Argentina coach Sabella cuts four from squad

Buenos Aires: Argentina national team coach Alejandro Sabella on Wednesday dropped four players from his provisional 30-man World Cup squad, the country`s football federation announced.

With the squad set to meet up at their training camp in Ezeiza next Monday, Sabella opted to dispense with defenders Lisandro Lopez (Getafe) and Gabriel Mercado (River Plate), Catania midfielder Fabian Rinaudo and Werder Bremen striker Franco di Santo, according to a press release on the AFA`s website. Sabella has until June 2 to decide on his final 23 players that he will take to the finals in Brazil, which start on June 12. Argentina, who won the last of their two World Cups in 1986, have been drawn in Group F with Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria, debutants Bosnia and Iran. Revised squad: Goalkeepers (3): Mariano Andujar (Catania/ITA), Sergio Romero (Monaco/FRA), Agustin Orion (Boca Juniors) Defenders (8): Hugo Campagnaro (Inter Milan/ITA), Federico Fernandez (Napoli/ITA), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City/ENG), Ezequiel Garay (Benfica/POR), Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Jose Basanta (Monterrey/MEX), Nicolas Otamendi (Atletico Mineiro/BRA), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City/ENG) Midfielders (9): Javier Mascherano (FC Barcelona/ESP), Jose Sosa (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Augusto Fernandez (Celta Vigo/ESP), Ricky Alvarez (Inter Milan/ITA), Lucas Biglia (Lazio/ITA), Ever Banega (Newell`s Old Boys), Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Maxi Rodriguez (Newell`s Old Boys), Enzo Perez (Benfica/POR) Forward (6): Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona/ESP), Angel Di Maria (Real Madrid/ESP), Rodrigo Palacio (Inter Milan/ITA), Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli/ITA), Sergio Agüero (Manchester City/ENG), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)