Inter Milan pair Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso will not feature at the 2010 World Cup after they were left out of coach Diego Maradona’s provisional 30-man squad on Wednesday.
Right-back Zanetti and holding midfielder Cambiasso have played key roles in Inter’s run to the Champions League final this season and both have been important figures for Argentina in the past.
Former captain Zanetti has won 136 caps, while 44-cap Cambiasso scored a memorable goal for Argentina against Serbia and Montenegro at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, Barcelona centre-back Gabriel Milito and Marseille playmaker Lucho Gonzalez were also overlooked, but the squad remains full of talent, including current European Player of the Year Lionel Messi and Gago’s Real teammate Gonzalo Higuain.
Newcastle United, recently promoted to the English Premier League, have two representatives in Fabio Coloccini and Jonas Gutierrez. Colon defender Ariel Garca, Juan Manuel Insaurralde of Newell’s Old Boys and Sebastian Blanco were the surprise inclusions. — AFP