Batista Names Argentina Squad to Face Spain: Zanetti and Cambiasso Back

Interim Argentina manager Sergio Batista has announced his squad will face Spain September 9th in Buenos Aires, and the former Under 20 manager has called upon a number of players that had been discarded by the recently departed Diego Maradona.

After general manager Carlos Bilardo made the list to face Ireland last month, Batista took advantage of his opportunity to choose his team by including players who would have considered their international careers over had Maradona continued.

The two biggest inclusions are Inter Milan duo Javier Zanetti and Esteban Cambiasso.

Zanetti has represented Argentina a record 136 times, and featured in every game under Maradona before being controversially axed from the squad before the final two World Cup Qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.

Although rumors swirled in the lead up to the World Cup that Maradona would recall El Pupi, he missed out in favor of journeyman defender Ariel Garce.

Cambiasso was hardly given a look in by El Diego, playing just 15 minutes in a friendly loss to Spain in November of 2009. Despite winning the Champions League with Inter, Maradona said Cambiasso’s style was not to his liking.

Also returning to the team is another player from Inter- but not the Inter from Italy, the Inter from Brazil. Just 48 hours after lifting the Copa Libertadores, Andrés D’Alessandro received more good news upon seeing Batista’s list.

The ex-Wolfsburg playmaker won the 2004 Olympic Gold Medal in Athens and three league titles with River Plate, but never settled in culturally or on the field in Europe, but has been one of the best players in the Brazilian Championship and Copa Libertadores over the last few seasons and will get a chance to add to his 26 caps.

Barcelona defender Gabriel Milito is also back on the squad after just missing out last year despite the best efforts of Lionel Messi to pursuade Maradona to include the former Independiente captain.

The only local based player in the squad is Lanús goalkeeper Agustín Marchesín, who was also under the direction of Batista with the Under 20 side.

In addition to the new names, the majority of the big names stars who disputed the World Cup in South Africa have returned including Lionel Messi, Carlos Tevez, and Gonzalo Higuain.

Palermo playmaker Javier Pastore has not been included and it is speculated that the former Huracán star missed the cut as part of punishment for not playing for Batista at the Under 20 South American Championships in 2009.

The complete List:

Goalkeepers:

Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar—Holland)

Mariano Andújar (Catania—Italy)

Agustín Marchesín (Lanús—Argentina)

Defenders:

Martín Demichelis (Bayern Munich—Germany)

Walter Samuel (Inter—Italiy)

Nicolás Burdisso (Inter—Italy)

Gabriel Heinze (Olimpique de Marsella—France)

Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City—England)

Gabriel Milito (Barcelona—Spain)

Javier Zanetti (Inter - Italy)

Midfielders:

Javier Mascherano (Liverpool—England)

Fernando Gago (Real Madrid—Spain)

Ever Banega (Valencia—Spain)

Ángel Di María (Real Madrid—Spain)

Esteban Cambiasso (Inter—Italy)

Mario Bolatti (Fiorentina—Italy)

Andrés D'Alessandro (Inter—Brazil)

Forwards:

Gonzalo Higuaín (Real Madrid—Spain)

Carlos Tevez (Manchester City—England)

Sergio Agüero (Atlético Madrid—Spain)

Lionel Messi (Barcelona—Spain)

Diego Milito (Inter—Italy)

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli—Italy)