Riquelme included in Argentina squad
Argentina coach Alfio Basile has included Juan Roman Riquelme but omitted Hernan Crespo from his list of 20 foreign-based players in his squad for World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Venezuela.
Riquelme has not been playing at Villarreal after falling out with coach Manuel Pellegrini but Basile decided to include the former Boca Juniors playmaker, whom he considers an important member of the national team.
However, the Argentina coach felt that it was best for Internazionale striker Crespo, who has not had much playing time at the Italian side, to remain in Europe.
Argentina play Chile in Buenos Aires on October 13 before travelling to Maracaibo to face Venezuela four days later.
Basile will add some home-based players to his squad list on October 7, a day before the team’s first training session.
Independiente striker German Denis, the Apertura tournament’s leading scorer with 13 goals in 10 games, is expected to be included in the squad.
Squad: Abbondanzieri, Ustari (both Getafe); Heinze (Real Madrid), Zanetti, Burdisso (both Internazionale), Diaz (Getafe), Demichelis (Bayern Munich), Milito (Barcelona), Coloccini (Deportivo La Coruna); Gago (Real Madrid), Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Gutierrez (Mallorca), Cambiasso (Internazionale), Mascherano (Liverpool), Insua (America), Riquelme (Villarreal); Saviola (Real Madrid), Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Messi (Barcelona), Tevez (Manchester United).
