World Cup 2014: Di Santo Dropped From Argentina Squad

 

Argentina have dropped Werder Bremen striker Franco Di Santo from their provisional World Cup squad.

Coach Alejandro Sabella has trimmed his 30-man squad down to 26, with Getafe defender Lisandro Lopez, River Plate right-back Gabriel Mercado and Catania midfielder Fabian Rinaudo also dropped.
He must name his final 23-man squad for the tournament in Brazil by 2 June.
The big names absent from his initial squad were Tottenham's Erik Lamela and Juventus striker Carlos Tevez.
Forward Lamela, 22, joined Spurs for a club-record fee of £26m from Roma last summer but has suffered a series of injuries and made just 10 starts this season.
Sabella did not consider Tevez, despite his 19 goals in Serie A this season.
There is also no place for Paris St-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore.
Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis is included after winning the Premier League title in his first season at the Etihad Stadium.
The centre-back, who played in the 2010 World Cup, has not featured for his country since a 1-1 draw at home with Bolivia in a qualifier in November 2011.
Sabella has also selected injured midfielders Fernando Gago, Augusto Fernandez and Angel Di Maria, who hope to be fit in time for the finals, which start on 12 June.
Argentina face Iran, Bosnia-Hercegovina and Nigeria in Group F.
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Mariano Andujar (Catania), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors).
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Newell's Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell's Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St-Germain).
Source:bbc.co.uk