Argentina omit Tevez but pick Di Santo for World Cup

Eurosport – BUENOS AIRES, Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella named his provisional list of 30 players for the tournament in Brazil, which will be cut to 23, and their was no room for the former Manchester City, Mancester United and West Ham striker, who scored 19 Serie A goals as Juventus won the Scudetto.

However Di Santo, who has scored only four goals for Werder Bremen this season, is included. He has never hit double figures in a season, and was released by Wigan last summer following their relegation.

Tevez has never played for Sabella, who became Argentina boss in 2011. The striker has gone on record saying he would have no problem sitting on the bench behind preferred front-men Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, but it appears the coach does not view Tevez as a team player.

Tevez famously caused a stir at Manchester City by going on strike mid-season, playing golf instead of football after falling out with then-boss Roberto Mancini.

There are eight Italy-based figures in the list, including Napoli striker Higuain, and Inter Milan trio Ricky Alvarez, Hugo Campagnaro and Rodrigo Palacio. Higuain and Palacio both scored 17 Serie A goals this season – two less than Tevez.

Aguero has also hit 17 for Manchester City, albeit in fewer games.

Only Lionel Messi has scored more goals than Tevez this season, with 28 for Barcelona in La Liga. Other Manchester City players in the squad are Martin Demichelis – who started the season poorly but was ultimately crucial to their title win – and full-back Pablo Zabaleta.

Argentina World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Monaco), Mariano Andújar (Catania), Agustín Orion (Boca Juniors)

Defenders: Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Federico Fernández (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Portugal), José María Basanta (Monterrey), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Nicolás Otamendi (Atlético Mineiro), Martín Demichelis (Manchester City), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate), Lisandro López (Getafe)

Midfielders: Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Newell’s Old Boys), Angel Di María (Real Madrid), Maximiliano Rodríguez (Newell’s Old Boys), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan), Augusto Fernández (Celta Vigo), Enzo Pérez (Benfica), José Sosa (Atlético Madrid), Fabian Rinaudo (Catania)

Forwards: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan), Franco Di Santo (Werder Bremen)