Argentina have named a 21-player squad for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in which they will play in the same group as New Zealand.
The highest-profile player is holding midfielder Maximo Perrone, who is with English Premier League club Manchester City, and head coach Javier Mascherano has also been able to draw on players with big clubs including River Plate, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Inter, Juventus, Lazio and Sporting de Portugal.
Main photo: Former Argentina captain Javier Mascherano, shown here at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is head coach of the national U-20 side. Photo credit: Антон Зайцев via Wikipedia.
Despite the quality in their playing ranks, Argentina are lucky to be playing at the tournament.
They missed qualification when finishing below Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay at the group stage of the South American U-20 finals in Colombia.
However, when Indonesia was stripped of hosting rights for the U-20 World Cup, Argentina got a second chance when the country was named as late replacement hosts for the tournament that starts on May 20.
Argentina will be coached by two-time Olympic gold medalist and former national team captain Javier Mascherano.
He’s the second-most capped Argentinian player of all time, with 147 appearances.
Argentina are the most successful country in the history of the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup, having won it six times.
Their most recent success was at the 2007 tournament in Canada, when Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria were their star players.
Argentina squad
Goalkeepers
Federico Gomes Gerth (Tigre)
Nicolás Cláa (Lanus)
Lucas Lavagnino (River Plate)
Defenders
Agustin Giay (San Lorenzo)
Tomás Avilés (Racing)
Lautaro Di Lollo (Boca Juniors)
Valentín Gómez (Vélez)
Roman Vega (Barcelona)
Valentin Barco (Boca Juniors)
Midfielders
Mateo Tanlongo (Sporting De Portugal)
Ignacio Miramón (Gimnasia Y Esgrima La Plata)
Federico Redondo (Argentinos Juniors)
Maximo Perrone (Manchester City)
Gino Infantino (Rosario Central)
Valentin Carboni (Inter)
Forwards
Matías Soulé (Juventus)
Luka Romero (Lazio)
Alejo Véliz (Rosario Central)
Ignacio Maestro Puch (Atlético Tucuman)
Juan Gauto (Huracan)
Brian Aguirre (Newell’s Old Boys}
Head coach
Javier Mascherano
Fixtures
New Zealand are in the same group as hosts Argentina, and Guatemala and Uzbekistan at the FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup, due to start on May 20.
READ MORE: Coach Darren Bazeley announces squad for FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup >>>>
READ MORE: Argentina name strong squad to face New Zealand at FIFA U-20 World Cup >>>>
READ MORE: New Zealand to face six-time winners Argentina at FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup >>>>
READ MORE: Fixture schedule announced for FIFA U-20 Men’s World Cup in Argentina >>>>
Game to be played on Sunday May 21, 2023 (NZT)
Guatemala v New Zealand
Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estoro, 6am (NZT)
Check out the stadium for New Zealand’s opening game:
Game to be played on Wednesday May 24, 2023 (NZT)
New Zealand v Uzbekistan
Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estoro, 6am (NZT)
Game to be played on Saturday May 27, 2023 (NZT)
New Zealand v Argentina
Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, 9am
Full schedule
More football stories
