"Je ne regrette rien........."

Before we get into looking at any of the players who will or won’t be packing their Louis Vuitton carrier bags for South Africa, I thought I’d highlight a few comments made earlier this week from someone who definitely won’t be there. Definitely.

Former Argentine playmaker Juan Román Riquelme has been justifying his decision to retire from international football (for a second time) in 2008. Despite scoring four goals in early qualification games, Riquelme has not played for Argentina since El Diego’s ascension to the throne in 2008.

Having taken the prima donna role to new levels wherever he has been (Juan Román had form as a ‘sensitive soul’ at Villarreal), the prickly Riquelme has never been keen on criticism. Toys were quickly ejected from the pram when Diego Maradona stated that working out how to accommodate Riquelme was turning out to be the most time consuming aspect of his job. Further tit for tat exchanges ensued in the press but Riquelme maintains that what was said was not the sole reason for his self imposed exile.

"I feel good with what I did. There were reports that I had stepped aside over a comment by the coach and I say: 'One has to be pretty stupid to stay out of a World Cup over a remark',

"You think these are not real??"

This goes deeper, there's another question," said Riquelme, adding that he would never reveal the true story behind his problems with Maradona. Not until the book comes out anyway.

"We can't work together. It's my way of being and there are things I can understand and others I can't. Every day that passes, I feel calm because I did the right thing.

"(But) when I see the team lining up on the pitch, apart from always wanting the national team to win... I'm going to feel very sad and I'll say to myself: 'I should be there'."

Agreed. Riquelme is still a hugely talented player and he will be a big miss. Whether he’s best avoided due to his ability to create problems internally is another matter.

An apple cart yesterday. Steady.

When asked about Argentina’s chances in South Africa though, Riquelme was optimistic; feeling that his nation could win the World Cup because of Lionel Messi being there, "the best player of all" according to Juan Román.

While not going as far as to describe Maradona’s side as a one man team, Juan Román was fairly specific on what is needed if Argentina are to lift the trophy for a third time;

"Today Lionel is a unique player of the kind that might never emerge again. That's why they must help him, so he's decisive. For Messi to do what he does at Barca, the lads are going to have to help him a lot,"

Poor old Riquelme. He’s just like the proverbial bad kid that you know your mother wouldn’t like you knocking around with because he’ll cause trouble. Bless him; I’d still stuff him somewhere into a suitcase next month.

Comments welcome.