MOSCOW, May 28 (RIA Novosti) - Barcelona star Lionel
Messi has been included in an Argentine squad for a match
against Russia in Moscow on August 12, Russian football
authorities said on Thursday.
Messi was one of the heroes of the Barcelona side that
swept aside Manchester United to lift the Champions League on
Wednesday, and his inclusion in the Argentina squad guarantees
that interest in the friendly will be high. Russia's own
superstar, Arsenal forward Andrei Arshavin, is also likely to
take part in the game.
Argentina's preliminary squad for the match against Guus
Hiddink's side also includes Manchester United star Carlos
Tevez.
The Russian Football Union press service head Andrei
Malosolov told RIA Novosti that the venue for the game had not
yet been agreed on. However, reports say that the game will
either take place on the plastic surface of the 83,000-capacity
Luzhniki stadium or the natural pitch of the 28,000 Lokomotiv
ground.
Argentina are managed by world football legend Diego
Maradona, 48. The controversial star became Argentina's trainer
in November 2008, despite having had very little previous
managerial experience. After leading the side to victories in
his first three games in charge, Argentina were beaten 6-1 away
to Bolivia in April in a 2010 World Cup qualifier.
Russia have never previously played Argentina.
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