Argentina soccer coach goes to Europe to meet players

Jose Pekerman, the manager of Argentina's national soccer squad, traveled to Europe on Friday, to meet Argentine footballers who play in various teams there, local media reported on Friday.

Pekerman, who left last night from Ezeiza international airport, will also observe games played by Argentine players.

Spanish and Italian leagues host the bulk of the players that are usually called up to play for the national team, although Pekerman's favorite forward, Hernan Crespo, plays for English league team Chelsea.

Pekerman is interested in the injured players Roberto Ayala, who plays for Spanish league team Valencia, and Gabriel Heinze, who plays for the English league's Manchester United.

Javier Mascherano, of Brazilian league team Corinthians, is also injured at present. And both Crespo and Javier Solana, of Spain's Seville, are also suffering from minor injuries.

Pekerman will also watch Luis Gonzalez, of Portugal's Porto.

"With less than six months to go before the start of the World Cup, we have to take all kinds of precautions," Pekerman said.

Argentina is the World Cup's Group C, alongside the Netherlands, Cote d'Ivoire, and Serbia and Montenegro. Its first match will be on June 10, against the African team in Hamburg.

Source: Xinhua