Argentina name 33-man squad for high altitude match

Argentina have named a 33-man squad for one of their toughest World Cup qualifiers on Saturday, away to Bolivia 3,600 metres above sea level.

The Argentines are also at home to Colombia four days later and there is speculation that coach Jose Pekerman could use two almost entirely different teams for the games.

Pekerman initially named 25 foreign-based players 11 days ago and completed his squad by naming the locally-based players after the weekend's domestic matches.

River Plate midfielders Javier Mascherano and Luis Gonzalez were both called up as expected for the trip to La Paz.

Pekerman also included several players who made their debut in the friendly against Mexico two weeks ago, including striker Rolando Zarate, midfielder Fernando Belluschi and defender Daniel Diaz.

Inter midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron and 21-year-old forward Carlos Tevez, who last year joined Corinthians of Brazil from Boca Juniors in an $18 million move, have both been left out.

Midfielders Javier Zanetti and Diego Placente and forward Javier Saviola will both miss the Bolivia match because of suspension.

Juan Pablo Sorin is doubtful for the matches with a hamstring injury and forward Cesar Delgado is almost certain to miss both games with a thigh strain.

Argentina are top of the South American zone qualifying group with 22 points from 11 games. Bolivia are bottom of the 10-strong group with 10 points while Colombia are sixth with 13 points.

Argentina Squad

Goalkeepers - Franco (Atletico Madrid), Abbondanzieri (Boca Juniors), Lux (River Plate).

Defenders - Rodriguez (Villarreal), Sorin (Villarreal), Milito (Real Zaragoza), Coloccini (Deportivo), Ayala (Valencia), Burdisso (Inter), Zanetti (Inter), Cufre (Roma), Rodriguez (Spartak Moscow), Heinze (Manchester United), Placente (Bayer Leverkusen), Diaz (Colon).

Midfielders - Ponzio (Real Zaragoza), Riquelme (Villarreal), Duscher (Deportivo), Scaloni (Deportivo), Rodriguez (Espanyol), Aimar (Valencia), Cambiasso (Inter), Bernardi (Monaco), Belluschi (Newell's Old Boys), Mascherano (River Plate), Gonzalez (River Plate).

Forwards - Figueroa (Villarreal), Galletti (Real Zaragoza), Crespo (Milan), Saviola (Monaco), Delgado (Cruz Azul/Cemeteros), Zarate (Velez Sarsfield), Palacio (Boca Juniors).