Argentina, Maradona snubs Cambiasso and Zarate

Argentna coach Diego Maradona named 20 foreign-based players for next month’s friendly in France. Barcelona forward Lionel Messi was included after his Spanish club agreed to release him for the game in Marseille on Feb. 11. Maradona again overlooked midfielder Esteban Cambiasso, who was a regular under his predecessor Alfio Basile, while Luis Gonzalez, who rarely figured under Basile, was also named in the squad. There was no place for striker Mauro Zarate who has looked impressive with Italian Serie A club Lazio this season.

Goalkeepers: Juan Pablo Carrizo (Lazio), Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar)
Defenders: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid), Daniel Diaz
(Getafe), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan), Walter Samuel (Inter Milan)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Luis Gonzalez (Porto)
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester United), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli), Lisandro Lopez (Porto), German Denis (Napoli), Ángel Di Maria (Benfica)