The very latest World Cup build-up news with 21 days to go
Maradona stops at nothing
ARGENTINA:Coach Diego Maradona yelled insults at an injured cameraman after accidentally running over his leg following his World Cup squad announcement.
Driving to a news conference on Wednesday, the 1986 World Cup winner was surrounded by newsmen but one was hit and he fell to the ground. According to a witness, Maradona’s car then rolled over the lower part of his leg.
“What an asshole you are,” Maradona shouted from the car. “How can you put your leg there where it can get run over, man?”
Paramedics ran to the scene to attend to the cameraman who was taken away for further treatment.
The 49-year-old coach then delivered the names of the 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.
Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi and defender Fabricio Coloccini missed out. Liverpool right winger Maxi Rodriguez was retained as cover for Newcastle’s Jonas Gutierrez.
The only recognised full-back in the 23 was Clemente Rodriguez of Estudiantes with Maradona planning to field four central defenders in Argentina’s Group B opener against Nigeria in Johannesburg on June 12th.
Javier Zanetti, Argentina’s 136-cap record holder and an experienced full-back set to captain Inter Milan in tomorrow’s Champions League final against Bayern Munich, missed out on a place in the provisional squad.
The man seen as having muscled Zanetti out is Colon’s 30-year-old defender Ariel Garce, who cemented his place in the 4-0 win over Haiti on May 5th. He won two caps in 2003.
Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore, the only player in the squad without a cap, will cover 35-year-old playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, who may struggle to last the pace of the finals if Argentina go far.
Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero, father of Maradona’s grandson Benjamin, are leading strikers in Europe’s strongest leagues. Veteran Martin Palermo, Boca Juniors record scorer with 222 goals and a Maradona favourite, is the sixth striker and one of five home-based players in the squad.
Spain go for unexpected
SPAIN:Vicente del Bosque sprung three surprises in his 23-man squad, including Barcelona pair Victor Valdes and Pedro and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez.
Goalkeeper Valdes replaces Villarreal’s Diego Lopez as Spain’s third-choice behind number one and captain Iker Casillas of Real Madrid and number two Pepe Reina of Liverpool.
In the forward line, Pedro is included along with Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente, while Fenerbahce’s Daniel Guiza and Sevilla’s Alvaro Negredo miss out. Martinez was preferred to Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla, both of Villarreal.
The former Real Madrid coach also culled Atletico Madrid keeper David de Gea and Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta from the preliminary 30-man squad he named earlier this month.
Blanc’s position confirmed by FFF
FRANCE:Laurent Blanc will replace the controversial Raymond Domenech as France coach after the World Cup, the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed yesterday.
A prominent member of France’s 1998 World Cup-winning squad, although he was suspended for the final, Blanc will take over from Domenech after the World Cup.
The 44-year-old took over as coach of Girondins Bordeaux three years ago, leading them to a Ligue 1 and League Cup double last season.
The FFF “confirmed the choice of Laurent Blanc as national team coach after the 201O World Cup”, the ruling body said in a statement issued after a council meeting in Paris.
The Federation said it would make no further comment until Blanc officially signs his contract and did not specify when that would happen.
Blanc, who also won the European Championship with France in 2000, played for several leading clubs including Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, Inter Milan and Manchester United.
Prandelli set to fill Lippi’s shoes
ITALY:Italy want Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli to succeed Marcello Lippi as national team manager after the World Cup, his club said yesterday.
World Cup winner Lippi has long hinted he will step down after the finals and Prandelli has been front-runner with the bookmakers for months after guiding the Florence club to the Champions League last 16 this season.
Prandelli, Serie A’s longest-serving coach having been at Fiorentina since 2005, also notably managed Parma and AS Roma for a brief spell before leaving to care for his sick wife who later died.
