This round of World Cup qualifiers are a must 6 points for Diego Maradona’s Argentine squad. Los Albicelestes face Brazil at home in Rosario on the Sept. 5th and then travel to Asuncion to take on Paraguay on the 9th.
19 players were called up with 3 domestic players to be named before the team gets together for practice on August 30th. Among the players being considered are Juan Sebastián Veron of Libertadores’ champion Estudiantes, Emiliano Papa & Nicolás Otamendi of current Argentine champions, Vélez Sarsfield, Sebastián Battaglia of Boca Juniors & Mario Bolati of Huracán.
Once again, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain was left off the team in favor of Napoli’s Ezequiel Lavezzi. Injuries were key to some of Maradona’s callups. Bayern’s Martín Demichelis injury opened a spot Newcastle’s Fabricio Coloccini while it looks like Nicolás Otamendi could be called to replace Daniel “El Cata” Diaz.
Here is the list of players called for the upcoming qualifiers:
Goalkeepers:
Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Juan Pablo Carrizo (Real Zaragoza), Mariano Andujar (Catania)
Defenders:
Nicolas Burdisso, Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol)
Midfielders:
Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Jesus Datolo (Napoli)
Forwards:
Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Lisandro Lopez (Olympique Lyon)
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