Argentina coach Diego Maradona is not sorry for overlooking Inter duo Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, and is furious with those who questioned his squad selection.
Argentina coach Diego Maradona is not sorry for overlooking Inter duo Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti, and is furious with those who questioned his squad selection.
Fans were stunned to see both men left out of the Albiceleste's provisional 30-man World Cup squad.
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| Argentina coach Diego Maradona |
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 Maradona is standing firm with his decision and has not apologised to those who were left disappointed.
"I am only sorry for Fernando Gago. He was one of my boys, but he played too little this year and that's why I didn't call him up," he told Radio Del Plata.
"There is nothing strange and nothing to explain about Zanetti's exclusion. It was already decided a long time ago. And as for Cambiasso, it's the same story."
Whether he fails or succeeds in delivering the World Cup for the first time since 1986, Maradona is confident of continuing his tenure at the helm.
"This is the idea, and since I took charge I started a plan not just thinking about the World Cup in South Africa, but also the Copa America," he concluded.
