Gp F: Argentina, Bosnia, Iran, Nigeria

—- Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has omitted Newell’s midfielder Ever Banega from the 23-man squad for the World Cup finals.

Other players cut from the original squad of 30 were Gabriel Mercado (River), Lisandro López (Getafe), Fabián Rinaudo (Catania), Franco Di Santo (Werder Bremen), Nicolas Otamendi (Atlético Mineiro) and Jose Sosa (Atlético de  Madrid).

Banega has been virtually ever-present throughout the qualifying and preparatory campaign.

Augusto Fernández and Fernando Gago have been included despite doubts about their fitness.

Also included was Manchester City centre back Martin Demichelis who had been brought in late to cover for Ezequiel Garay who is still recovering from injury.

Argentina have two ‘farewell’ games on Wednesday against Trinidad and Tobago at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental and then on Saturday against Slovenia in La Plata.

The likely World Cup starting line-up is: Romero – Zabaleta, Fernandez, Garay, Rojo – Gago, Mascherano, Di Maria – Messi, Higuain, Aguero.

Shirt numbers

Goalkeepers

21 – Andújar, Mariano (Catania)

12 – Orión, Agustín (Boca)

1 – Romero, Sergio (Mónaco)

Defenders

23 – Basanta, José María (Monterrey)

3 – Campagnaro, Hugo (Inter)

17 – Fernández, Federico (Napoli)

2 – Garay, Ezequiel (Benfica)

16 – Rojo, Marcos (Sporting Lisboa)

4 – Zabaleta, Pablo (Manchester City)

15 – Demichelis, Martín (Manchester City)

Midfielders

6 – Biglia, Lucas (Lazio)

7 – Di María, Ángel (Real Madrid)

5 – Gago, Fernando (Boca)

14 – Mascherano, Javier (Barcelona)

11 – Rodríguez, Maximiliano (Newell’s)

8 – Pérez, Enzo (Benfica)

19 – Álvarez, Ricardo (Inter)

13 – Fernández, Augusto (Celta de Vigo)

Forwards

20 – Agüero, Sergio (Manchester City)

9 – Higuaín, Gonzalo (Napoli)

22 – Lavezzi, Ezequiel (PSG)

10 – Messi, Lionel (Barcelona)

18 – Palacio, Rodrigo (Inter)

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