No VERON at the Velodrome

Juan Sebastian VERON was supposed to play against France. Diego MARADONA called him up and things were all in place for the Brujita to return to the Albicelestes.

During the last torneo Apertura fixture for Estudiantes de La Plata, VERON saw the red card and was suspended for this weekend's start of the torneo Clausura. But there is an rule (number 225) that allows domestic clubs to pick suspended players (postponing their suspension for the future) in order to replace other players from that club that are away on international duty.

Since Estudiantes have Cristian GAITAN playing for Argentina at the U20 South American tournament in Venezuela (Argentina play Colombia later on Sunday, buy the way!), VERON was able to play for them against Rosario Central (0-0 draw). Well...you guessed...he picked up an injury and so he'll not be making the trip to France.

His absense adds to that of RIQUELME, BATTAGLIA and LEDESMA. MARADONA wanted the three of them but had to make do without them because Boca Juniors had a late match on Sunday in Jujuy (1700km North of Buenos Aires) and the schedule was too tight for the players to be able to make the trip. After it was perceived that MARADONA was forced to 'help' Boca Juniors by not taking away two vital players for them, Diego said: "Now I'm not taking LEDESMA because I don't want people to think I'm favouring one team over the other".

BATTAGLIA got injured during a training session this week anyway, and he won't be playing for Boca on Sunday, either.

With this situation unfolded, the only players from the domestic league that will be traveling to France are: Gastón ANGELERI (Estudiantes de La Plata), Emiliano PAPA (Velez Sarsfield) and Daniel MONTENEGRO (Independiente).