Buenos Aires: Argentina have picked Carlos Tevez in their squad for the first time in more than three years for friendlies next month against Croatia and Portugal, the Argentine Football Association said on Monday.
The striker, who last played for his country at the 2011 Copa America on home soil, missed this year’s World Cup in Brazil despite scintillating form for Juventus.
Tevez was among four forwards, including captain Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain, in the squad picked by coach Gerardo Martino and posted on the AFA website (www.afa.org.ar).
Argentina will play Croatia at West Ham United’s Upton Park ground in London on November 12 and Portugal six days later at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, where Tevez spent two years from 2007 to 2009.
Tevez’s last action in an Argentina shirt was missing the penalty that sealed Argentina’s elimination by Uruguay in their Copa America quarter-final in July 2011.
His recall gives the former Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City striker the chance to help Argentina win the South American title held by Uruguay at next year’s tournament in Chile.
The 30-year-old, capped 64 times, played at the 2006 and 2010 World Cup finals but was overlooked by coach Alejandro Sabella for the Brazil tournament, where Argentina reached the final before losing to Germany.
Martino also called up Manchester City goalkeeper Wilfredo Caballero, understudy to England number one Joe Hart at the Premier League champions.
