Messi, Tevez join Argentina for friendlies
Barcelona star Lionel Messi, who suffered more disappointment with Argentina in the Copa America last month, has been called up by national coach Gerardo Martino for friendlies against Bolivia and Mexico in September.
Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties a year after failing in the FIFA World Cup™ Final in Germany. Striker Carlos Tevez, who recently left Italian champions Juventus to play at home for Boca Juniors, has also been named in the 24-man squad along with three players from French Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain – Angel Di Maria, Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Defender Ramiro Funes Mori, the only player who did not feature in the Copa America, joins the squad having won the Copa Libertadores with River Plate. Argentina play both games in the United States, against Bolivia on 4 September in Houston and against Mexico four days later in Dallas, before opening their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign against Ecuador on 5 October in Buenos Aires.
Argentina squad
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United/ENG), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres/MEX), Agustin Marchesin (Santos Laguna/MEX)
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa/ITA), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St Petersburg/RUS), Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia/ESP), Milton Casco (Newell’s Old Boys), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United/ENG), Ramiro Funes Mori (River Plate), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City/ENG)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/ESP), Ever Banega (Sevilla/ESP), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Javier Pastore (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus/ITA), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Angel Di Maria (Paris SG/FRA)
Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/ENG), Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
source: fifa.com
