Argentina name final 23-man WC squad

Posted Tuesday, June 03, 2014 by skysports.com

Nicolas Otamendi, Ever Banega and Jose Sosa were the three players to miss out as Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella cut his World Cup squad.

Martin Demichelis joined fellow Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta and striker Sergio Aguero in the squad as Atletico Mineiro's Otamendi was the defender to make way.

Boca Juniors' Fernando Gago was selected despite fitness concerns as Banega, of Newell's Old Boys, and Atletico Madrid's Sosa were left out of a midfield selection which also features Javier Mascherano, Angel Di Maria, Lucas Biglia, Maxi Rodriguez, Ricardo Alvarez, Enzo Perez and Augusto Fernandez.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi, Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain, Paris St Germain's Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio of Inter Milan join Aguero in a fearsome strikeforce.

Argentina World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).

Defenders: Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Jose-Maria Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Enzo Perez (Benfica).

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan).