WC build up - the squads!

[Mostar]

Not seen it mentioned anywhere - Ballack is out of the tournement. Bit harsh really he got ****ing snapped in the fa cup final on saturday.

Too bad for his injury but I am not sure that Germany will miss him much.

[Mike]

Tbh a big part of me wants Argentina to do **** because of Maradona - the guy is a loon and clearly knows sod all about being a manager never mind managing the national team.

On the other hand, i like a lot of the argie players....

[Exiled_red]

Tbh a big part of me wants Argentina to do **** because of Maradona - the guy is a loon and clearly knows sod all about being a manager never mind managing the national team.

On the other hand, i like a lot of the argie players....

Well they won one world cup because of him, if they were to win this one it would be inspite of him

[Craig_H]

I still think the argies have a good chance. Even with Maradona being a twerp, they've got lots of quality.

[Shaggy]

**** defence though huh. Coloccini FFS, Heinze and Demechelis. Not good.

[Craig_H]

Aye, that could be their on-field downfall.

By not picking Cambiasso, Maradona's proving to be their off-field downfall.

[-V-]

Maradona is a genius. A pioneer of modern day management. You lot just don't understand him. He will win the world cup and then afterwards write a book about modern day football management. He is a misunderstood guru. This time next year everyone will be using his methods

[Broner]

Aye, that could be their on-field downfall.

By not picking Cambiasso, Maradona's proving to be their off-field downfall.

For the life of me i don't get why Cambiasso wasn't included.

He's been one of the stand out performers in the Champions League this season.

[Craig_H]

Maradona is a genius. A pioneer of modern day management. You lot just don't understand him. He will win the world cup and then afterwards write a book about modern day football management. He is a misunderstood guru. This time next year everyone will be using his methods

Pele? Is that you?

[Shaggy]

Maxi's made the cut

Maxi Rodriguez's impressive end-of-season form for Liverpool has earned him a place in Argentina's 23-man World Cup squad.

The winger - who wasn't always involved during a difficult qualifying campaign - survived as Diego Maradona axed seven players from his provisional 30 on Wednesday evening.

Maxi joins skipper Javier Mascherano on the plane to South Africa.

Argentina open their Group B campaign against Nigeria in Johannesburg on June 12.

They will then face South Korea and Sotirios Kyrgiakos's Greece.

The full squad: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

[dww]

I still think the argies have a good chance. Even with Maradona being a twerp, they've got lots of quality.

**** defence though huh. Coloccini FFS, Heinze and Demechelis. Not good.

I'm not sure he has been as bad as people make out. It's worth remembering they were in a crisis when he took over and many people thought they were at risk of not qualifying. He has established a pattern of play that seems to be improving. I'm not convinced he is a great coach or anything but I do think he gets a bad press.

For all we know Cambiasso etc. were disruptive elements in the squad before.

The defensive players do look pretty average but at the Euros the Dutch defense did okay and player for player it looked totally awful.

[Exiled_red]

Maradona is a genius. A pioneer of modern day management. You lot just don't understand him. He will win the world cup and then afterwards write a book about modern day football management. He is a misunderstood guru. This time next year everyone will be using his methods

*looks for white text...*

[Shanks]

and the winners are....


Spain World Cup squad:

Iker Casillas (Real Madrid),
Pepe Reina (Liverpool),
Victor Valdes (Barcelona);
Raul Albiol (Real Madrid),
Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid),
Joan Capdevila (Villarreal),
Carlos Marchena (Valencia),
Gerard Pique (Barcelona),
Carles Puyol (Barcelona),
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid);
Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid),
Sergi Busquets (Barcelona),
Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal),
Andres Iniesta (Barcelona),
Javi Martinez (Athletic Bilbao),
David Silva (Valencia),
Xavi (Barcelona);
Jesus Navas (Sevilla),
Juan Manuel Mata (Valencia),
Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona),
Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao),
Fernando Torres (Liverpool),
David Villa (Valencia).


That's a squad right there..

[-V-]

It is just an incredible squad. They are the team to beat, Xavi and Iniesta are will be coming back to full fitness by the time the tournament starts, if they can also have Torres fit then I just can't imagine anybody beating them. Not without alot of luck anyway

[Craig_H]

No Senna