Madrid - and a chance for Argentina to step up their World Cup preparations. With a month until the soccer tournament, coach Jose Pekerman gathered together a provisional squad of 16 in the Spanish capital on Monday.
Inter's Javier Zanetti wagering, Valencia's Pablo Aimar and Bayern Munich's Martin Demichelis were nowhere to be seen, with officials pointing to domestic commitments.
With recent defeats to Croatia and England, the two-times winners are not playing like world champions but key man Hernan Crespo is unfazed.
"Although the results in the last few games have not been satisfactory, I am relaxed because we can count on some very good players. We still have a month to work together, so I am fine.": Hernan Crespo, Chelsea and Argentina striker.
Questions persist over Juan Roman Riquelme's involvement in Germany, with the Villarreal playmaker flying to Buenos Aires as the two-day meeting got underway.
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