Jose Pekerman press conference (16 May 2006 16:42 GMT)
"This is a balanced, highly qualified team," Pekerman told at press conference in Buenos Aires. "It's the best we could assemble. This team represents new blood to a degree seldom seen."
"There is a permanent evolution with footballers. Several of the U-20 footballers have made themselves noticed," added Pekerman. "Before it would have been impossible for players of this category to come into the A team."
However, he admitted he had anguished over making his final cuts.
On the goalkeeping decision (Ustari), he said:"We always said that there were four keepers in our mind. We called up the three who are in the right form to play in a World Cup."
Ustari did make the bench for a 1-1 friendly draw with Mexico in Los Angeles last year but has never made the starting XI.
Rodrigo Palacio, a 24-year-old forward for Boca Juniors, is rewarded for his excellent season.
"Palacio's characteristics are similar to the other forwards - even though he has not played too much for us I think he can bring a lot to the team.," Pekerman said, "Too bad he was unable to join the squad for the last friendly game, but we've been observing him for a long time."
Julio Cruz, who will be playing in his first World Cup, also makes the trip and will provide an alternative to Hernan Crespo as a big target man.
Pekerman dropped midfielder Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan) and Walter Samuel (Real Madrid), whom many fans and reporters thought was beyond question, but he refused to answer questions about the players he did not select.
"In all this period in charge of the national team, I've tried to encourage competition between players to motivate everybody to be in the World Cup. There were a lot of players who had a chance of being included," Pekerman admitted. "We must be all now support this team who make me feel confident ahead of the competition."
source : IOL, AP, AFP