Lionel Messi, Javier Macherano and Gonzalo Higuain were among the players selected Tuesday for Argentina’s roster for its Aug. 11 exhibition at Ireland, a group announced hours after coach Diego Maradona was fired.
The Argentine Football Association said the roster was selected by Maradona. Several players left off the World Cup team were picked, including midfielders Jesus Datolo and Fernando Gago, and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi. Sergio Batista, a coach of Argentina’s youth team, will lead the squad and is said to the official interim coach. Batista recently won a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a Messi inspired Argentina dominated the tournament.
Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania, Italy), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)
Defenders: Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle, England), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich, Germany), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille, France), Emiliano Insua (Fiorentina, Italy), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan, Italy), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City, England)
Midfielders: Ever Banega (Valencia, Spain), Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina, Italy), Jesus Datolo (Espanyol, Spain), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, Spain), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle, England), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Javier Pastore (Palermo, Italy), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool, Liverpool)
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, Spain), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli, Italy), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Diego Milito (Inter Milan, Italy), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, England)
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