Riquelme on Argentina's Copa roster
Saturday, 23 June 2007
BUENOS AIRES, Jun 22 (AP): Juan Roman Riquelme, hours after leading Boca Juniors to its sixth Copa Libertadores championship, joined the 22-man Argentine squad that flew Thursday to Venezuela for the Copa America.
Hours before the team departed, Riquelme was the surprise late addition to an Argentine roster of 22 players that also includes striker Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and former Boca standout Carlos Tevez, currently at England's West Ham.
Riquelme scored both goals Wednesday night as Boca Juniors defeated Gremio of Porto Alegre, Brazil 2-0 in the final leg of the Copa Libertadores. Boca also won the opening leg 3-0 at home.
The 28-year-old Riquelme, on loan to Boca from Villarreal of Spain, last played for the Argentine team when it lost 3-0 in September to Brazil in a friendly. But he quit the national team that month, citing a need to help his ailing mother after critics scolded him for a lackluster performance at the 2006 World Cup.
The Argentine soccer federation announced the final 22-roster shortly before the team departed.
Riquelme was called up along with fellow Boca defenders Daniel Diaz, and Hugo Ibarra and forward Rodrigo Palacio.
Coach Alfio Basile had no comments before the team left.
But Boca coach Miguel Angel Russo publicly wished Riquelme well along with the other Boca players who got little rest after Wednesday's match.
"I'm very content to return to the national team," Riquelme said as he was the last to board the Argentine team bus that departed for a mid-afternoon flight.
To provide a slot for Riquelme, Basile left out Javier Pinola, who plays for Nuremberg of Germany. Pinola had postponed wedding plans in hopes of making the final roster.
Also left off the final roster was Javier Saviola, whose contract with Barcelona has expired.
Argentina Roster:
Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe, Spain), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Agustin Orion (San Lorenzo).
Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter, Italy), Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Gabriel Milito (Zaragoza, Spain), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter, Italy).
Midfield: Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes, Argentina), Pablo Aimar (Zaragoza, Spain).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Hernan Crespo (Inter), Diego Milito (Zaragoza), Carlos Tevez (West Ham, England), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca).
Hours before the team departed, Riquelme was the surprise late addition to an Argentine roster of 22 players that also includes striker Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona and former Boca standout Carlos Tevez, currently at England's West Ham.
Riquelme scored both goals Wednesday night as Boca Juniors defeated Gremio of Porto Alegre, Brazil 2-0 in the final leg of the Copa Libertadores. Boca also won the opening leg 3-0 at home.
The 28-year-old Riquelme, on loan to Boca from Villarreal of Spain, last played for the Argentine team when it lost 3-0 in September to Brazil in a friendly. But he quit the national team that month, citing a need to help his ailing mother after critics scolded him for a lackluster performance at the 2006 World Cup.
The Argentine soccer federation announced the final 22-roster shortly before the team departed.
Riquelme was called up along with fellow Boca defenders Daniel Diaz, and Hugo Ibarra and forward Rodrigo Palacio.
Coach Alfio Basile had no comments before the team left.
But Boca coach Miguel Angel Russo publicly wished Riquelme well along with the other Boca players who got little rest after Wednesday's match.
"I'm very content to return to the national team," Riquelme said as he was the last to board the Argentine team bus that departed for a mid-afternoon flight.
To provide a slot for Riquelme, Basile left out Javier Pinola, who plays for Nuremberg of Germany. Pinola had postponed wedding plans in hopes of making the final roster.
Also left off the final roster was Javier Saviola, whose contract with Barcelona has expired.
Argentina Roster:
Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe, Spain), Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Agustin Orion (San Lorenzo).
Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter, Italy), Roberto Ayala (Valencia, Spain), Gabriel Heinze (Manchester United, England), Gabriel Milito (Zaragoza, Spain), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter, Italy).
Midfield: Luis Gonzalez (Porto, Portugal), Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes, Argentina), Pablo Aimar (Zaragoza, Spain).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Hernan Crespo (Inter), Diego Milito (Zaragoza), Carlos Tevez (West Ham, England), Rodrigo Palacio (Boca).