Tevez and Gonzalez among four recalled by Pekerman
BUENOS AIRES: Argentina have recalled midfielders Cristian 'Kily' Gonzalez and Pablo Aimar plus striker Carlos Tevez and defender Walter Samuel for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Brazil.
The four players, none of whom have played an international this year, were among a 26-man squad named for the matches in Quito on June 4 and in Buenos Aires four days later.
Argentina lead the 10-nation South American qualifying group with 28 points from 13 games, four ahead of Brazil. The top four teams qualify for the Finals in Germany and the fifth play off against the winners of the Oceania region for another place.
Inter Milan's Gonzalez has not played since Jose Pekerman took over as coach. He last appeared in the 3-1 World Cup qualifying win in Peru in September, Argentina's last game under Marcelo Bielsa.
Tevez, who moved to Brazilian club Corinthians in December, returns for the first time since the goalless draw in Chile in October, as does Real Madrid's Samuel and German-based Andres D'Alessandro.
Aimar, who has been troubled by injuries, has not played since the 3-1 defeat by Brazil in Belo Horizonte last June.
Gonzalez, who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens after being included as an over-age player, was delighted to be back.
“This call-up is very special for me,” he said in a radio interview from Italy.
“Every time I'm selected, it's like the first time. This one's special because I've been included for the first time in the Pekerman era.”
Pekerman is also expected to add four locally-based players to his squad. – Reuters
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