Javier Mascherano looks set for Olympics role

Mar 20 2008

Argentina’s Olympic team boss Sergio Batista has named a list of 53 players from which he will select the 18 who will go to Beijing in August, including four with Barclays Premier League clubs.

Three players over the age of 23 are allowed in the final squad, but six feature in the list.

Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, Bayern Munich’s Martin Demichelis and Juan Roman Riquelme of Boca Juniors are Batista’s first choices to help defend the gold medal won in Athens four years ago, but he also named Gabriel Milito of Barcelona as well as Internazionale’s Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cruz.

Other players who will be hoping to impress include Damian Leto (Liverpool), Franco Di Santo (Chelsea) and the Emiliano Insua, owned by Boca Juniors but on an 18-month loan at Liverpool.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Ever Banega (Valencia), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) are the pick of the rest of the squad.

“I want all of them to be highly motivated so we can choose the best in July,” said Batista.

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1 SOCCER Argentina

PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYERS IN BEIJING CONTENTION

Argentina’s Olympic team boss Sergio Batista has named a list of 53 players from which he will select the 18 who will go to Beijing in August, including four with Barclays Premier League clubs.

Three players over the age of 23 are allowed in the final squad, but six feature in the list.

Liverpool’s Javier Mascherano, Bayern Munich’s Martin Demichelis and Juan Roman Riquelme of Boca Juniors are Batista’s first choices to help defend the gold medal won in Athens four years ago, but he also named Gabriel Milito of Barcelona as well as Internazionale’s Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cruz.

Other players who will be hoping to impress include Sebastian Leto (Liverpool), Franco Di Santo (Chelsea) and Emiliano Insua, owned by Boca Juniors but on an 18-month loan at Liverpool.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Ever Banega (Valencia), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli) are the pick of the rest of the squad.

“I want all of them to be highly motivated so we can choose the best in July,” said Batista.