The Argentina Football Association announced on Tuesday that manager Diego Maradona's contract was not to be renewed, an outcome expected by many in the aftermath of Argentina's World Cup quarter final defeat to Germany earlier this month.
Despite reports that the former World Cup winner was reconsidering his initial decison to leave his post, the association's president Julio Grondona announced that Maradona was not being offered an extension to his deal due to conflicts over the future of some of his coaching staff, namely Alejando Mancuso, along time friend and ally of the outspoken coach.
Maradona's final act as Argentina manager was to name a twenty four man squad to tke to Dublin for the friendly international with Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland, the first international football match to be played at the redeveloped Aviva Stadium. In what is solely a panel of European based players, Maradona included Premier League players Fabricio Coloccini, Jonas Gutierrez (both Newscastle), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Pablo Zabaleta and Carlos Tevez (both Mancheser City).
Sergio Batista, who led Argentina's Under-23 side to Olympic glory in 2008, will take charge of the side for the match and will remain in charge of team affairs utill such time as the AFA appoint a permanent replacement.
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andujar.
Defenders: Martín Demichelis, Walter Samuel, Nicolas Burdisso, Gabriel Heinze, Fabricio Coloccini, Emiliano Insua, Pablo Zabaleta.
Midfielders: Angel Di Maria, Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano, Jonas Gutierrez, Mario Bolatti, Javier Pastore, Jesus Datolo, Fernando Gago, Ever Banega.
Forwards: Sergio Aguero, Carlos Tevez, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi, Diego Milito, Ezequiel Lavezzi.
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