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Sunday November 1, 2009

Maradona calls up Inter star Cambiasso for the first time

BUENOS AIRES: Inter Milan midfielder Esteban Cambiasso was called up by Diego Maradona for the first time when he was included in a 19-man Argentina squad for next month’s friendly against Spain on Friday.

Argentina meet European champions Spain at the Vicente Calderon Stadium in Madrid on Nov 14, the Argentina Football Association said when they posted the squad on their website www.afa.org.ar.

Wanted by a legend: Esteban Cambiasso got his first call-up by Diego Maradona on Friday.

In a squad made up entirely of players with European clubs, Cristian Ansaldi of Russian league leaders Rubin Kazan is the only newcomer, picked for the problem left back position.

Gabriel Heinze played at left back when Argentina secured their qualification for next year’s Finals in South Africa in their last match, a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo, but Maradona prefers to play him as a central defender.

Cambiasso won the last of his 45 caps in Alfio Basile’s last match in charge, a 1-0 defeat by Chile in a qualifier in Santiago a year ago that sparked the coach’s resignation and opened the way for Maradona to take over.

The midfielder was overlooked by Maradona, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Friday, for the eight World Cup qualifiers Argentina played under the new coach this year, four of which ended in defeats. — Reuters

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