Agency :
Nicolás Otamendi, Éver Banega and José Sosa were the three players to miss out as the Argentina coach, Alejandro Sabella, cut his World Cup squad to the final 23 names.
Martín Demichelis joined his fellow Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta and striker Sergio Agüero 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 Atlético Madrid’s Sosa were left out of a midfield selection which also features Javier Mascherano, Ángel di María, Lucas Biglia, Maxi Rodríguez, Ricardo Álvarez, Enzo Pérez and Augusto Fernández.
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuaín, Paris Saint Germain’s Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio of Internazionale join Agüero in a fearsome strike force.
Argentina World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andújar (Catania), Agustín Orión (Boca Juniors).
Defenders: Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Federico Fernández (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), José María Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City).
Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ángel di María (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodríguez (Newell’s Old Boys), Ricardo Álvarez (Internazionale), Augusto Fernández (Celta Vigo), Enzo Pérez (Benfica).
Forwards: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Internazionale).
