ARGENTINA FOOTBALL COACH Alejandro Sabella has today announced an 18-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, at home on October 12, and away to Chile four days later.
There was no place for Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez or Paris St Germain forward Javier Pastore.
Palmeiras striker, Hernán Barcos, and Pastore’s club mate Ezequiel Lavezzi have been preferred to the duo in a squad typically flush with talent.
Sabella recalled Sergio Aguero who missed out on fixtures against Paraguay and Peru through injury.
Pablo Zabaleta is included amongst the defensive contingent in a squad which will be increased when players involved in Argentina’s Torneo Inicial are released.
Argentina preliminary squad: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (Sampdoria); Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon); Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Fernando Gago (Valencia), Enzo Perez (Benfica), Jose Sosa (Metalist Kharkiv), Pablo Guinazu (Internacional); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St Germain), Hernán Barcos (Palmeiras).
Additional reporting - © AFP, 2012