Lionel Messi is struggling with a thigh injury
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has called up Lionel Messi for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador, even though the Barcelona forward is only half-fit.
Messi, recovering from a thigh injury which limited his participation in the Catalan club's Champions League semi-final rout by Bayern Munich, is a key figure in the squad to play Colombia in Buenos Aires on June 7 and then travel to Quito for a match against Ecuador four days later.
Sabella can also call on Ezequiel Lavezzi but is without his Paris St Germain colleague Javier Pastore.
Argentina currently top the South American qualifying group on 24 points, ahead of Ecuador, with 20, and Colombia, on 19.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria, ITA), Mariano Andujar (Catania, ITA)
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City, ENG), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica, POR), Federico Fernandez (Getafe, ESP), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon, POR), Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli, ITA), Jose Basanta (Monterrey, MEX), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle, ENG)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona, ESP), Ever Banega (Valencia, ESP), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, ESP), Jose Sosa (Metallist Kharkiv, UKR), Pablo Guinazu (Libertad, PAR), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo, ESP), Erik Lamela (AS Roma, ITA), Lucas Biglia (Anderlecht, BEL), Walter Montillo (Santos, BRA)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona, ESP), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, ESP), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City, ENG), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain, FRA), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan, ITA)
GMT 15:17 2018 Sunday ,21 January
FedExpress steams on as Sharapova grindsGMT 14:43 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Failed ski resort looms over Pyeongchang Games' legacyGMT 14:37 2018 Saturday ,20 January
Nadal ominous in Melbourne as Dimitrov gets back on trackGMT 11:47 2018 Friday ,19 January
Djokovic survives brutal Melbourne heat testGMT 16:57 2018 Thursday ,18 January
Nadal dominant as Wozniacki pulls off great escapeGMT 15:35 2018 Wednesday ,17 January
De Grandhomme seals Black Caps win over PakistanGMT 13:58 2018 Tuesday ,16 January
Venus leads seeds tumbling out of OpenGMT 13:37 2018 Monday ,15 January
Leinster secure Champions Cup last-eight spot
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor