Argentina's coach Diego Maradona claims to have notified around a dozen players of their selection for his World Cup squad, but said he has not ruled anybody out after naming a 20-man squad for the 3 March friendly with Germany in Munich.

Maradona has called up over 100 players since taking over as Argentina coach. But the claim he has locked in half the squad already, and his selection of most of the country's biggest names for this preparation match, should mean there are not too many surprises in his final squad.

"Fifty per cent of the players who will be at the World Cup, I've already told them," Maradona said as he left the Argentinian Football Association's training facility on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. "For many this is the definitive test because there is no more time."

After two friendly wins over Costa Rica 3-2) and Jamaica (2-1) with home-based squads, Maradona was finally able to call up 17 foreign-based players as the encounter in Munich is a date set by Fifa for international matches.

Internazionale's Nicolas Burdisso, Walter Samuel and Diego Milito, the Palermo forward Javier Pastore and Olympiakos midfielder Jesus Datolo have been recalled to the squad. Only three players from the domestic league have been included – the Estudiantes duo Juan Sebastián Verón and Clemente Rodríguez and the Velez Sarsfield centre-back Nicolas Otamendi.

Manchester City's striker Carlos Tevez, the Newcastle midfielder Jonás Gutiérrez, Liverpool's midfielder Javier Mascherano and the Barcelona forward Lionel Messi were also included. "All the players are being tested," Maradona told Soccernet. "The ones who are not in this list have the same opportunities."

The Germany match is Argentina's last confirmed date before the World Cup finals.

Argentina squad

Goalkeepers Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar).

Defenders Gabriel Heinze (Marseille), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Nicolas Otamendi (Velez Sarsfield), Walter Samuel (Inter), Clemente Rodríguez (Estudiantes), Nicolas Burdisso (Roma)

Midfielders Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Juan Sebastián Verón (Estudiantes), Jonás Gutiérrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria (Benfica), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina), Javier Pastore (Palermo), Jesus Datolo (Olympiakos)

Forwards Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter).