Alejandro Sabella gave out his first list of callups for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The two big omissions of the list have to definitely be Javier Zanetti as well as Estaban Cambiasso. The Inter players have not found themselves in the best form especially seeing how the Neroazzurri started out this campaign. Their loss to Novara already cost Gian Piero Gasperini his position as coach.
One Inter player that has come out of the Inter fiasco unscathed is Ricky Álvarez. The former Vélez Sarsfield man got the callup and should be a long term contributor for Sabella.
But while the omissions are ever-present, some new additions really are a tribute to form. Genoa forward Rodrigo Palacio has been the fundamental reason as to why the Rossoblu are currently top of the table in Serie A. His three goals so far in this campaign have Genoa positioning themselves early on as the surprise team of the season.
Another surprise inclusion is that of Federico Fernández of Napoli. In two appearances for the Neapolitans he has been a solid contributor to the backline. Fernández alongside Marcos Rojo, Fabián Rinaudo,and even Nicolás Pareja could be the renovation that the highly suspect and extremely erratic Albiceleste backline may need as turnover for the long term looking to Brazil 2014.
Argentina will be facing Chile on October 6th and then head to Venezuela to face the surprise team of the past Copa América, the Vinotinto, just four days later.
Romero, Sergio (Sampdoria-Ita)
Andújar, Mariano (Catania- Ita)
Zabaleta, Pablo (Manchester City-Eng)
Burdisso, Nicolás (Roma-Ita)
Fernández, Federico (Nápoli-Ita)
Demichelis, Martín (Málaga-Esp)
Otamendi, Nicolás (Porto-Por)
Pareja, Nicolás (Spartak Moscú –Rus)
Rojo, Marcos (Spartak Moscú-Rus)
Insúa, Emiliano (Sporting-Por)
Banega, Ever (Valencia-Esp)
Rinaudo, Fabián (Sporting-Por)
Álvarez, Ricardo (Inter-Ita)
Gutiérrez, Jonás (Newcastle United-Eng)
Sosa, José (Metalist-Ukr)
Pastore, Javier (Paris S.G.-Fra)
Di María, Ángel (Real Madrid-Esp)
Gaitán, Nicolás (Benfica –Por)
Messi, Lionel (Barcelona-Esp)
Higuaín, Gonzalo (Real Madrid-Esp)
Agüero, Sergio (Manchester City-Eng)
Palacio, Rodrigo (Genoa-Ita)
Salvio, Eduardo (Atlético Madrid-Esp)
Mascherano, Javier (Barcelona-Esp)
