Lamela in line for Argentina debut

Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella has named an initial 18-man foreign-based squad for the February 29 friendly against Switzerland in Bern.

Sabella will later add domestic-based players to the squad, which includes a first call-up for Roma’s Erik Lamela and 31-year-old Hugo Campagnaro of Napoli.

There is also a return for 31-year-old Liverpool midfielder Maxi Rodriguez, who has 41 caps to his name.

Paris Saint-Germain attacker Javier Pastore is excluded as he is still recovering from injury, while Lyon striker Lisandro Lopez has been overlooked.

Martin Demichelis, Ever Banega, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Nicolas Burdisso have all missed out too.

Argentina will use the Switzerland friendly as preparation for their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, which restarts against Ecuador in June. Sabella had said in December he would use the match to try fringe options.

Argentina squad: Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria).

Defenders: Hugo Campagnaro (Napoli), Daniel Diaz (Getafe), Federico Fernandez (Napoli), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica), Luciano Monzon (Nice), Marcos Rojo (Spartak Moscow), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Angel di Maria (Real Madrid), Fernando Gago (Roma), Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Erik Lamela (Roma), Jose Ernesto Sosa (Metalist Kharkiv), Maxi Rodriguez (Liverpool).

Strikers: Sergio Aguero (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Rodrigo Palacio (Genoa).