By Chris Wright
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has delivered his 30-man provisional World Cup squad.
Inter Milan duo Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti have both been overlooked as expected. Cambiasso has yet to earn a single cap under Maradona and Zanetti has missed the cut after some poor performances in Argentina’s qualifying campaign.
Other notable exclusions are that of Real Madrid’s Fernando Gago, Valencia’s Ever Banega and Benfica’s Pablo Aimar.
It seems Maradona has looked to the Argentinian leagues to stock the majority of his defense. However, as unproven as the backline may be, Argentina have a group of attacking options to die for – consisting of the likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuian, Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez.
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The squad in full…
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Diego Pozo (Colon)
Defenders: Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Ariel Garce (Colon), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Juan Manuel Insuarralde (Newell’s Old Boys), Clement Rodriguez (Estudiantes).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Juan Sebastian Veron, Jose Ernesto Sosa (Estudiantes), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Jesus Datolo (Olympiakos), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Man City), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).
MORE:
England’s provisional World Cup squad
France’s provisional World Cup squad
Spain’s provisional World Cup squad