pekerman has ruined my world cup, i cannot believe this, he has ommited zanetti from squad.

scaloni and coluccini are right backs who made the squad!!!!!!!!!!! one guy is on loan to erm...west F@kin Ham, the other surpluss to requirements at numerous clubs!

my heart is sinking, zanetti is my idol and now this happens, i am strugglin to complete this thread , my energy is drainin.


PLZ, if anyone knows anything diffrent from argentina please let me know

Seems like you're right....

Zanetti left out by Argentina
Reuters - 15/05/2006

Crespo confident in ArgentinaFormer captain Javier Zanetti was left out of Argentina's World Cup squad on Monday by coach Jose Pekerman while Manchester United defender Gabriel Heinze, who has been out all season with a knee injury, was included.

Pekerman also selected Valencia playmaker Pablo Aimar, who recently suffered an ankle sprain followed by a bout of viral meningitis, and forward Javier Saviola, who has re-discovered his best form with Sevilla this season after two years of uncertainty.

Teenager Oscar Ustari, 19, was included as the third-choice goalkeeper but there was no place for his club mate, 17-year-old forward Sergio Aguero, regarded as one of Argentina's most exciting prospects.

Argentina, who fell at the first hurdle four years ago, face Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro in their first round group.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid), Oscar Ustari (Independiente)

Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini (Deportivo Coruna), Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United), Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Leandro Cufre (AS Roma)

Midfielders: Lionel Scaloni (West Ham United), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Javier Mascherano (Corinthians), Luis Gonzalez (Porto), Pablo Aimar (Valencia), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid)

Forwards: Carlos Tevez (Corinthians), Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Javier Saviola (Sevilla), Julio Cruz (Inter Milan)

Any more comments?

I am with you there, Trulli. I am dejected. Zanetti is one of those guys that's given so much of himself to this squad...He doesn't deserve this. Not to mention that in my mind he is the best option at right back that we have...HANDS DOWN. Plus you can always stick him in the midfiedl. What is going on here? Was there some fallout that I am not aware of? What is the reasoning?

Hey

This is certainly a bad news thats Javier Zanetti is not included in worldcup squad. I think he was ONE man who had the ability to run riot into Europeon line ups. He was ONE man who had the ability to stop the Europeon speedsters. I am not confident about the defence. Rest of all the midfield and forward lineup looks balanced. I hope Pekermen plays both Aimar and Riquelme together.

BUT I AM SURE TO MISS "MY CAPTAIN" OF ARGENTINA JAVIER ZANETTI, AN ABLE LEADER WHO LEADS BY EXAMPLE.

I've not been on this board for two years but Just as I've always backed Batigol I will support Il Zane.

WHY PEKERMAN?! WHY??? YOU FILTHY SCOUNDREL. He is the best Full back in the world, the most consistent too!!
And his experience!!! What has Scaloni done to deserve his position? Why so many inexperienced defenders?? Cufre, Burdisso, Milito, Scaloni ALL ahead of one of the great old guards!!!! ...With Heinze missing the whole year. There MUST be reasons other than footballing ones... NO ONE in the world would axe such a great player for such a great event and fill it up with players who most likely won't get a game (CUFRE??????) ... Pekerman has ruined my world cup too... all my life I've wanted to see Argentina lift that cup and the player i most want to see lift that cup is Javier. WHYYYYYYYY???????????????

I call for the head of this old fool! He has done something totally unforgiveable!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMG JAVIER ZANETTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the greatest disappointment of MY life. I can't imagine how the great Zane is feeling right now. His personality is immense and he has always given his all AND MORE to the national shirt. See his face against Sweden in 2002 when Hedman saved his shot in the 77th minute, it says it all about Javier Zanetti... and Walter Samuel ommitted too!!! What is going on?? I cannot understand! This hurts so bad!!

May all the supporters and people in high places please stand up and show their support for this living legend... People of Argentina, fans of Inter and supporters all around the world! RISE for this great "ardent prophet of the dawn".

not only Zanetti, .. but Samuel and D'allesandro are also not in this squad....

THey might not be at their top form but they have been working hard and have shown good performance in the past 2-3 years....

they should be given chance

Zanetti we all love u, and we're all surprised at ur omission from the WC squad........

For a player thats given his heart and soul for Argentina, such a decision is ridiculous to say the least.

Dont worry mate, ull win something big next season at Inter......

This also goes out to Samuel, D'Alessandro, Aguero, Seba and Demichellis too..........unlucky guys......I m really shocked about Pekerman's decision.....

Hopefully he knows wt his doing and can lead us to WC glory......

I am soo shocked about this, and samuel as well, but zanetti is fast and attacks very well. soo i have no idea what to make of our inexpierenced defense now. ayala is gd but slow...heinze needs match practice, colcucinni is inconsistent, the rest i don't know well.
I hope this isn't a bad sign, we need to be the best we can with what we have,,,zanetti needs to show noone how gd he is.
Daryl
Forza Argies!

Here's an article I found on Goal.com. I will comment on it later. Hope you guys find it useful.


Argentina (Albiceleste): Pekerman's Hunger

José Pekerman was keen to give a boost to the squad of 23 players the Albiceleste tactician called up for national service in Germany, but was in no mood for discussing why he left out several controversial shoe-ins such as Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Javier Zanetti and Walter Samuel (Inter).

"In Argentine football there’s a constant process of renovation as new talents appear – and deserve the chance to shine on a world stage. I really feel that we’ve been able to group together a high quality squad consumed by a hunger to really achieve something", justified Pekerman.

The only reference to the exclusions from his squad were implied references that those who were left out were either seen as unmotivated / saturated with titles or coming to an end of their career – not very convincing if examined in a little more detail.

Zanetti could be described to be in his twilight playing years at 33, but then where does that leave Cafú at 37 or Roberto Carlos – five months older than the Argentine Nerazzurri? It could also hardly be called a sound argument against Demichelis (26) or even Samuel (28).

The title glut doesn’t hold water either – Zanetti’s only had a Coppa to kiss (twice), whereas Samuel has only been able to get his lips to silver plate once after having been made a rather oversimplified scapegoat at a trophy-free Real Madrid. Demichelis has done better – but is hardly Mr T. So why?

“I don’t want to talk about those players that were not called up. I’ve already let the players concerned know the bad news first hand (he told River keeper Germán Lux face-to-face). It’s not a pleasant process to go through, but I hope that they can understand the reasons why.”

Pekerman obviously gave emerging Boca marksman Rodrigo Palácio and Inter’s season-saver Julio Cruz a shot at the World Cup, but also let down hopefuls Lux, Sergio Agüero and Bayern’s Martín de Michelis. For conspiracy theorists, it’s the first time since 1934 that no River Plate player has made it into a World Cup squad.

The Coach also clarified his reasons for leaving out a right wing-back specialist was that "recent European experiences have shown that central defenders such as Nicolás Burdisso, Leandro Cufré and Fabricio Coloccini can be effectively recycled into wing-backs".

This would tend to give a nod towards all those Albiceleste watchers who believed that Pekerman would do just that in order to give Sorín much more leeway and freedom of movement on the left-hand side – the Villarreal man’s polyvalent skills seen as a suitable motive for sacrificing symmetry in the rearguard.

Pablo Aimar had been a name mooted as being in Pekerman’s bad books for some reason, and the Coach made a point of scotching those rumours by explaining that "although he’s had a very variable season with Valencia, due to injury hassles, he’s a very gifted technical player and has always responded well to whatever has been asked of him in the national squads".

He also came out in favour of Lionel Messi playing it safe and missing out on tomorrow’s Champions League final. "Every club has the freedom to decide what they feel is in their best interests, but if I was deciding – then I’d decide that this isn’t the time to make a return", he said.

Pekerman also clarified doubts over Juan Román Riquelme’s number – his club 8 or the mythical ‘diez’ – saying that the Villarreal brain would inherit Maradona’s shirt and put forth a basic tactical philosophy that he wants to inculcate in his chosen 23.

What remains to be seen is if Pekerman will rue leaving out a right-back specialist and charging Sorín with the responsibility of making up for it up front without room for mistake behind. The sort of pressure that can result in stress fractures appearing at key moments of pressure.

If Pekerman's gamble pays off, then he'll be catapulted to the level of visionary - and maybe even soothe some bruised Argentine pride as since the glory days of Italy 1990 the Albiceleste has had to put up with Brazil winning the Cup twice. Hero or zero - we'll soon find out.


Aaron Marcus

Thanks King!

I must agree... I'm also VERY sad that Zanetti isn't going.

Here's another report from Football Italia....

Zanetti dropped by Argentina Tuesday 16 May, 2006


Inter captain Javier Zanetti has amazingly been left out of Argentina’s squad for the World Cup Finals.

Zanetti’s name was omitted from Coach Jose Pekerman’s 23-man party despite playing a key part in qualification.

The 32-year-old is a former international captain and appeared for his country in both the 1998 and 2002 Finals.

“I’m disappointed, but now I must just give my support to the side that will go to Germany,” he graciously stated.

“Nobody has told me that I won’t be going to the tournament because I had played badly,” he continued.

“I’m tranquil about the situation because I gave it my very best shot to always be at the disposal of the side.”

Zanetti, who admitted that he was told last week that he wouldn’t be a part of the squad, refused to comment on speculation that his omission was not based solely on footballing reasons.

“Only the Coach can know these things,” he added. “Nobody else.”

The Inter symbol has been replaced in the squad by West Ham United’s versatile Lionel Scaloni, who can also play in midfield.

Pekerman has also gambled on the fitness of Man Utd’s Gabriel Heinze who has not played an official match since damaging knee ligaments in September 2005.

The Inter trio of Nicolas Burdisso, Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cruz are in the side, while Roma’s Leandro Cufre is also included.

FUcked Pekkermen. What does he do? Best players Samuel and Zanetti where are they? And Veron? i'd spit to Pekkermens face.......

okay, why am I not so impressed with Crespo being selected? Zanetti is a straight forward guy who doesn't get involved with silly things like Crespo.

Ya !!! this is too much ... the team need to be at their best during the world cup ..... the future stars can wiat ... but best players should be placed in ....the squad....


World Cup is a 7 match tournament ... not a year long league matches ...

The lesson was already tought in World Cup 2002... When Argentina ruled the world for about 3 years with their legendary perfomance...... then ... they lost their form in the world cup......Brazil who under performed for 2 years and could hardly qualify themselves was considered the world best team...

If Argentina happen to under perform this time Perkkermen will be held responsible ..for sure .. with no excuses .........

this should not happen........ its not the way i wanted to be....

Zanetti Must Play... For the sake of god....!!! I Hate it to be this WAY!!!! whats wrong with the Coach anyway??? Katy I Need some ReasoN WhY? Why? & Why??
explain tHis to Me Katy....... please...... :(

Hey, Fadzil... I'm sure I dunno why, neither does Zanetti himself!

I found this interview on the Inter.it site....

J.ZANETTI: "DISAPPOINTED, BUT ARGENTINE"
Wednesday, 17 May 2006 16:52:45
APPIANO GENTILE - Ahead of this afternoon's training session at Angelo Moratti Sports Centre, Inter captain Javier Zanetti gave a news conference.

How are you feeling after your exclusion from Argentina's World Cup squad?
"To be honest I'm disappointed because I wanted to play in my third World Cup. But I am also very calm because I know I did everything possible to be there. Coach Pekerman's decisions have nothing to do with me, he has called up other players. The most important thing now is to support all my friends and team-mates who have been called up to the national team so they can play a great World Cup."

Have you spoken with Pekerman about the reasons why you haven't been called up?
"Just before he announced his list Pekerman told me I wouldn't be part of the squad that will go to Germany. He didn't give me any reasons, I don't know if there are any footballing or non-footballing reasons. But I can sleep peacefully because I have given so much to my national team, and I still feel a player of the Argentine national team. I'm certainly not Pekerman's kind of player."

But haven't you tried to ask Pekerman why you have been excluded?
"No, because I understood that he didn't want to give any explanations. He is the coach, I have no rancour towards anyone and I wish him the best of luck at this World Cup."

Will you end your international career after this exclusion?
"On my part this is certainly not the end. I will continue to work like I have done in all these years so I can return to defending my country's shirt. There will be many matches and I still hope I can play in a few."

Don't you think Pekerman had it in for the Argentine players at Inter?
"There are many of us Argentines at Inter and unfortunately quite a few of us have been left out. Pekerman has chosen his men and he has confidence in them. Let's hope they can get good results."

Is it true that Argentina's World Cup run in Korea/Japan was a failure because the squad was divided?
"This is not true. And with Pekerman I played almost every World Cup qualifying match and also the Confederations Cup. I only missed a few games. This whole matter has been a bit strange, especially in the last few months when the press started saying I wouldn't be called up. Pekerman has never spoken with me in these last few months. My truth is that I have been excluded and I'm very disappointed. There's nothing I can do about it now. I will support my team-mates who will go to Germany in search of glory."

De Michelis, another of the players excluded by Pekerman, said he no longer wants to live. Is this perhaps too strong a thing to say?
"It's a bit strong but I can understand how De Michelis is feeling because he still hasn't played at a World Cup. I have played in two and I'm very proud of this. It's useless to talk about it now. The list has been made and we should keep quiet."

How has the Argentine press reacted to your World Cup exclusion?
"The press and all the people were a bit surprised, and I'm very pleased about this. The national team belongs to everyone, and I am part of that national team."

When Gianluca Vialli was left out of Italy's USA '94 squad by Sacchi, he said he would have supported Brazil. What about you?
"I don't wish any harm to anyone, particularly my friends and team-mates who will defend my country's shirt at the World Cup. I will support Argentina more than ever. I hope they can bring the World Cup back to my country."

Could Inter's season be the reason why you weren't called up?
"Absolutely not. I don't think these are the reasons why someone is called up to the national team or not."

Have you spoken with Walter Samuel and the Inter players who have been called up for the World Cup?
"I still haven't seen Samuel. Cambiasso and Burdisso knew they would be called up. Cruz has deservedly earned his World Cup place because of his season. I really am happy for him because he wasn't called up for Korea/Japan. He deserved this revenge."
Inter.it

WHAT?

IS Zanetti left out? That doesn`t make any sense. Wouldn`t his experience be gold for the team...

I was very shocked and sad to read that Zanetti will not be going. This is a strange worldcup many players who should go are not being selected. Zanetti always does his best and has played almost every game for inter. Some times coaches are not fair. They call up players who didn't even help the country qualify and drop those who did all the work and still play well. I wanted to cry when I saw Zanetti won't be playing. It's so sad but I hope the other players can win for him and the others left out.

In all of this, Zanetti's personality has shined more than ever. He has handled himself with class and dignity so far. In his situation, many people would lash out at the coach and even turn against the team. BUT NOT HIM! And that speaks volume about the man. So while I've always admired him on the pitch, he's gained even more of my respect and admiration as a person. I am sure he must be hurting and angry inside but he doesn't want to turn this into a war in the media. I'm sure that at some point after the WC he might reveal how he trully feels but this isn't the time.
I think we could all learn from this and concentrate on supporting the players chosen and the team. It does not good at this point to speak badly of guys like Scaloni, who are deserving in their own ways, albeit not any where in the same vicinity as Zanetti.
WHAT IS DONE IS DONE!

Forza Zanetti! Forza Argentina!

I agree with everything you say King. I'm really impressed with the way Zanetti has handled the situation. He has put his country before his own personal feelings and that has shown how unselfish and mature he really is.

It also shows that he truly would have been a great person to lead Argentina out in WC 2006!

There has been a lot of debate regarding the exclusion of Zanetti and Walter Samuel. Zanetti has been a perfect gentleman and socially consious sportsman throughout his career. I have been a big fan of his from the days of the 1998 world cup. Without doubt his services will be missed.

But let us look at it from Pekkerman's perspective. There are two drawbacks that have been seen in the Argentina team in the last world cup; One lack of leadership to bond extremely talented players and two their inability to cope up with the pace of the European players. Having been a fan of Zanneti and having seen his performance over the years, he does seem to have lost some his pace. But from my point of view he was a clear leader. I still do not see anyone in the team who can take on the leadership mantle other than him.Till 94 Maradona was one, in 98 Simeone was. In 2002 it should have gone to Bati but then Bielsa screwed it up.

Zanetti will surely be missed for his leadership, the calming influence that he is blessed with and on top of all he epitomized sportsman having social consciousness. An era is coming to an end in Argentina football.

Regarding Samuel, I personally feel that Pekkerman has made the right decision. A defender who is not at his peak of confidence is always suspect. His form has been varied in the last two years. Cufre has been in good form and let us hope Ayala is fit.

Putting all this aside let us cheer Argentina. Let us look forward to the world cup.

Raj

It is absolutely ridiculous, unjustified, and illogical why a player of Zanetti's temperament, LEADERship, Ability, and CLASS can be left out.

It can't be player vs coach fallout either - Zanetti is a respectful person n will not allow his personal feelings, if there're any at all, to get in the way.

I think the conspiracy theorists got it right when they said it was down to Sorin vs Zanetti for Pekerman. Both like to get forward, and are good at doing it. Sadly, this may open them up to counterattacks. Hence, Pekerman cannot allow them both on the field at the same time to leave both left and right flanks at such risks.

Hence, he had to choose between Sorin on the left n Zanetti on the right. Since Sorin is his captain of choice, he naturally went with Sorin.

That's the most logical likely reason Zanetti is left out.

BUT - why couldn't Pekerman calmly explained to Zanetti, n say that if this is ok with Zane, then he'll still select Zane, but leave him on the bench to come on e.g. when Sorin is suspended or injured, or when they need to switch to all out attack hence need attack on both flanks? I'm sure Zanetti is smart enough to understand this logic (even tho he's clearly better than Sorin), since he's such a respectful person anyway, and will be willing to do anything for his country.

Why Pekerman?? WHY??!! The hardest part to swallow is Pekerman not even trying to explain why such a player is left out, ESPECIALLY SINCE AS ARGENTINA COACH, HE'S SELECTED ZANETTI AS 1ST CHOICE RIGHT-BACK FOR >85% OF COMPETITIVE MATCHES!!~!!

I echo ur sentiments Justin, man this omission has ruined me! But to go further, even if those conspiracy theories were correct, the balance between Sorin and Zanetti, Javier is STILL better than anyone out there at the traditional right back position. Have Zanetti play a more defensive role, he would do this job infinetly better than Scaloni! so as it stands I'm still not satisfied... Only God knows why Pekerman did this, and since Pekerman Isn't God (Ortega IS ), he probably doesn't know himself!!!