Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso are set to miss the World Cup after being left out of Diego Maradona's 30-man preliminary squad. The Internazionale pair have been two of the key players for the Serie A leaders and integral in the team reaching the Champions League final against Bayern Munich but appear unlikely to be in South Africa this summer.
The Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago and the Barcelona central defender Gabriel Milito are other prominent absentees. Inter, though, will be represented by the striker Diego Milito, and the defender Walter Samuel, while the Bayern defender Martin Demichelis has also been selected.
Five England-based players have been included – the Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, Newcastle's Fabricio Coloccini and Jonas Gutiérrez and the Liverpool duo of Javier Mascherano and Maxi Rodriguez.
The Colon defender Ariel Garce – who has one cap – Lanus's midfielder Sebastian Blanco and the Newell's Old Boys defender Juan Manuel Insaurralde are the surprise inclusions after impressing the manager, Maradona.
Argentina squad
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle), Juan Manuel Insaurralde (Newell's Old Boys), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Sebastian Blanco (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Jesus Datolo (Olympiacos), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Juan Mercier (Argentinos Juniors), Angel Di María (Benfica), Jonas Gutiérrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Sergio Agüero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).
