Diego Maradona has omitted Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and Fernando Gago from his Argentina squad.
Cambiasso, Zanetti and Gago miss out on finals
Diego Maradona has surprisingly omitted Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Zanetti and Fernando Gago from his preliminary 30-man Argentina World Cup squad.
Inter Milan midfielder Cambiasso has helped his club to the UEFA Champions League final and the brink of Serie A glory this season while his team-mate Zanetti possesses 136 caps and is a veteran of two World Cups.
Real Madrid's holding midfielder Gago was also a notable absentee along with Marseille's talented midfielder Lucho Gonzalez and Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito.
However, Liverpool's Maxi Rodriguez, whom Maradona appeared to have discarded altogether, is back along with Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini.
Surprise
There are a number of surprise inclusions by Maradona, including Ariel Garce, Juan Manuel Insaurralde, Clemente Rodriguez and Colon keeper Diego Pozo, who all play their club football domestically.
Argentina fancy their chances of taking the world by storm this summer due to Lionel Messi's brilliance and Maradona wants to give the talent a free role in South Africa.
"I don't want him stationed on the (right touch) line...All the balls have to pass through him," Maradona told
Fox Sports.
"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's preliminary 30-man squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon)
Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Ariel Garce (Colon), Juan Insaurralde (Newell's Old Boys), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes)
Midfielders: Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Juan Mercier (Argentinos), Jesus Datolo (Olympiakos), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).
