Argentina coach Diego Maradona has expressed high hopes for the World Cup, despite missing five players
for his first training session.
The Argentine legend, who led his country to become World Cup champions in 1986, spoke of his side's chances this June during a practice on Thursday.
"Our World Cup starts now because we start work with 17 players. We have high hopes," he said.
The five players missing were Sergio Aguero, who played in Wednesday's King's Cup for Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan duo Walter Samuel and Diego Milito and Bayern Munich's Martin Demichelis are all in preparation for Saturday's Champions League final in Madrid.
Besides the quintet, Clemente Rodriguez and Juan Sebastian Veron were away on club duties for Estudiantes in the Copa Libertadores.
Two-time World Cup winners Argentina are drawn in Group B alongside Euro 2004 champions Greece, Nigeria, and 2002 semi-finalists South Korea and will kick off their campaign against Nigeria on 12 June.
Argentina Squad: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).
source:espn
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