The Argentine selector Jorge Sampaloli already has his complete list of called up players to play against Peru and Ecuador in the last two days of the South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.
Darío Benedetto and Enzo Pérez are the two standout players of the six added tonight.
Benedetto, the top scorer of the current Boca Juniors tournament, and Enzo Pérez join the defender Milton Casco (River Plate), the midfielders Fernando Gago and Pablo Pérez (Boca Juniors), and the forward Lautaro Acosta (Lanús).
Thus, this call-up also confirms Gago's return to the national team in an attempt to find a "familiar" partner in the game for Lionel Messi.
The presences of Mauro Icardi and Alejandro Gómez, added to another absence of Gonzalo Higuaín, had been the main novelties of the players called up from abroad, where the inclusions of the defender Germán Pezzella (Fiorentina) and the goalkeeper Agustín Machesín (América) also stood out, replacing Gerónimo Rulli (Real Sociedad).
The great absence after the car accident he suffered last Thursday will be that of Sergio Agüero, who will not be able to be present for these two decisive matches: Peru at home on October 5th and Ecuador on the same month 10th in Quito.
Sampaoli made his debut as Argentina's coach in the qualifiers with a goalless draw against Uruguay in Montevideo on August 31st, and then drew 1-1 with Venezuela at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on September 5th.
Icardi (Inter) started in these two matches and did not score any goals. On the other hand, Higuaín (Juventus), absent in the previous double match, was left out of the squad again.
Guido Pizarro (Sevilla), who started against Uruguay and Venezuela, was also not called up.
With two days left in the South American qualifiers, the Albiceleste ranks fifth with 24 points behind Brazil (already qualified with 37 points), Uruguay (27), Colombia (26), and Peru (24). They are followed by Chile (23), Paraguay (21), Ecuador (20), Bolivia (13), and Venezuela (8).
They are currently in the position that allows them to play a playoff against New Zealand.
AFA decided to play the crucial match against Peru at La Bombonera instead of the Monumental, where they usually play.
The last match of the Albiceleste at Boca Juniors' stadium for the qualifiers was on November 16, 1997, against Colombia (1-1), and the previous one was on October 7, 1973 (3-1 against Paraguay).
The last time Argentina played at La Bombonera was on November 21, 2012, in a friendly match where they defeated Brazil 2-1.
River Plate's stadium has a capacity of around 62,000 spectators, while Boca Juniors' stadium can hold about 49,000. However, the AFA executives believe that the proximity of the audience to the playing field can be beneficial.
List of 26 players called up by Jorge Sampaoli
- Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United-GBR), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres-MEX), and Agustín Marchesín (América-MEX).
- Defenders: Federico Fazio (Roma-ITA), Emanuel Mammana (Zenit-RUS), Germán Pezzella (Fiorentina.ITA), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona-ESP), Nicolás Otamendi (Manchester City-GBR), Gabriel Mercado (Sevilla-ESP), and Milton Casco (River Plate).
- Midfielders: Marcos Acuña (Sporting Lisbon-POR), Ángel Di María (Paris Saint-Germain-FRA), Lucas Biglia (Milan-ITA), Leandro Paredes (Zenit-RUS), Ever Banega (Sevilla-ESP), Alejandro Gómez (Atalanta-ITA), Eduardo Salvio (Benfica-POR), Emiliano Rigoni (Zenit-RUS), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Pablo Pérez (Boca Juniors), and Enzo Pérez (River Plate).
- Forwards: Paulo Dybala (Juventus-ITA), Lionel Messi (Barcelona-ESP), Mauro Icardi (Inter-ITA), Darío Benedetto (Boca Juniors), and Lautaro Acosta (Lanús).