Aguero, Messi lead Argentina against U.S., Mexicohttp://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/8156692/Aguero,-Messi-lead-Argentina-against-U.S.,-MexicoBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Spanish-league strikers Sergio Aguero and Lionel Messi led a 21-man roster announced Monday by Argentina for its upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico.
The roster is comprised entirely of European-based veterans and held few surprises, except the absence of Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez.
Tevez will sit out the friendlies with United not scheduled to finish its season until European Champions League final against Chelsea on Wednesday in Moscow.
Argentina will play Mexico on June 4 in San Diego, and then face the United States in New York. Both matches will serve Argentina as preparation for World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil in mid-June.
Aguero, a standout at Spanish club Atletico Madrid, had been expected to lead the list along with Barcelona's Messi. In a release, the Argentine Football Association said they will be joined by midfielder Fernando Gago and defender Gabriel Heinze, both of Real Madrid.
Also included on the roster were Javier Zanetti, Nicolas Burdisso, Esteban Cambiasso and Julio Cruz, all of Inter Milan, which won the Italian league championship on Sunday.
Several others from Argentine clubs could be added to the squad by May 30.
Friendlies against the North American sides come as Argentina gets set for another round of qualifying, against Ecuador at home on June 15 and then three days later travelling to play arch rival Brazil.
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Roster:
Goalkeepers: Roberto Abbondanzieri (Getafe, Spain), Oscar Ustari (Getafe, Spain).
Defense: Gabriel Heinze (Real Madrid, Spain), Fabricio Coloccini (Deporitvo La Coruna, Spain), Pablo Zabaleta (Espanyol, Spain), Gonzalo Rodriguez (Villarreal, Spain), Jonas Gutierrez (Mallorca, Spain), Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan, Italy), Nicolas Burdisso (Inter Milan, Italy), Martin Demichelis (Bayern Munich, Germany).
Midfield: Fernando Gago (Real Madrid, Spain), Maxi Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Ever Banega (Valencia, Spain), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan, Spain), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, England), Jose Sosa (Bayern Munich, Germany).
Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Spain), Lionel Messi (Barcelona, Spain), Julio Cruz (Inter Milan, Italy), Lisandro Lopez (Porto, Portugal), Fernando Cavenaghi (Bordeaux, France).