Maradona picks Higuan, Aimar
Argentina coach Diego Maradona has called up uncapped Real Madrid hitman Gonzalo Higuain and Benfica midfielder Pablo Aimar for the country's final two World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Uruguay.
Higuain has benefited from the absence through injury of Lyon's Lisandro Lopez to join 17 other players in the squad, none of whom play in the domestic Argentinian league.
Two-time World Cup champions Argentina have slipped to fifth in the South American World Cup qualifying standings, a place below the automatic qualification slots, after conceding four defeats in their last five games.
Argentina host already-eliminated Peru on October 10 before travelling to neighbours Uruguay, who trail them by a single point, four days later.
Failure to finish among the top four would force Argentina into a two-leg play-off to secure their ticket for the finals in South Africa next summer.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar/NED), Mariano Andujar (Catania/ITA)
Defenders: Emiliano Insua (Liverpool/ENG), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle/ENG), Gabriel Heinze (Marseille/FRA), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol/ESP)
Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool/ENG), Luis Gonzalez (Marseille/FRA), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle/ENG), Angel Di Maria (Benfica/POR), Pablo Aimar (Benfica/POR)
Strikers: Lionel Messi (Barcelona/ESP), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City/ENG), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid/ESP), Diego Milito (Inter Milan/ITA), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli/ITA)
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