Argentine team named for Ireland friendly
Published:Wednesday | July 28, 2010 | 6:37 PM
World Cup players Lionel Messi, Javier Macherano and Gonzalo Higuain have been included in Argentina's squad for next month's international friendly against Ireland, just hours after Diego Maradona was dropped as coach.
The squad announced yesterday, which the Argentine Football Association said was picked by Maradona, has few surprise choices for the August 11 friendly in Dublin.
Several players left off the World Cup team were named, including midfielders Jesus Datolo and Fernando Gago, and forward Ezequiel Lavezzi.
Sergio Batista, a coach of Argentina's youth team, will lead the team.
Meanwhile, Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez, the forwards who led Uruguay to fourth place at the World Cup, were left out of the squad today to play Angola in a friendly in August in Portugal.
Coach Oscar Tabarez will also miss the August 11 match in Lisbon. The squad will be led by Juan Verzeri, coach of Uruguay's under-20 team. Tabarez is out of contract and involved in negotiations to renew his deal.
Forlan and Suarez were left out for personal reasons.
Midfielder Cristian Rodriguez, who missed the World Cup, is included.