Four-timer Pichot leads Pumas

From correspondents in Buenos Aires
July 28, 2007

HALFBACK Agustin Pichot will lead Argentina in his fourth World Cup, after being named as captain of a 30-man squad announced by coach Marcelo Loffreda today (AEST).

Pichot, 33 next month, is the sole surviving Puma from the 1995 tournament in South Africa, where he was a reserve.

Other core members of Loffreda's squad, including back Felipe Contepomi and forwards Gonzalo Longo, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mario Ledesma and Omar Hasan, have two Cups under their belts.

Among players going to their second Cup, versatile Stade Francais back Juan Martin Hernandez stands out.

A second- string player in Australia in 2003, he could turn out for the Pumas at fullback or fly-half in the tournament.

The Pumas play the tournament's opening match for the third successive time, meeting the host France at the Stade de France in a Group D game on September 7.

Argentina, bidding to reach the quarter-finals for the second time, will also meet Georgia, Namibia and Ireland.

The September 30 match with Ireland is a potential group decider. The Pumas upset Ireland in 1999 to reach the last eight for the first time, the Irish gaining revenge with victory in a group decider in Australia four years ago.

Reuters

The Argentina World Cup squad:

Forwards:

Gonzalo Longo, Martin Durand, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Martin Schusterman, Lucas Ostiglia, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Rimas Alvarez, Esteban Lozada, Patricio Albacete, Omar Hasan, Rodrigo Roncero, Martin Scelzo, Marcos Ayerza, Mario Ledesma, Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino.

Backs:

Ignacio Corleto, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Federico Serra, Lucas Borges, Jose Nunez Piossek, Manuel Contepomi, Gonzalo Tiesi, Martin Gaitan, Felipe Contepomi, Federico Todeschini, Agustin Pichot (capt), Nicolas Fernandez Miranda.