Four veterans and Palacio plus Cruz

Argentines throw a ‘new blood’ challenge

Striker Rodrigo Palacio and midfielder Julio Cruz were two surpassing choices by coach Nestor Pekerman to Argentina’s youthful World Cup roster, heavy on players he led to three under-20 world championships.

Palacio, 24, is rated highly for his dribbling skills in the attacking third of the field while Cruz led Inter Milan with 17 goals this season, two more than Brazil’s Adriano.

“This is a balanced, highly qualified team,” Pekerman told a news conference at the national team training centre outside Buenos Aires. “It’s the best we could assemble.”

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Only four players return from the 2002 World Cup side that was eliminated in the first round in Japan and South Korea. “This team represents new blood to a degree seldom seen,” Pekerman said.

Palacio and goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri, both with league champion Boca Juniors, plus ’keeper Oscar Ustari of Independiente are the only ones who play for clubs in Argentina that were included by Pekerman on the final 23-man roster.

“Palacio will adapt very well to the team,” Pekerman said. “Too bad he was unable to join the squad for the last friendly game, but we’ve been observing him for a long time. He will add quality to the offence.”

In another surprise, Pekerman dropped midfielder Martin Demichelis, of Bayern Munich, whom many fans and reporters thought was beyond question. Also dropped were 10-year veteran Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Walter Samuel (Real Madrid) and Juan Sebastian Veron (Inter Milan).

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The four who return from the 2002 side are defenders Roberto Ayala (Valencia) and Juan Pablo Sorin (Villarreal), midfielder Pablo Aimar (Valencia) and forward Hernan Crespo (Chelsea), who was a substitute for Gabriel Batistuta in 2002.

To replace Demichelis, Pekerman picked Cruz, who will be playing in his first World Cup. Thirteen of the 23 have won the under-20 world championship.

Uncapped Ustari was a surprise pick over River Plate’s German Lux, a gold medallist at the Athens Olympics who did not allow a singe goal and who also played at the 2005 Confederations Cup, where Argentina lost the final to Brazil.

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri, Leonardo Franco, Oscar Ustari

Defenders: Fabricio Coloccini, Roberto Ayala, Gabriel Heinze, Juan Pablo Sorin, Gabriel Milito, Nicolas Burdisso, Leandro Cufre

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Midfielders: Lionel Scaloni, Esteban Cambiasso, Javier Mascherano, Luis Gonzalez, Pablo Aimar, Juan Roman Riquelme, Maximiliano Rodriguez

Forwards: Carlos Tevez, Hernan Crespo, Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Palacio, Javier Saviola, Julio Cruz

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