If simply knowing which players are in the squad isn’t enough, Argentina-watchers can rejoice today: the full list of which players will use which shirt numbers during the 2010 World Cup has been released. Lionel Messi takes the number 10, of course, whilst other notable choices see Javier Mascherano stick with his preferred 14, first-choice keeper Sergio Romero opt for the number 12, Carlos Tevez with number 11, and Gonzalo Higuaín as the 9 (Diego Milito takes 19). You can see the full list of numbers right here.
1 – Diego Pozo (GK) 2 – Martín Demichelis (D) 3 – Clemente Rodríguez (D) 4 – Nicolás Burdisso (D) 5 – Mario Bolatti (M) 6 – Gabriel Heinze (D) 7 – Ángel Di María (M) 8 – Juan Sebastián Verón (M) 9 – Gonzalo Higuaín (F) 10 – Lionel Messi (F) 11 – Carlos Tevez (F) 12 – Sergio Romero (GK) 13 – Walter Samuel (D) 14 – Javier Mascherano (M) 15 – Nicolás Otamendi (D) 16 – Sergio Agüero (F) 17 – Jonás Gutiérrez (M) 18 – Martín Palermo (F) 19 – Diego Milito (F) 20 – Maxi Rodríguez (M) 21 – Ariel Garcé (D) 22 – Javier Pastore (M) 23 – Mariano Andújar (GK)
Given that we already know Diego Maradona’s preference for stringing four centre backs across the defence, it’s interesting that Clemente Rodríguez has been given the number 3 (normally reserved for the first-choice left back) whilst Walter Samuel – who I’d expect to be in the centre of defence alongside Martín Demichelis – is out at number 13. Most of the other peculiarities are down to players preferring a certain number, though, and with Mascherano seemingly liking the 14 shirt we’re left with Mario Bolatti being able to one day tell his grandkids he wore the number 5 shirt for Argentina at a World Cup, should he get on the pith, that is.
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