Argentina coach Diego Maradona announced his final squad of 23 players, after his provisional squad of 30 proved newsworthy for controversial omissions and inclusions.

Maradona faced criticism for omitting Inter’s Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, the latter a particular star of his club’s triumphant Champions’ League campaign this season, but kept out of the squad by veteran Juan Sebastian Veron.

And Maradona’s most conspicuous choice is 36-year-old striker Martin Palermo, allegedly selected more because of his club – Maradona’s former side Boca Juniors – than the (indifferent) form he has shown for them.

Critics may have been answered, however, by 4-0 and 5-0 friendly victories over Haiti and Canada.

Veron and Palermo are two of the squad’s five home-based players, with Colon defender Ariel Garce another surprise selection having won his only two caps before this month back in 2003.

Maradona has included Inter defender Walter Samuel and Inter’s Champions League final goalscoring hero Diego Milito.

The squad is brimming with attacking talent, with Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez alongside Atletico Madrid’s Sergio Aguero, in the squad for more than being Maradona’s son-in-law.

And there is also room among the squad’s six strikers for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.