Striking puzzle for Pekerman

Argentina has produced some of the deadliest strikers in the history of the FIFA World Cup™.
The unmistakable flowing locks of Mario Kempes, the electrifying runs of Ramon Diaz, the cool finishing skills of Jorge Valdano and the heady mix of panache and power personified by Claudio Caniggia and Gabriel Batistuta have all imprinted themselves on the global consciousness.
Today, some 76 years on from their first appearance in the world cup tournament, the Albiceleste are set to unleash a new wave of forwards with a brief to create mayhem for opposing defences this summer. Following a string of injuries to several of the main candidates, FIFAworldcup.com runs the rule over the marksmen hoping to make Jose Pekerman's final squad of 23, and assesses their current form and their place in the coach's plans.

A place on the listAll the indications are that Pekerman will take five strikers to Germany. Even though his shortlist contains no fewer than 11 names, the coach seems to have things very clear in his mind. Three of the contenders are certainties to make the trip and top of the list, as you might expect, is none other than Hernan Crespo.
At the age of 30 and with 11 years of international experience under his belt, the Chelsea forward is the top scorer in the history of the South American qualifiers and is all set to fill the void left by Gabriel Batistuta in 2002. "When he's on song, he's the only irreplaceable forward we've got," Pekerman said recently, an indication of the faith he has in the man who scored the second and final goal of Argentina's disastrous Korea/Japan 2002 campaign.
Second in line comes Carlos Tevez, who rose to prominence at the Copa America in 2004. Later that summer, he showed his impressive range of skills at the Olympic Football Tournament in Athens, where he finished top scorer and was named best player en route to helping his side to the gold medal. Still only 22, Carlitos is in the form of his life with Corinthians of Brazil, who forked out a record fee for his services.

It proved to be a case of money well spent, as the Argentine livewire's goals brought the club the Brazilian league title. It is this firepower, allied to the new-found professionalism that Pekerman has often demanded of the player, that will have defences quaking in their boots come June.
Despite his diminutive stature and tender years, it has taken Lionel Messi a mere nine months to draw the admiration of the entire footballing world. Endearingly known as El Pulga (The Flea) to his many fans, the pint-sized playmaker picked up every award going at the FIFA World Youth Championship Netherlands 2005 before muscling his way into a star-studded Barcelona line-up.
His graduation as a world-class player came in the first leg of his club's UEFA Champions League tie against Chelsea when he outwitted the Londoners' tough-tackling back line with aplomb and not a little courage. "He's a footballing genius, and if he carries on like this he'll bring so much happiness to Argentine football," enthused Pekerman. The kid from Rosario, who has jumped ahead of some more experienced names in the pecking order, will be hoping Germany marks the beginning of a long and successful international career.

Walking the tightrope although in a slightly different situation, Javier Saviola and Diego Milito, in fine form at Sevilla and Zaragoza respectively, look almost certain to make the squad. Only a few short months ago Saviola, a FIFA World Youth Championship winner in 2001, was a regular fixture in coach Pekerman's plans. His goalscoring touch momentarily deserted him, though, and he was dropped for the March friendly against Croatia.
Nevertheless, El Conejito (The Little Rabbit) was quick to heed the message and his scintillating finishing skills were soon in evidence again as he notched six league goals for his side and a brace in the first leg of their UEFA Cup quarter-final.

Milito's surge into the reckoning, meanwhile, has come as a pleasant surprise for Pekerman, who recently described the Zaragoza man as "the most in-form Argentina striker". After starting out with Racing Club Avellaneda, he journeyed into the footballing wilderness with Italian Serie B side Genoa. Nonetheless, his striking prowess soon attracted the attention of the high-flying Spanish first division side, where he has teamed up with his brother Gabriel.
The 26-year-old has repaid his new employers' faith with 20 goals so far this season, including five in two games against Real Madrid. "I'm so happy every time I get an international call-up. I just hope I can do enough to win a place in the side," he said after getting the nod for the Croatia game. Like fellow Spain-based striker Saviola, Milito has the next two months in which to press his case for inclusion.
Staying at home? There are a clutch of other forwards with an outside chance of catching the plane to Germany. Despite continuing to bang in the goals for Inter Milan, Julio Cruz has slipped out of the international reckoning of late. The same is also true of Cesar Delgado, no longer the force he was with Mexico's Cruz Azul and a shadow of the player who graced the qualifiers and the FIFA Confederations Cup 2005.
Luciano Galletti has also dropped off the pace in recent months, having been overtaken by Rodrigo Palacio and Sergio Aguero, two young pretenders enjoying purple patches with Boca Juniors and Independiente respectively. The speedy and gifted Palacio was in the squad for the qualifier against Bolivia in La Paz and was in line for another call-up against Croatia, only for injury to rule him out. A subsequent loss of form seems to have dashed his hopes of making the 23-man squad.
As for 17-year-old sensation Aguero, he is seen by the Argentine press as the most exciting player in the league at the moment and is attracting serious interest from Spain's top clubs. Weighing against his inclusion is his age, and although he made an appearance in the final of the FIFA World Youth Championship, Germany 2006 looks to be a tournament too far at this stage.
"I've decided on 90 per cent of the squad," said Pekerman on his return from Switzerland in March. The make-up of the forward line probably accounts for the remaining 10 per cent, and although there are various candidates in the frame, one thing is for certain: no matter who makes the squad, Argentina will be as dangerous in front of goal as ever.