Soccer:Lionel Messi and a host of other stars have been confirmed in the Argentina squad ahead of Wednesday's friendly against the Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium (7.45pm).
The Barcelona forward is joined by Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain, the only player to score a hat-trick in South Africa 2010, Carlos Tevez of Manchester City and Champions League winner Diego Milito of Inter Milan.
The presence of such players in the intitial squad is no guarantee they will travel, however, with the final decision for such a friendly likely to rest with their clubs.
Sergio Battista will take control of the senior team while a permanent replacement for the departed coach Diego Maradona is sought.
Maradona’s contract was not renewed last week after he refused to agree to a change of backroom staff.
He is believed to have chosen around 17 of the squad that travel to Dublin but others, like promising Valencia midfielder Ever Banega and Liverpool’s Emiliano Insua, have also been called in.
Tickets for the game are on sale through ticketmaster.ie for €40 and €55 and from the following outlets:
Aviva Stadium reception - Saturday and Sunday between 10am and 5pm, Monday and Tuesday between 9am and 5pm
Carrolls FAI Umbro Store, Westmoreland St and Suffolk St
Argentina squad (v Rep of Ireland):Higuain, Di Maria, Gago, Aguero, Banega, Datolo, Messi, Milito, Samuel, Bolatti, Andujar, Burdisso, Lavezzi, Pastore, Coloccini, Gutierrez, Mascherano, Rodriguez, Insua, Tevez, Zabaleta, Romero, Demichelis, Heinze.