Messi, Aguero and Di Maria in Argentina’s Copa America squad

By: Debora Rey, The Associated Press Posted: 12:07 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 21, 2019 Last Modified: 1:48 PM CDT Tuesday, May. 21, 2019

Advertise with us

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina included Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in its Copa America squad, while Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi was left out.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Argentina included Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in its Copa America squad, while Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi was left out.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 21/05/2019 (2665 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – Argentina included Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria in its Copa America squad, while Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi was left out.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni announced his list Tuesday, with the attacking trio of Messi, Di Maria and Aguero looking for their first major international title after losing three finals — at the 2014 World Cup and 2015 and 2016 Copa America.

Argentina hasn’t won a major trophy since the 1993 Copa America in Ecuador.

Barcelona's Lionel Messi during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Eibar at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar, northern Spain, Sunday, May 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Ion Alcoba)

Scaloni called up Aguero for the first time since taking over as interim coach following the World Cup in Russia, after the striker helped Manchester City complete a domestic treble in England.

“The figures speak for themselves,” Scaloni said about Aguero. “We need to make the pieces fit so we give him the chance to do what he does for his club.”

Icardi has been a regular in Scaloni’s squads but he recently lost his starting position at Inter because of a contract dispute and the Argentina coach prefers to pick players that get more playing time for their teams.

Scaloni included nine players that were at the World Cup in Russia last year, mixed with a new generation that includes Tottenham defender Juan Foyth, Udinese midfielder Rodrigo de Paul and River Plate striker Exequiel Palacios.

“We are building something today,” said Cesar Luis Menotti, the 1978 World Cup-winning coach who is now a director at Argentina’s football federation. “The objective is to prepare for the World Cup, but that doesn’t mean Copa America is not important.”

Argentina is in Group B with Colombia, Paraguay and Qatar. Its first match will be against Colombia on June 15 in Salvador.

Argentina will start training on Jun.27 for the South American tournament.

___

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Esteban Andrada (Boca Juniors), Franco Armani (River Plate), Agustin Marchesin (America de Mexico).

Defenders: Renzo Saravia (Racing), Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City), Juan Foyth (Tottenham), German Pezzella (Fiorentina), Ramiro Funes Mori (Villarreal), Milton Casco (River Plate), Nicolas Tagliafico (Ajax), Marcos Acuna (Sporting Lisbon).

Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Udinese), Leandro Paredes, Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint-Germain), Roberto Pereyra (Watford), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Guido Rodriguez (America de Mexico), Exequiel Palacios (River Plate).

Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Paulo Dybala (Juventus), Matias Suarez (River Plate), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan).

___

More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/apf-Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports