Argentina call up two uncapped defenders for World Cup tune-ups

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has named two uncapped defenders in his squad for friendlies in the United States against Ecuador and Bosnia next month.

Argentina call up two uncapped defenders for World Cup tune-ups

(Reuters)





Fiorentina's Facundo Roncaglia and Lucas Orban of Girondins Bordeaux were called up on Thursday as Sabella looks to shore up a defence that has been frequently exposed by the counter-attack ahead of next year's World Cup finals.

Sabella also recalled Porto centre back Nicolas Otamendi, a member of Diego Maradona's 2010 World Cup squad in South Africa who won the last of his 15 caps under Sabella in a 1-0 qualifier defeat away to Venezuela two years ago.

The tour will also mark the first time striker Gonzalo Higuain can link up with Lionel Messi since June.

Messi missed their 2-1 friendly win over Italy in Rome in August and Higuain was suspended for Argentina's qualifier against Paraguay in September and injured when they played Peru and Uruguay this month.

Argentina meet fellow World Cup finalists Ecuador in New York on November 15 and Bosnia in. St Louis four days later.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andujar (Catania)

Defenders: Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Nicolas Otamendi (Porto), Lucas Orban (Bordeaux)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Valencia), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur)

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

(Reporting by Rex Gowar; Editing by Peter Rutherford)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world