There weren’t many surprises on Argentina’s final 23-man World Cup roster, announced Monday by head coach Alejandro Sabella.
The Lionel Messi-led group includes high-profile attackers of Manchester City’s Sergio Agüero, Napoli’s Gonzalo Higuaín and Paris St. Germain’s Ezequiel Lavezzi.
The biggest surprises were the exclusion of Newell’s midfielder Ever Banega and Atletico Mineiro defender Nicolas Otamendi. Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Sosa was also left out.
A member of Group F, Argentina kick off their tournament June 15 against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Rio de Janeiro followed by matches against Iran on June 21 in Belo Horizonte and June 25 against Nigeria in Porto Alegre.
GOALKEEPERS (3)
Sergio Romero (Monaco - France/ 27yrs)
Mariano Andújar (Catania - Italy/ 30yrs)
Agustín Orión (Boca Juniors - Argentina/ 32yrs)
DEFENDERS (7)
Ezequiel Garay (Benfica - Portugal/ 28yrs)
Federico Fernández (Napoli - Italy/ 25yrs)
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City - England/ 29yrs)
Marcos Rojo (Sporting Portugal - Portugal/ 24yrs)
José María Basanta (Monterrey - Mexico/ 30yrs)
Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan - Italy/ 34yrs)
Martín Demichelis (Manchester City - England/ 34yrs)
MIDFIELDERS (8)
Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors - Argentina/ 28yrs)
Lucas Biglia (Lazio - Italy/ 28yrs)
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona - Spain/ 29yrs)
Ángel di María (Real Madrid - Spain/ 26yrs)
Maximiliano Rodríguez (Newell's Old Boys - Argentina/ 33yrs)
Ricardo Álvarez (Inter Milan - Italy/ 26yrs)
Augusto Fernández (Celta Vigo - Spain/ 28yrs)
Enzo Pérez (Benfica - Portugal/ 28yrs)
FORWARDS (5)
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City - England/ 25yrs)
Lionel Messi (Barcelona - Spain/ 26yrs)
Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli - Italy/ 27yrs)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain - France/ 29yrs)
Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan - Italy/ 32yrs)
