Unofficially yes, he's going to Germany (Clarin, an Argentinian newspaper says so). Another matter is if he'll be in Argentina's line-up or not.

Hey final list is out & Vicente is out!!


Also Baraja,but concidering his form,he was never likely but Marchena is in!.I would have preffered Albiol.

Baraja is not in Germany '06. At the same time, Albiol has played better than Marchena. It is not a clear affair, I don't agree with Aragonés.

Baraja is better that others in the Spanish National Team.

I'm afraid, Aragones will lead team to downfall.
His numerous decisions are very unclear.
For exaple, ruling out Jesus Navas, Mariano Pernia, Raul Albiol...
If he is regreting Vicente & Morientez for the lack of practice, than why does he take Xavi?
Of course, Xavi really is priceless player, but this is just non-ethical towards others.
Than he has to say real reasons, because Vicente in fact has more practice, than Xavi.

Isn't Pernia Argentinian? :?

He gained Spanish citizenship, but for some crazy reason they didn't include him in the squad. This season Pernia has been a mile better than Del Horno. Aragones really frustrated me with this selection. He says that he didn't pick Pernia because he didn't help them qualify yet he picked a handful of other players which didn't either. Any why Marchena?? He didn't really need him, in place of Morientes too. Now only three strikers. And if he was going to pick a central defender it should have been Raul Abiol, not Marchena.

Here in Spain most journalists agree that Pernia should have been selected instead of Del Horno, and a further forwarder instead of Marchena (or at least Albiol in its place). Aragones had also suffered strong critics aganist his inclusion of Xavi and Raul. Xavi comes just out of a severe injure, and Raul has been also injured part of this season, and the other part he has been out of shape.

Pernia is native Argentinian, but specially to play for Spanish team, he has taken a Spanish passport month ago.
So, if Aragonez wanted him, he could play...

The kit numbers have been given to Valencians:
4 - Marchena
6 - Albelda
19 - Canizares
21 - Villa

3 - Caneira
10 - Viana (!)
13 - Miguel

2 - Ayala
16 - Aimar

Argentina plays against Ivory Coast today, Ayala will be in the starting eleven but Aimar will start the match on the bench. It's an interesting match to watch it. The Argentinian quality must fight with African strong players.

Ayala had a greta game,nearly scored a goal(infact it looked like one).
Aimar came in the 92nd min

Toady we'll see Caneira,Miguel & Viana & hopefully future star Simao

Ayala had a very good game. That goal should have counted. Ivory Coast played okay, though they mainly threatened Argentina via pace on the wings. Their Central Midfielders didn't really do much, and this is what I think hurt them. No good players in the centre of the park to give good service.

Anyway, I'd like to Spain do well this World Cup. I still have the memories etched in my mind on how Spain was basically robbed by the South Koreans the last World Cup. Yes, the Italians say they were robbed, but the degree of theft was larger against the Spaniards. Hope some good luck comes Spain's way, though it is a shame that they are in the same bracket as Brazil come the elimination rounds. Brazil can be beaten though.

Why has Raul turned to complete shit the last two years? His excuse this year was that he was largely injured, but last year he was terrible. Wonder how much of Raul's garbage play Aragones will tolerate before he looks for a better solution?

Go España!

Yesterday Ayala plays perfect, today Miguel excellent, Viana get in 10-15 min. before the end, Caneira didn't play.

Applause for our Ayala and Miguel.

Alas, he'll cope with it and blame another player instead. He's actually changed our playstyle to be able to fit Raul in the team. The problem is not Aragones, it's the Media. In Spain the national mass media is located in Madrid, employ madrid fans and spams the country. "Raul plays shit" is broadcasted as "no worries, he's the core of the team, our captain, our pride, the only one with enough guts and quality to make the other players try their best and succeed. We need him in the team." "Raul scores an easy goal after a keeper's fumble in a friendly game" is spammed in TV, Radio and Newspapers as "Raul is back, he's recovered in his prime. He must be in the team, he's closed the debate."

Basically, spanish national team manager does as the media dictates. If he does not, media starts to weaken his position publishing news "in a certain way", till he's sacked. He knows that and therefore will do as much as possible to play as they dictate. Otherwise he would be sacked even if the team got better results than ever before, as happened to Clemente.

another great game by Ayala! he is one of the best argentinian player in this two matches! go Ayala!!!

WHat a match!!Everyone played brilliantly.Ayala,solid as usual.Argentina look goood.

Villa was very good last night, but he has no luck to score! i hope he will score against Arabia!

Like we suspected from the beginning, the old citizen who use to coach our national team doesn't consider Villa as star as Torres and Raul. I'm very disappointed because for once we had a real star like striker, and Mr Aragones... he is not Torres!

Anyway in Spain we have a saying "the demon has more wisdom for his age than for being demon". Aragones prefers to play with the press’ favourites, so he won’t be the responsible if they lose.

I have no idea why Torres is held in such high regard? He may be somewhat fast, but his finishing is terrible. Now I see one reason why Atletico Madrid struggled this past season, both Kezmand AND Torres are horrible finishers.

My one worry is that maybe the press will cry out that Torres and Raul should start after the performance against Tunisia. Speaking of which, it look liked Roger Lemerre, Tunisian coach, was going to have a stroke during the match, such an animated coach!

Go David Villa!

(by the way, what exactly does 'El Guaje' mean? 'The.....)

Guaje means from humble origins. It's an expression from asturias (The county where he was borned)