May 16, 2002

Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has given a clear indication of his intended World Cup squad by calling Juan Pablo Sorin and Diego Placente in to his Rome-based training camp.

Sorin has been otherwise engaged with his club Cruzerio in the Brazilian League while Placente is staying with Bayer Leverkusen as they build up to the Champions League final against Real Madrid.

But, when they arrive in Italy, that will bring the training party to 23, which surely represents a World Cup squad in all but name.

And it means there is no room for Barcelona's Javier Saviola or Juan Roman Riquelme, of Boca Juniors.

Inter Milan's Nelson Vivas, who suffered a knee injury in February, also misses out.

The selection of Gustavo Lopez earlier this week was the only real surprise in the party.

His call-up surely also ends the hopes of Facundo Quiroga and Real Madrid's Santiago Solari.

Argentina's World Cup training squad:

Goalkeepers: German Burgos (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Cavallero (Celta), Roberto Bonano (Barcelona).

Defenders: Roberto Ayala (Valencia), Mauricio Pochettino (Paris St Germain), Walter Samuel (AS Roma), Jose Chamot (AC Milan), Diego Placente (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Diego Simeone (Lazio), Juan Sebastian Veron (Manchester United), Claudio Husain (River Plate), Matias Almeyda (Parma), Pablo Aimar (Valencia), Marcelo Gallardo (Monaco), Juan Pablo Sorin (Cruzeiro).

Strikers: Ariel Ortega (River Plate), Gabriel Batistuta (AS Roma), Kily Gonzalez (Valencia), Claudio Caniggia (Rangers), Hernan Crespo (Lazio), Claudio Lopez (Lazio), Gustavo Lopez (Celta Vigo).

BBC Sport Online