Icardi omitted from World Cup squad

Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi has been left out of Argentina’s 23-man World Cup squad.

The 25-year-old scored 29 goals in Serie A this season, topping the scoring charts alongside Lazio forward Ciro Immobile.

But with boss Jorge Sampaoli having Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala, Gonzalo Higuain and Sergio Aguero in his strike department, there is no room for Icardi.

Everton defender Ramiro Funes Mori, who like Icardi was named in the initial 35-man group, also missed out, but the squad includes six Premier League players – goalkeeper Sergio Romero and defender Marcos Rojo from Manchester United, Chelsea stopper Willy Caballero, Manchester City duo Nicolas Otamendi and Aguero plus West Ham playmaker Manuel Lanzini.

Sampaoli said on Argentina’s official Twitter: “I tried to be as fair as possible. We came to these names after a lot of analysis in each position. If we are encouraged to play, we will be a complex rival for anyone.”

Argentina face Iceland on 16 June before further Group D games with Croatia and Nigeria.