Milan striker Julio Cruz.
    Squad:
    Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Oscar Ustari (Independiente)
    Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villareal, Spain), Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna, Spain), Gabriel Milito (Zaragona, Spain), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy) Leandro Cufre (AS Roma, Italy), Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United, England)
    Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Corinthians, Brazil), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Italy), Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villareal, Spain), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Pablo Aimar (Valencia, Spain)
    Forwards: Hernan Crespo (Chelsea, England), Carlos Tevez (Corinthians, Brazil), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Javier Saviola (Sevilla, Spain), Julio Cruz (Inter Milan, Italy), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors, Argentina)
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