BATISTA names 17 for friendly against Catalunya

We are getting closer and closer to the Beijing Olympics. And on May 24th we are going to have the chance to take another look at the core of our Olympic national team when we face a friendly against Catalunya in Barcelona.

Here are the 17 players chosen by Sergio BATISTA:

Goalkeepers:
Oscar USTARI (Getafe, Spain), Sergio ROMERO (AZ Alkmaar, Holland)

Defenders:
Fabricio COLOCCINI (Deportivo La Coruña, Spain), Federico FAZIO (Sevilla, Spain), Cristian ANSALDI (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Pablo ZABALETA (Espanyol, Spain),

Midfielders:
Fernando GAGO (Real Madrid, Spain), Ever BANEGA (Valencia, Spain), Lucas BIGLIA (Anderletch, Belgium), José SOSA (Bayern Munich, Germany),

Forwards:
Angel DI MARIA (Benfica, Portugal), Sergio AGÜERO (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Lionel MESSI (FC Barcelona, Spain), Ezequiel LAVEZZI (Napoli, Italy), Marco RUBEN (Recreativo Huelva, Spain), Mauro ZARATE (Birmingham City, England) and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (Real Madrid, Spain).

I have to say that the only name that made me open my eyes in awe was none other than that of Fabricio COLOCCINI. He is obviously over 23 and he wasn't in the initial plans to go to Beijing as one of the 3 senior players that are allowed to compete in each team.

But we look to be set to lose our battle with Bayern Munich and I don't think we'll be able to have Martin DEMICHELIS playing for us in Beijing, even when Sergio BATISTA made clear that he wants to take him, Javier MASCHERANO and Juan Roman RIQUELME as the three over-23 players. The German champions are insisting in that they won't release DEMICHELIS because they are not forced by the rules. They also said they have no problems releasing José SOSA, which makes their excuse for not giving us DEMICHELIS totally pointless.

Considering DEMICHELIS was ingored by PEKERMAN when he named the squad for a World Cup that was going to be played in DEMICHELIS' back-yard, this could be yet another huge blow for a guy that is always keen on joining Argentina, whatever the competition is.

Bayern Munich said in a statement that DEMICHELIS is a player that should go to the World Cups and not the Olympics. But what if they ask the player to decide? They'll never do that. This really pisses me off. I wonder why FIFA doesn't take any measures to avoid other clubs to go the Bayern way and keep ruining the beauty of international football.

All of these said, I think COLOCCINI is there for a reason and you all know I'm not a fan of him but I'll give him my support and respect the fact that he is having a great season and he is the only player in the entire La Liga to have played EVERY MINUTE OF THE SEASON (excluding goalkeepers. Just field players).

Not surprises with the goalkeepers, a strong midfield with the likes of GAGO, BANEGA, SOSA and one of the strongest set of forwards in the world in this category. Just take a look at those names!!!!

MESSI, AGÜERO, HIGUAIN, LAVEZZI, ZARATE...wow! I want to see this match and I want the Olympics to come!

Oh and...I want DEMICHELIS and SOSA to leave Bayern Munich so I can celebrate whenever they lose without feeling guilty of being happy at the expense of two very talented young Argentine players that have the misfortune of playing for a club run by a dictatorship.