Demichelis back in fold with Argentina

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, May 14, 2014

[WORLD CUP 2014] In the wake of celebrating the English Premier League title with Manchester City, central defender Martin Demichelis returns to the Argentine squad, from which he was dropped after La Albiceleste tied Bolivia in November 2011.

Demichelis, 33, started all of Argentina’s five games at the 2010 World Cup but without him, after the Bolivia tie, it stormed through 2014 World Cup qualifying, finishing first and clinching with two games to spare.

Coach Alejandro Sabella’s 30-man roster also includes 27-year-old River Plate defender Gabriel Mercado, whose only previous cap came in 2010 when Diego Maradona was coach. Mercado is one of five Argentina-based players on the roster.

The squad includes foreign-based players from eight nations -- Italy’s Serie A leads with nine followed by five from Spain’s La Liga, home of its biggest star, Lionel Messi.

Mexico-based Jose Basanta of Monterrey played in four qualifying games.

Sabella left off Carlos Tevez despite the World Cup 2010 veteran helping Juventus win the 2014 Serie A title with 19 goals.

Argentina (30)
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria/ITA), Mariano Andujar (Catania/ITA), Agustín Orión (Boca Juniors/ARG).
Defenders: Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Federico Fernández (Napoli/ITA), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica/POR), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Hugo Campagnaro (Inter/ITA), Martín Demichelis (Manchester City/ENG), Jose Basanta (Monterrey/MEX), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro/BRA), Lisandro López (Getafe/SPA), Gabriel Mercado (River Plate/ARG).
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Barcelona/SPA), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors/ARG), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Éver Banega (Newell's Old Boys/ARG), Ricardo Alvarez (Inter/ITA), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo/SPA), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid/SPA), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/SPA), Maxi Rodríguez (Newell's Old Boys/ARG), Fabian Rinaudo (Catania/ITA), Enzo Pérez (Benfica/POR).
Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/SPA), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli/ITA), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City/ENG), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter/ITA), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA), Franco di Santo (Werder Bremen/GER).