Messi starts in quarter-final against Germany

Lionel Messi is starting for Argentina in their World Cup quarter-final against Germany today.

The Barcelona forward skipped training yesterday because he had a cold, but manager Diego Maradona has given him a slot in his team to try and get past Joachim Low's Germany side.

Low has made no changes from the side that comprehensively defeated England in their round of 16 game.

Argentina: Romero, Otamendi, Demichelis, Burdisso, Heinze, Maxi, Mascherano, Di Maria, Messi, Higuain, Tevez.

Subs: Pozo, Rodriguez, Bolatti, Veron, Garce, Samuel, Aguero, Gutierrez, Palermo, Milito, Andujar, Pastore.

Germany: Neuer, Lahm, Mertesacker, Boateng, Friedrich, Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Muller, Ozil, Podolski, Klose.

Subs: Wiese, Jansen, Aogo, Tasci, Kiessling, Badstuber, Trochowski, Kroos, Cacau, Marin, Butt, Gomez.

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)