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Argentina's SWC squad named

Cape Town - Argentina national head coach, Alejandro Sabella, cut his 2014 Soccer World Cup squad to the final 23 names.

According to the Guardian, Nicolás Otamendi, Éver Banega and José Sosa were the three players to miss out as the Argentina coach, Alejandro Sabella, cut his 2014 Soccer World Cup squad to the final 23 names required by FIFA.

Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Rodrigo Palacio join Sergio Agüero in arguably the most potent strike force at the competition. However, attack is not the weakness of the team and Argentina will have to vastly improve their defence if they want to add a third gold star to their jerseys.

Manchester City have three players in the Argentine squad, Martín Demichelis joins defender Pablo Zabaleta and striker Sergio Agüero in the squad while Atletico Mineiro’s Otamendi was the defender unable to crack a spot in the final 23 man squad.

Boca Juniors’ Fernando Gago was selected despite fitness concerns as Banega and Atlético Madrid’s Sosa were left out of a midfield selection which also features Javier Mascherano, Ángel di María and Lucas Biglia.

Sabella is not afraid of brave decisions as this squad already disregarded both Carlos Tevez and Javier Pastore.

Argentina have not progressed past the quarter-finals in the previous five editions of the Soccer World Cup with their last win coming in 1986.

Argentina 2014 Soccer World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers:
Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andújar (Catania), Agustín Orión (Boca Juniors).

Defenders:
Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Federico Fernández (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), José María Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City).

Midfielders:
Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ángel di María (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodríguez (Newell’s Old Boys), Ricardo Álvarez (Internazionale), Augusto Fernández (Celta Vigo), Enzo Pérez (Benfica).

Forwards:
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Internazionale).
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