IBAGAZA FORCED OUT OF ARGENTINA TOUR

REAL Mallorca midfielder Ariel Ibagaza has been ruled out of Argentina's squad to face Japan and South Korea because of injury, the Japan Football Association (JFA) confirmed yesterday. Ibagaza, who has missed Mallorca's last two league matches, is yet to play for his country despite two call-ups and highly impressive form over the past few years. The 26 year-old was selected to the Argentina squad last year for the Copa America, but failed to play any matches after the country pulled out of the tournament. Ibagaza has recently received his community passport making him hot property in Spain. Constant admirers Atletico Madrid are said to be preparing a bid while Valencia, Deportivo and Barcelona are also sniffing around Son Moix. Ibagaza moved to Mallorca in 1998 from Argentine club Lanus who still own a percentage of the player.
Barcelona defender Juan Pablo Sorin will also miss the international matches through injury.
Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa has instead called up Maximiliano Rodriguez of Espanyol and Mariano Gonzalez of Racing Club, who will be the only player based in South America among a young squad. The Argentines play Japan in Osaka on Sunday and take on their fellow 2002 World Cup co-hosts South Korea in Seoul on June 11.
The South Americans, who failed to progress beyond the first round of the World Cup, travel to Asia without a number of top players including Roberto Ayala, Juan Sebastian Veron and Hernan Crespo.