May 6, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, May 6 (AFP) -- Argentina's veteran striker Claudio Caniggia was named in his country's World Cup squad here Monday despite suffering a recurrence of a knee injury which had threatened his place.

Caniggia was named in a list of 12 players who have definitely secured places in coach Marcelo Bielsa's final 23, which will be announced following the completion of the remaining players' club commitments.

The 35-year-old Rangers' fell awkwardly in a clash with Celtic's Johan Mjallby in Saturday's Scottish Cup final and hurt his knee. He had the consolation however of the team winning 3-2 to take the trophy.

Caniggia was a key player in both the 1990 and 1994 World Cup finals, but was not picked under the strict regime of coach Daniel Passarella for France '98. Caniggia got a 13-month ban for taking cocaine in 1993 and has a history of enjoying the highlife.

Argentina coach Bielsa revealed his list of players during a press conference at the headquarters of the Argentine football federation in Buenos Aires. Striker Ariel Ortega and midfielder Claudio Husain, who both play for River Plate, were the only home-based players among those names.

The others were AC Milan's Jose Chamot, Paris Saint Germain's Mauricio Pochettino, AS Roma's Gabriel Batistuta and Walter Samuel, Lazio players Diego Simeone, Claudio Lopez and Hernan Crespo, plus Inter Milan's Javier Zanetti and Monaco's Marcelo Gallardo.

Argentina's delegation were due to fly to Italy on Monday for a training camp at the facilities of Rome club Lazio.

Argentina meet Nigeria, England and Argentina in first round Group F of the May 31 to June 30 finals in Korea and Japan.