World Cup Snubs Back in Argentina Squad To Face Ireland August 11th

After playing a World Cup with perhaps the most perplexing squad ever announced by a World Cup manger, Argentina has recalled a number of high profile snubs to face Ireland in Aviva Stadium in Dublin August 11 under the direction of interim manager Sergio Batista, who knows a number of the players from winning the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal in Beijing.

Amongst the most well-known returnees is Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago, who, despite being a favorite of ex-coach Diego Maradona, was bizarrely left out of the team that went to South Africa. 

A winner of the 2005 Under-20 World Cup in The Netherlands and a Gold Medalist at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, the 24-year-old Gago has played 28 times for Argentina's senior team. 

Valencia midfielder Ever Banega has also been recalled after being completely ignored during Maradona's tenure as manager despite having an incredible season for Los Che in 2010, helping them qualify for the Champions League. 

Banega has been tipped as one of the most promising players to come out of Argentina since helping Boca Juniors win the 2007 Copa Libertadores. Later that year, he played a prominent role in helping Argentina win the Under-20 World Cup in Canada. 

The absences of both Banega and Gago proved costly in South Africa, as Maradona lacked a capable partner for Javier Mascherano in midfield. 

While leaving his team exposed in central midfield could have easily been prevented with the selections of Gago and Banega, the choice to bring just one fullback was equally avoidable. 

Pablo Zabaleta, an Olympic Gold Medalist like Gago and Banega, was the captain when Argentina won the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and has enjoyed a successful spell in Europe with both Espanyol and Manchester City. 

A versatile player, Zabaleta can play at left back or in midfield, but has settled nicely at right back in the European game. 

Zabaleta was called up only once under Maradona, but was unable to play due to injury and was ignored for the remainder of El Diez's tenure. 

While Zabaleta was sitting at home, Maradona tried center back Nicolas Otamendi out of position with disastrous results as the Velez Sarsfield man was easily Argentina's worst player in a 4-0 loss to Germany. 

Fiorentina man Emiliano Insua, another full back, has also been brought back. With just one cap to his name (during a 2-1 victory over Peru last October), Insua was still given a chance to make the World Cup squad by some in the media, but in reality, he never had a chance. 

Now, it appears that the 21-year-old will be groomed for Brazil 2014 with incumbent Gabriel Heinze, 32, unlikely to last until then. 

Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, like Zabaleta a product of San Lorenzo's youth system, was a favorite of Maradona but lost his place in the squad to Martin Palermo. 

Although Lavezzi will always have a difficult time breaking into Argentina's first team with the likes of Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, and Sergio Aguero occupying similar places on the field, El Pocho can bring much needed depth to the side. 

Lavezzi's former Napoli teammate Jesus Datolo, who scored a wonder goal against Brazil during World Cup qualifying, has also been given a recall after being one of the last players cut from the 23-man squad. 

Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini, who also fell at the final hurdle before South Africa, will be given a chance to add to his 33 caps. 

There is still no place for Inter Milan duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso, but with eyes fixed on Brazil 2014, we may never see the two Nerazzurri stalwarts in an Argentina shirt again. 

In addition to the seven newcomers, the 17 foreign-based players who took part in South Africa remain in the squad, while no local-based men have been included.

While Argentina fans are encouraged by the new blood in the side, there is a sense of what might have been considering how much players like Gago, Banega, and Zabaleta were missed in South Africa. 

Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar, Netherlands)

Mariano Andujar (Catania, Italy) 

Defenders:

Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich, Germany)

Walter Samuel (Inter, Italy)

Nicolas Burdisso (Roma, Italy)

Gabriel Heinze (Marseille, France)

Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle, England)

Emiliano Insua (Fiorentina, Italy) 

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City, England)

Midfielders:

Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid, Spain)

Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool, England)

Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England)

Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle, England)

Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina, Italy)

Javier Pastore (Palermo, Italy)

Jesus Datolo (Espanyol, Spain)

Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain)

Ever Banega (Valencia, Spain)

Forwards:

Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Spain)

Carlos Tevez (Manchester City, England)

Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid, Spain)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain) 

Diego Milito (Inter, Italy)

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli, Italy)