Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni in hospital with food poisoning
Trapattoni was under observation and undergoing tests yesterday at Dublin's Mater Hospital after being taken there at 3am following further bouts of vomiting.
The Football Association of Ireland confirmed Trapattoni, who is now in a stable condition, had been feeling unwell upon his arrival in Ireland on Sunday night.
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Hide AdIt is understood the illness has been caused by shellfish the 71-year-old ate prior to leaving Italy. FAI team doctor Alan Byrne said: "It's not a serious problem, but with shellfish-type food poisoning it can have a greater impact, so everything is just a precaution."
Trapattoni has at least named his team for a game that marks the first international match to be played at the Republic's new 350 million home, the 50,000-seater Aviva Stadium.
Shay Given will start in goal, with a back four of Paul McShane, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea and Kevin Kilbane. Across the middle will be Liam Lawrence, Keith Andrews, Paul Green and Damien Duff, whilst Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle are in attack. Dunne and Doyle are doubts, however, with knee and calf injuries respectively, so Celtic duo Darren O'Dea and Cillian Sheridan are on stand-by.
Yesterday assistant Marco Tardelli took training, although he is hopeful Trapattoni will be capable of taking charge. Tardelli said: "I think everything is okay and he will be in the dugout. He is very strong."
Ahead of his 100th cap for the Republic, captain Keane added: "We're all hoping he will be fit. It won't be the same without him."
Argentina, meanwhile, will begin the post-Diego Maradona era looking to imitate the style of play that led Spain to World Cup glory last month.
Interim coach Sergio Batista has Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain available in a squad selected last month by Maradona, whose contract was not renewed by the Argentina Football Association after the team's quarter-final exit to Germany at the World Cup.
Batista, who is also Argentina's youth team coach, is seeking a win that would further his claims to get the job on a full-time basis, and believes the type of football played by Spain and Barcelona is the way to go. "I think it's good to copy Spain's system," he said. "I like Barcelona's game and it's what I want more than anything else for Argentine football. But the main priority will be to play as a team."
Batista is one of several names being considered for the vacant coach's position, with Estudiantes coach Alejandro Sabella and Claudio Borghi of Boca Juniors also in the running.