SERGIO ROMERO
In Argentina’s star-studded lineup, Sergio Romero has a fairly low profile, even though he’s been the team’s first-choice goalkeeper since the 2010 World Cup.
Some Argentines worry, however, that Romero may not be at the top of his game in Brazil because he hasn’t been playing regularly for French club Monaco this season.
Argentina coach Alejandro Sabella doesn’t have too many options, though. Romero’s backup, Mariano Andujar, has also been struggling to stay in the starting lineup at Italian club Catania..
Angel di Maria
Angel Di Maria usually plays from the centre and drift wide in the left side to stretch defenses and make them lose their shape. And with his blistering pace and relentlessness on the ball can easily be mistaken for an extra man in offense — who is equally adept in scoring as he is in assisting.
While oppositions will have their task cut out for Messi, Aguero and Higuain, Di Maria, who will start a little deep will have an opportunity to make a mark.
This might just be Di Maria’s World Cup, when the entire world will have their eyes glued on the diminutive number 10. The Real Madrid winger has been one of the most underrated yet consistent and potent weapons for Real Madrid for quite some time now.
SERGIO AGUERO
The speedy and powerful Sergio Aguero made his debut in the Argentine league in 2003, when he was only 15. Since then, “Kun” has won Olympic gold with Argentina in 2008, the Europa league with Atletico Madrid in 2010 and the Premier league in his first season with Manchester City in 2012.
Aguero’s memorable injury-time goal against Queen’s Park Rangers in the last game of that season clinched City’s first league title in four decades.
As long as he arrives in Brazil injury-free, he’s a given in Argentina’s World Cup squad but may have to battle with Gonzalo Higuain for a place in the starting lineup.
FERNANDO GAGO
A key provider for Messi, Fernando Gago is a talented midfielder with a great eye for the game.
Real Madrid signed him from Boca Juniors for $27 million in 2006, but he left the Spanish club five years later after spending most of his time on the bench.
The shortage of playing time left him out of Argentina’s World Cup squad in 2010. This time, Gago was selected for the provisional squad despite having missed many ofArgentina’s qualifiers due to injury.