World Cup Comment: Never mind, Estaban and Javier

It won't just be Antonio Cassano sitting at home this summer when he should be playing football in South Africa. A glance over towards South America will show just how ridiculous the situation with the Argentine National team has become. Always packed with quality, and always underachieving. So, it was somewhat of a surprise when they looked towards Diego Maradona to steady the ship and lead them towards glory with what has to be said is a crop of excellent players. However, Maradona in the qualifiers selected everybody and their mother, providing no stability and little continuity. This was evident against Brazil in the qualifying campaign where despite all their flare and technical ability they were brushed aside in Argentina by a quality, but slightly workmanlike Brazil side. So, really, who better than to provide some iron in the midfield and the defense to support a side that is more than capable of winning the world cup than Estaban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti. Both have had simply outstanding seasons for Inter and it may well culminate in a treble winning domestic season on the 22nd of May in Madrid when Inter take on Bayern in the final of the Champions League.

Inter are packed with Argentines and one in Diego Milito has been granted passage to Argentina's current 30 man squad. So has Walter Samuel, but only just, as he was omitted largely in qualifying. But the omission of Cambiasso especially is simply mind boggling. With Sneijder pushing forward in the role of a trequarista Cambiasso has been the padlock in front of the Inter defence, safeguarding it front all comers. Still, his offensive qualities shine through time and time again as well. His magical left foot often provides instinctive through balls to Milito et al and also weighs in with superb goals, as he did against Chelsea and again at the weekend with an excellent volley after running 30 odd yards to meet a cross. He will be missed at this world cup, not least because he scored the goal of the tournament in the 2006 edition after a wonderful passing move culminated in an assured finish against Serbia. However, the omission of Zanetti is perhaps even sader. It's highly unlikely he will be at the next world cup, and this season he has missed just one game through suspension after playing 137 straight for Inter over the last few years. At 36 his desire, quality and guile put others to shame. Never mind.