Argentina's national soccer team Sunday began closed-door training in a
sports center in Herzogenaurach, south east Germany, where the team is staying
ahead of its World Cup opener against Cote d'Ivoire on June 10.
The team worked both morning and afternoon with trainer Jose Pekerman, who
gave them a break to see their families.
The team which will play the opening match is the same one which won a 2-0
victory over Angola, although some last minute changes are possible: Javier
Solana might join Hernan Crespo as a forward, and Carlos Tevez or Lionel Messi
might be added at the last minute.
Messi's potential addition to the team took many commentators as a surprise,
as he has been suffering a severe injury, which kept him from playing for 84
days.
On Sunday morning, one group of players reviewed tactics with Pekerman and
practiced their ball skills. The remaining players played a six-a-side match.
Argentina, which won the Wold Cup in 1978 and 1986, will play its second
Group C match against Serbia and Montenegro, in Gelsenkirchen on June 16. Its
last group match will be on June 20 against the Netherlands in Frankfurt.