Kerala sports minister makes random squad announcement ahead of Argentina visit, picks Messi, omits Enzo
Argentina will play a friendly match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 17
Argentina will play a friendly match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 17
Argentina will play a friendly match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 17
Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman on Saturday made a surprise announcement of the Argentina squad that is set to play a friendly match in Kerala next month, well before the Argentina Football Association officially selected their travelling team.
In the list shared by the minister, the Argentine side includes star player Lionel Messi, along with Emiliano Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez. The minister’s announcement comes much ahead of head coach Lionel Scaloni’s official squad selection.
Notably, Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández was left out of the minister’s 18-member travelling squad. Enzo, who featured in Argentina’s most recent friendly against Venezuela, a 1–0 win for the world champions, was a surprise omission.
Argentina will play a friendly match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi on November 17, with Australia likely to be their opponents.
The minister's squad also featured Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis MacAllister, Nicolas Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, Nicolas Gonzalez, Marcos Acuna, Nahuel Molina, Juan Foyth, Nicolas Tagliafico, Gonzalo Montiel, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.