Diego Maradona says he has confirmed half of Argentina’s World Cup squad
• I have phoned 50% of the players, says head coach
• 17 Europe-based players named for Germany friendly
Argentina’s coach Diego Maradona claims to have notified around a dozen players of their selection for his World Cup squad, but said he has not ruled anybody out after naming a 20-man squad for the 3 March friendly with Germany in Munich.
Maradona has called up over 100 players since taking over as Argentina coach. But the claim he has locked in half the squad already, and his selection of most of the country’s biggest names for this preparation match, should mean there are not too many surprises in his final squad.
“Fifty per cent of the players who will be at the World Cup, I’ve already told them,” Maradona said as he left the Argentinian Football Association’s training facility on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. “For many this is the definitive test because there is no more time.”
After two friendly wins over Costa Rica 3-2) and Jamaica (2-1) with home-based squads, Maradona was finally able to call up 17 foreign-based players as the encounter in Munich is a date set by Fifa for international matches.
Internazionale’s Nicolas Burdisso, Walter Samuel and Diego Milito, the Palermo forward Javier Pastore and Olympiakos midfielder Jesus Datolo have been recalled to the squad. Only three players from the domestic league have been included – the Estudiantes duo Juan Sebastián Verón and Clemente Rodríguez and the Velez Sarsfield centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.
Manchester City’s striker Carlos Tevez, the Newcastle midfielder Jonás Gutiérrez, Liverpool’s midfielder Javier Mascherano and the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi were also included. “All the players are being tested,” Maradona told Soccernet. “The ones who are not in this list have the same opportunities.”
The Germany match is Argentina’s last confirmed date before the World Cup finals.
Argentina squad
Goalkeepers Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).
Defenders Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Samuel (Inter), Clemente Rodríguez (Estudiantes), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma)
Midfielders Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Jesus Datolo (Olympiakos)
Forwards Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter).
Maradona refuses to call up Riquelme
• Coach says midfielder is ‘a closed subject’
• Home-based players set to face Jamaica
Diego Maradona has brought an end to a campaign for the return to the Argentina team of the playmaker Juan Román Riquelme.
“It’s a closed subject,” the Argentina coach said. “I called Riquelme up [last March] and he didn’t come. I love how he plays and I hope he returns to his best form for Boca Juniors who need him.”
Local media has reported that there could be pressure from the Argentinian Football Association for a recall for Riquelme, a key figure in the Argentina team who reached the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals and the Copa America final in 2007.
Some suggested he might be picked for today’s friendly against Jamaica in Mar del Plata, where Maradona will field five newcomers and none of Argentina’s European-based players.
Riquelme fell out with Maradona over criticism from the coach of his slow style of play.
Maradona, who held an improvised news conference before a team practice at the AFA training facility on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, rounded on critics of his selection policy.
He has called up 100 players in 15 months, struggling to find a settled side during a poor World Cup qualifying campaign and testing players in line-ups picked from the domestic game in friendlies against weak opposition.
“I don’t have to bow to anyone and I’ll choose the player who is in best form,” Maradona said.
“Argentinian football is not forgotten. To see these kids put on the shirt in the changing room and see their faces, you know right away who’s going to resolve things well and who isn’t right for the shirt.”