Spain set Argentina date
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Article summary
Spain have arranged an 11 October friendly game against Argentina, who are likely to be without Juan Román Riquelme following his international retirement.
Article body
Spain will play Argentina in a friendly international in Murcia on 11 October, four days after a vital UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Group F leaders Sweden.
Riquelme retires
The game in Stockholm will be Spain's first since Luis Aragonés was talked into staying on as coach hours after handing in his resignation in the wake of the 3-2 qualifying defeat by Northern Ireland in Belfast. Another who may need coaxing into returning is Argentina's Villarreal CF playmaker Juan Román Riquelme who has announced his retirement from international football.
Easy decision
The 28-year-old made the decision after media criticism of his recent performances for his country made his mother ill. "As much as I like playing for the national team, my only obligation is to my mother so the decision hasn't been a tough one," Riquelme said. The friendly will take place at the 33,000-capacity Estadio de la Nueva Condomina.
