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BUENOS AIRES, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Former VfL Wolfsburg and Real Zaragoza midfielder Andres D'Alessandro has been recalled by Argentina for next month's 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru.
D'Alessandro, now playing for Internacional in Brazil having joined them from Argentine club San Lorenzo last month, is back after a three-year absence. He last played for Argentina in a 2006 World Cup qualifier away to Paraguay in September 2005.
Argentina, second in the 10-nation South American group with 11 points from six qualifiers, are at home to leaders Paraguay, who have 13 points, on Sept. 6 before travelling to Lima to face bottom-placed Peru four days later.
Coach Alfio Basile named an initial squad of 19 who play for foreign clubs, seven of them winners of the Olympic soccer tournament in Beijing on Saturday including Barcelona's Lionel Messi and double gold medallist Javier Mascherano of Liverpool.
The Argentine Football Association said on its website (www.afa.org.ar) that locally-based players could be added to the squad over the next few days. A place is almost certain to go to Boca Juniors playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme.
Benfica winger Angel Di Maria, who scored the goal in Argentina's 1-0 Olympic final victory over Nigeria, is called up for the first time.
