Solari, Galletti called up by Argentina
Real Madrid forward Santiago Solari received a rare call-up from Argentina on Tuesday when he was included in the squad for this month's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
Real Madrid forward Santiago Solari received a rare call-up from Argentina on Tuesday when he was included in the squad for this month's World Cup qualifier against Venezuela.
Real Zaragoza striker Luciano Galletti was the other surprise as new coach Jose Pekerman named 19 foreign-based players for the match in Buenos Aires on November 17.
Solari, who last played for Argentina in the 1-0 friendly win over Morocco in April, was delighted to be selected by Pekerman, who replaced Marcelo Bielsa in September.
"I'm happy to be included and I know I have to play to a high level so the coach keeps picking me," he said in a radio interview.
"One always aspires to be picked regularly for the national team."
Galletti scored in the 2-1 friendly victory in Japan in August when Argentina fielded a second-string side. But he was overlooked for the three subsequent World Cup qualifiers.
Inter Milan midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron was again omitted from the squad on Tuesday.
Forward Cesar Delgado was recalled after being left out of last month's qualifiers against Uruguay and Chile, Pekerman's first two games in charge.
Delgado, who was in the Copa America squad in July and the Olympic gold medal-winning squad in August, notched a 22-minute hat-trick for Cruz Azul in the Mexican championship at the weekend.
Defenders Gabriel Heinze and Walter Samuel will miss the game against Venezuela after picking up their second yellow cards of the competition in the goalless draw against Chile.
Captain Roberto Ayala, still suffering from the knee ligament injury he sustained at the Olympics, is out.
Midfielders Pablo Aimar, who received a blow to the head during Valencia's match against Atletico Madrid on Sunday and spent the night in hospital, and Cristian Gonzalez are also on the injured list.
Argentina are second in the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 19 points from 10 games. Venezuela are sixth with 13 points.
Goalkeeper: Leonardo Franco (Atletico Madrid).
Defenders: Gonzalo Rodriguez (Villarreal), Gabriel Milito (Real Zaragoza), Facundo Quiroga (Wolfsburg), Fabricio Coloccini (AC Milan), Diego Placente (Bayer Leverkusen).
Midfielders: Javier Zanetti (Inter Milan), Esteban Cambiasso (Inter Milan), Juan Pablo Sorin (Cruzeiro), Lionel Scaloni (Deportivo Coruna), Maximiliano Rodriguez (Espanyol), Andres D'Alessandro (Wolfsburg), Juan Roman Riquelme (Villarreal).
Forwards: Hernan Crespo (AC Milan), Javier Saviola (Monaco), Luciano Figueroa (Cruz Azul), Luciano Galletti (Real Zaragoza), Cesar Delgado (Cruz Azul), Santiago Solari (Real Madrid).