Di Maria, Pastore, Biglia, Zabaleta left off Argentina team

By foxsports
Published

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) Angel Di Maria and Javier Pastore, teammates at Paris Saint-Germain, have been left off Argentina's national team for friendly matches next month in the United States against Bolivia and Mexico.

Coach Gerardo Martino announced the team Tuesday. It will also be without Lucas Biglia of Lazio and Pablo Zabaleta of Manchester City.

The Argentina Football Association said Pastore and Biglia have right-leg injuries, and Zabaleta has a sprained left knee. Di Maria, who recently moved from Manchester United, is being excluded so he can get into top playing condition for his French club.

Di Maria has not played since being injured in the final of the Copa America in July. Argentina lost to Chile on penalties.

The two friendlies are Argentina's last before South American World Cup qualifying starts in October.