Riquelme undervalued in Argentina, says Pekerman

Argentina midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme is undervalued in his homeland and his talent would receive more recognition in Brazil, coach Jose Pekerman said on Tuesday.

"He's one of those different players, who appear at key moments and stand out," Pekerman said in a television interview.

"In Brazil, he would be given more value, they would admire his excellent shooting and his calm for making decisive passes.

"In our country, they criticise him if he goes for 10 minutes without passing the ball. If he played in Brazil, he would be Riquelminho and he would be number one in the world."

Pekerman has turned the Villarreal midfielder into his playmaker since taking over in October 2003 despite criticism that Riquelme sometimes drifts out of games.

Pekerman added that Inter's Juan Sebastian Veron had not been selected because he had not been needed.

"There's nothing unusual about the situation with Veron, I simply don't pick him because, up until now, we haven't needed him," said Pekerman, who has not given Veron a single outing.

Pekerman, who has been criticised for conducting too many experiments with his team, admitted Argentina still had a long way to go.

"We are far from the ideal," said Pekerman, whose side were thrashed 4-1 by Brazil in the Confederations Cup final and have since been beaten by Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier and England in a friendly.

Argentina face Ivory Coast, Netherlands and Serbia & Montenegro during the first round of the World Cup finals, which begin in Germany on June 9.