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Argentina final squad announced

Liverpool right winger Maxi Rodriguez, like Coloccini a veteran of the 2006 finals in Germany, was retained as cover for Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez.

The only recognised full-back in the 23 was Clemente Rodriguez of Estudiantes with Maradona planning to field four central defenders in Argentina's Group B opener against Nigeria in Johannesburg on June 12.

Javier Zanetti, Argentina's 136-cap record holder and an experienced full-back set to captain Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, missed out on a place in the provisional squad.

The man seen as having muscled Zanetti out is Colon's 30-year-old defender Ariel Garce, who cemented his place in the 4-0 win over Haiti on May 5. He won two caps in 2003.

Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Diego Milito and Sergio Aguero, father of Maradona's grandson Benjamin, are leading strikers in Europe's strongest leagues.

Veteran Martin Palermo, Boca Juniors' record scorer with 222 goals and a Maradona favourite, is the sixth striker and one of five home-based players in the squad.