Argentina’s squad to face Brazil and Singapore announced

One of the most significant changes is positional, as only four defenders have been called up

Edited By: Rachit.Kanaujia

Updated: May 20, 2017, 4:48 PM IST

Share

Share Article

• Facebook
• WhatsApp
• X
• Email
• Telegram
• Linkedin

https://www.india.com/sports/argentinas-squad-to-face-brazil-and-singapore-announced-2152266/ Copy

Argentina have announced a squad that will tour Australia

Argentina who do not have a coach yet, have announced a squad that will tour Australia to play friendlies against Brazil and Singapore, next month.

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi and West Ham United midfielder Manuel Lanzini made it to Argentina squad. Both have caught the eye of Jorge Sampaoli, the Sevilla coach set to take the vacant Argentina job after the Spanish Liga season ends this weekend and likely to dramatically change the team’s tactics.

Juventus duo Gonzalo Higuain and Paulo Dybala have also beeb named alongside Angel Di Maria. However, there is no place for Aguero’s Manchester City colleague Pablo Zabaleta, although team-mate Nicolas Otamendi is included, with Ezequiel Lavezzi, Lucas Pratto and Angel Correa among the other notable absentees.

One of the most significant changes, though, is positional as only four defenders have been called up – at least a handful of home based players will later be added to the list of 20 names announced on Friday and one of those four is Javier Mascherano. Also Read: India to host Nepal in football friendly in Mumbai

The team captained by Lionel Messi will play arch-rivals Brazil in Melbourne on June 9 and visit Singapore four days later.
Also, Argentina, who have struggled in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers and are fifth in the South American group, have four matches left to make sure they reach the Russia finals.

The top four qualify automatically while the fifth-place side go into a playoff over two legs against a team from the Oceania confederation. Uruguay are Argentina’s next opponents in Montevideo on Aug. 31. Then they face both Venezuela and Peru at home before finishing with a visit to Ecuador.

Brazil lead the group with 33 points, Colombia are second on 24, Uruguay and Chile have 23 each and Argentina 22.

Argentina Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United), Nahuel Guzman (UANL Tigres), Geronimo Rulli (Real Sociedad)

Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Emanuel Mammana (Olympique Lyonnais), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla)

Midfielders: Eduardo Salvio (Benfica), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Guido Rodriguez (Tijuana), Leandro Paredes (AS Roma), Ever Banega (Inter Milan), Manuel Lanzini (West Ham United), Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain (both Juventus), Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Alejandro Gomez (Atalanta), Joaquin Correa (Sevilla)