this is an article i found on the net.
I like bati but i think it is ominous now that he won't be in the
starting 11. Him getting a chance in the 23 is also doubtful. gee!
how times change in a years duration



Feud could benefit Caniggia's claim
By Roger Hannah

Claudio Caniggia could gatecrash the World Cup Finals as an unlikely
beneficiary of a rift between Argentina's star strikers Hernan Crespo
and Gabriel Batistuta.
The Rangers veteran, recalled out of the blue for last month' s draw
with Wales, has been retained by coach Marcelo Bielsa for the
friendly against Cameroon on March 27.

And the 35- year- old has been included at the expense of Batistuta
as Bielsa ponders taking the tournament favourites to Japan and South
Korea without the talismanic attacker.

Crespo and Batistuta, who play for Rome's bitter rivals Lazio and
Roma, do not speak to each other and have only played together once
for Argentina such is the depth of their animosity.

Bielsa is acutely aware that he risks internal division by asking the
foes to eat, drink and work together in an enclosed environment for
the five weeks of the Finals.

The coach looks to have favoured Crespo by naming him for the meeting
with the African Nations Cup winners, to the exclusion of Batistuta.

But Caniggia, who ended his four-year international exile in last
month's 1-1 draw in Cardiff, is nonetheless thrilled at the prospect
of last- gasp inclusion in the World Cup squad.

'It's a big challenge and I am going to do all I can to make sure I
get there,' he said.

'I am happy to have the chance to play for the national team again
and my real challenge is to make the World Cup squad.

'I have to look at this as another test and it will be very important
in determining whether I will remain in the national team.

'I don't want to think too much of other things because if I don't
get the chance to go to the World Cup I would feel very bad.

'I have to think only that the coach wants to see me and nothing
else.

'I took some positive things from my performance against Wales,' he
added.

'All I want now is to improve on what I did in that game. On the
other hand, now that I am back in the national team I want to keep on
playing and my mission is to play in the World Cup.'