Messi named in Argentina squad for Environment Cup qualifiers
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi features been named in Argentina’s preliminary 23-gentleman squad because of their opening 2022 World Glass qualifiers against Ecuador and Bolivia.
The 32-year-old network marketing leads an attack that also contains Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero, Juventus onward Paulo Dybala and Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
The Albiceleste will play Ecuador in Buenos Aires on March 26 and Bolivia in La Paz five days later as part of the South American zone qualifying tournament. Messi will miss the first match as a result of suspension.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni called up five Italy-based players regardless of the country’s crisis coronavirus measures, which include travel restrictions and a ban over public gatherings.
All sport in Italy - including the Serie A - has been suspended until at least April 3 as native authorities attempt to combat the virus.
Scaloni is expected to add in least two Argentina-based players to the squad more than the next fortnight.
Argentina squad:
Goalkeepers: Juan Musso (Udinese)
Defenders: Nehuen Perez (Famalicao), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester Metropolis), Renzo Saravia (Internacional), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Leonardo Balerdi (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfielders: Guido Rodriguez (True Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon), Leandro Paredes (Paris Saint-Germain), Nicolas Dominguez (Bologna), Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham), Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester Town), Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla), Lucas Alario (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Gonzalez (Stuttgart), Paulo Dybala (Juventus) and Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan).
