Despite fine Juventus form, Carlos Tevez a no-show in Argentina World Cup squad

Coach Alex Sabella ended any hope for Carlos Tevez of playing at the 2014 World Cup on Tuesday when he failed to include the striker in his 30-man Argentina squad.

Carlos Tevez scored 19 goals and assisted on seven for Juventus in 33 Serie A matches this season. Di Marco / EPA

Carlos Tevez excellent form for Italian champions Juventus this season failed to earn him a recall when Alex Sabella named a provisonal 30-man squad for the World Cup finals on Tuesday.

Tevez, capped 64 times, scored 19 goals for Juventus as they retained their Serie A title this term but not even that was a strong enough argument for Sabella to call up the 30-year-old for the first time since he took over at the helm of the national side following Argentina’s failure to win the 2011 Copa America which they hosted.

Tevez, who played a full part in Argentina’s 2010 World Cup finals campaign, had wanted to make up for his last appearance as it ended in him missing a penalty in the shootout loss to eventual champions Uruguay in the Copa quarter-finals.

Sabella, who has till June 2 to decide on his final 23 players, opted to allow star player Lionel Messi to play in the role he pklays to such effect at Barcelona – that did not allow for Tevez to be part of his plans.

Argentine – who won the last of their two World Cups in 1986 – have been drawn in Group F with Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria, debutants Bosnia and Iran.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mariano Andujar (Catania), Sergio Romero (Monaco), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors)

Defenders: Lisandro Lopez (Getafe), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon), Jose Basanta (Monterrey), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate)

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo), Ricky Alvarez (Inter Milan), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Ever Banega (Newell’s Old Boys), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell’s Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica), Fabian Rinaudo (Catania)

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

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