Argentina coach Alfio Basile has called up veteran midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, who has not played for Argentina since November 2003, for a training camp of domestic-based players to continue preparations for the 2007 Copa America, where Argentina opens against the USA.
Veron helped Estudiantes win the 2006 Torneo Apertura after returning home in the middle of last year. The former Lazio, Inter Milan and Manchester United was never called up by Jose Pekerman, who was in charge of the Argentina national team program from after the 2004 Olympics until the end of last year’s World Cup. Veron was blamed for the team’s first-round elimination at the 2002 World Cup.
The training camp is important because Basile is reportedly set to abandon the practice of fielding an all-European team of players adopted by Pekerman and Marcelo Bielsa. Basile built his reputation in Argentina for leading the Albiceleste to the 1991 Copa America title — Argentina’s first in 32 years — with a team that consisted almost entirely of domestic players. Argentina repeated as Copa America champion in 1993.
ARGENTINA TRAINING CAMP ROSTER:
Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (River Plate), Oscar Ustari (Independiente).
Defenders: Hugo Ibarra (Boca Juniors), Daniel Diaz (Boca Juniors), Paulo Ferrari (River Plate), Eduardo Tuzzio (River Plate), Hernan Pellerano (Velez Sarsfield), German Re (Newell’s Old Boys), Jonathan Bottinelli (San Lorenzo).
Midfielders: Leonardo Ponzio (River Plate), Fernando Belluschi (River Plate), Agustin Pelletieri (Lanus), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Jose Sosa (Estudiantes), Cristian Ledesma (San Lorenzo), Daniel Montenegro (Independiente), Neri Cardozo (Boca Juniors).
Forwards: Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Lavezzi (San Lorenzo), Mariano Pavone (Estudiantes), Mauro Zarate (Velez Sarsfield)