Argentina squad for Kerala friendly: Lionel Messi and Alexis Mac Allister of course, but is Emiliano Martinez coming to Kochi?

The 18-member Argentina squad arriving in Kerala for an international friendly in Kochi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was declared. Team manager Lionel Scaloni and captain Lionel Messi will land in the southern state with 16 players who were part of the victorious campaign in Qatar.

The world champions will be taking on Australia at the Kaloor Stadium, it was revealed earlier.

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Angel Di Maria, Lisandro Martínez, and Paulo Dybala were among the notable absentees from the squad. Also missing were Germán Pezzella, Guido Rodríguez, Angel Correa, Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, Franco Armani (GK), and Gerónimo Rulli. Di Maria is the only star who has been inactive internationally since the Qatar campaign. 

 

The Argentina squad was released by Reporter Live, the media firm that is behind the international friendly. The channel had earlier revealed that Rs 70 crore has been allotted for the renovation of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi - the venue for Argentina's friendly fixture scheduled for November 17.

 

As per reports, Australia are likely to be the opponent for this match. For those unaware, Reporter TV are the sponsor of Argentina's football team for this fixture. Managing Director of Reporter TV Anto Augustine claims that the Kaloor JLN Stadium will be modified to international standards before Argentina's friendly fixture next month.

 

Argentina squad touring Kerala: Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolás Otamendi, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Tagliafico, Juan Foyth, Marcos Acuña, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Nico González, Thiago Almada, Cristian Romero, Nahuel Molina.

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