Maradona ignores Inter’s Zanetti and Cambiasso

(GSM) – Argentina boss Diego Maradona has left Internazionale duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso out of his provisional 30-man World Cup squad.

Veteran full-back Javier Zanetti was thought to be considered a key member of Maradona’s squad before he fell victim to a number of lacklustre performances from Los Albicelestes during qualification.

Cambiasso has yet to earn a single call-up since ‘El Pelusa’ took the reigns and was always likely to be left out of the World Cup squad.

Real Madrid’s holding midfielder Gago was also a notable absentee along with Marseille’s talented midfielder Lucho Gonzalez and Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito.

There were a few surprises in Maradona’s squad as he included the likes of Juan Manuel Insuarralde, Sebastian Blanco, Juan Mercier and Ariel Garce with the sum total of eight international caps between them.

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).