World Cup 2010: Diego Maradona axes Fabricio Coloccini from final Argentina squad

Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini and Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi missed out on places in Diego Maradona's final 23-man Argentina World Cup squad.

Not so Fab: Fabricio Coloccini's World Cup dreams have been dashed by Diego Maradona

Liverpool right winger Maxi Rodriguez, like Coloccini a veteran of the 2006 finals in Germany, was retained as cover for Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez.

The only recognised fullback in the 23 was Clemente Rodriguez of Estudiantes with Maradona planning to field four central defenders in Argentina's Group B opener against Nigeria in Johannesburg on June 12.

Javier Zanetti, Argentina's 136-cap record holder and an experienced full back set to captain Inter Milan in Saturday's Champions League final against Bayern Munich, missed out on a place in the provisional squad.

The man seen as having muscled Zanetti out is Colon's 30-year-old defender Ariel Garce, who cemented his place in the 4-0 win over Haiti on May 5. He won two caps in 2003.

Palermo midfielder Javier Pastore, the only player in the squad without a cap, will cover 35-year-old playmaker Juan Sebastian Veron, who may struggle to last the pace of the finals if Argentina go far.

Lavezzi was the only player dropped among the forwards on the 30-man list.

Squad: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Diego Pozo (Colon); Nicolas Burdisso (Roma), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Clemente Rodriguez (Estudiantes), Ariel Garce (Colon); Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastian Veron (Estudiantes), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle), Javier Pastore (Palermo); Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Martin Palermo (Boca Juniors), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona).