INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

Scaloni names Argentina squad for Asia tour friendlies

Coach Lionel Scaloni names squad upcoming matches against Australia in Beijing and Indonesia in Jakarta; Youngster Alejandro Garnacho, Giovanni Simeone, Walter Benítez and Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina notable call-ups.

Argentina's captain and forward #10 Lionel Messi kisses the FIFA World Cup Trophy during the trophy ceremony after Argentina won the Qatar 2022 World Cup final football match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on December 18, 2022. Foto: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
29 May 2023

Captain Lionel Messi headlines coach Lionel Scaloni's Argentina squad for the world champions' friendlies upcoming friendlies in Asia.

Argentina face Australia in Beijing on June 15, and four days later visit Indonesia in Jakarta.

Scaloni has mostly selected the same squad that won the World Cup in Qatar 2022 last December, with just a few changes. The call-up of youngster Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United), who missed out on the U-20 World Cup because his club did not allow him to travel, stands out.

The Albiceleste coach has also called up goalkeeper Walter Benítez in place of Franco Armani (River Plate) and defenders Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina. Striker Giovanni Simeone takes the place of Lautaro Martinez (Inter, Italy), who will be absent due to physical problems.

Nicolás Gonzalez, who was left out of the World Cup squad at the last minute due to a muscle injury, also returns.

 

Squad

Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, England), Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax, Netherlands), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands).

Defenders: Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, Spain), Marcos Acuña (Sevilla), Germán Pezzella (Betis, Spain), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Leonardo Balerdi (Marseille, France), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Facundo Medina (Lens, France), and Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon, France).

Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Juventus, Italy), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, England), Guido Rodríguez (Betis), Rodrigo de Paul (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Alexis MacAllister (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United, United States), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal, Spain), and Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla, Spain).

Forwards: Ángel Di María (Juventus, Italy), Lionel Messi (PSG, France), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City, England), Giovanni Simeone (Napoli, Italy), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United, England) and Nicolás González (Fiorentina, Italy).

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