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Carlos Tevez has been included in Argentina’s squad for friendlies against Croatia and Portugal in England next month, marking a return to the national set-up for the Juventus striker after 3 long years. Tevez last played for his country during the 2011 Copa America on home soil, having been ignored for the World Cup in Brazil earlier this year despite ending the Serie A last season as the third highest goal-scorer with 19 goals.
Tevez selected as one of four forwards against Croatia and Portugal
Tevez, who has been named along with Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain as one of four forwards in the squad, will be returning to two familiar places during next month’s friendlies as coach Gerardo Martino’s side will play Croatia at West Ham United’s home ground, Upton Park, on November 12, followed by a clash against Portugal at Manchester United’s Old Trafford six days later.
The 30-year-old will no doubt be hoping that his comeback into the national fold is a lot happier than his last appearance for Argentina when he missed the penalty that confirmed elimination at the hands of Uruguay at the quarter-final stage of the 2011 Copa America.
There has also been a call-up for uncapped goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero, who signed for Manchester City in the summer and is as of now behind England’s Joe Hart in the pecking order.
Ezequiel Garay, meanwhile, returns to the squad after playing an instrumental role in central defense during his country’s progress to the World Cup final before eventually losing to Germany. He missed Martino’s first three matches in charge. They were a 4-2 win in Germany in September, followed by a 2-0 defeat to Brazil and a 7-0 hammering of Hong Kong in two Asian tour matches earlier this month.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Wilfredo Caballero (Manchester City), Nahuel Guzman (UANL Tigres)
Defenders: Nicolas Otamendi (Valencia), Cristian Ansaldi (Atletico Madrid), Facundo Roncaglia (Genoa), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta (both Manchester City), Federico Fazio (Tottenham Hotspur), Federico Fernandez (Swansea City), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit St Petersburg)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Ever Banega (Sevilla), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Angel Di Maria (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham Hotspur), Javier Pastore (Paris St Germain), Enzo Perez, Nicolas Gaitan (both Benfica)
Forwards: Carlos Tevez (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).
