Article

Messi headlines star-studded Argentina

5 February 2013 04:07

Zlatan Ibrahimovic will come up against Lionel Messi as Sweden entertain Argentina in Solna on Wednesday.

Ibrahimovic and Messi are widely regarded as two of the world's best forwards and both are in the midst of stellar seasons.

Sweden's Ibrahimovic has scored 22 goals in 27 appearances for French leaders Paris Saint-Germain, while Argentina's Messi has netted a whopping 39 goals in 29 games for Spanish giants Barcelona.

Both teams have named experienced squads for the clash, with Sweden expected to turn to Genoa's Andreas Granqvist and West Bromwich Albion's Jonas Olsson in hope of stopping Messi.

Argentina will field a host of established stars, including Messi, Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, to compliment the likes of Cristian Ansaldi and Walter Montillo, who have two caps apiece.

Elsewhere, Portugal will seek a return to form against Ecuador in Guimaraes following a string of underwhelming results.

Portugal, who trail Group F leaders Russia by five points in European World Cup qualifying, were held to a 1-1 draw against Gabon last time out.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic will be without goalkeeper Petr Cech when they meet Turkey in Manisa.

Cech injured his finger in Chelsea's English Premier League clash with Newcastle United at the weekend and will be replaced by Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Jan Lastuvka in goal.

In other friendly matches, Australia will continue their preparations for a crucial World Cup qualifier against Oman when they take on Romania in Malaga.

Scotland entertain Estonia in Aberdeen, while Austria travel to Swansea to face Wales and Ireland host Poland in Dublin.

Macedonia take on Denmark in Skopje, Switzerland travel to Greece, while Japan are up against Latvia in Kobe.

Albania and Georgia clash in Tirana, Malta face an uphill battle against Northern Ireland, and Belgium meet Slovakia in Brugge.

Croatia take on South Korea in London, while Russia are up against Iceland and Belarus tackle Hungary in Belek.

Info

Sweden

D D L W D

2 - 3

Argentina

D W W L D

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 3
Full-time: 2 - 3

Venue: Friends Arena (Solna)
Attendance: 49646

Goals

	0 - 1	3' M. Lustig (OG)
J. Olsson 18' (assist by K. Källström)	1 - 1
	1 - 2	19' S. Agüero (assist by Á. di María)
	1 - 3	23' G. Higuaín
R. Elm 90'+5	2 - 3

Lineups

Player	Bookings
A. Isaksson
J. Olsson	18'
Martin Olsson
A. Granqvist
M. Lustig	3'
K. Källström
A. Svensson
S. Larsson
A. Kačaniklić
Z. Ibrahimovic
T. Hysén
Coach: E. Hamrén

Player	Bookings
S. Romero
P. Zabaleta
E. Garay
H. Campagnaro
F. Fernández
J. Mascherano
F. Gago
Á. di María
L. Messi
S. Agüero	19' 68'
G. Higuaín	23'
Coach: A. Sabella

Substitutes

Player	Bookings
M. Ranégie for Z. Ibrahimovic 46'
A. Johansson for M. Lustig 60'
R. Elm for A. Svensson 61'	90+5'
J. Durmaz for A. Kačaniklić 77'
P. Wernbloom for K. Källström 77'	83'
B. Safari
K. Nordfeldt
P. Nilsson
R. Bengtsson

Player	Bookings
W. Montillo for Á. di María 46'
Cristian Ansaldi for P. Zabaleta 61'
É. Banega for F. Gago 68'
E. Lavezzi for S. Agüero 75'
F. Coloccini for E. Garay 87'
F. Di Santo for G. Higuaín 90+1'
A. Fernández
C. Álvarez
F. Rinaudo
G. Peruzzi
M. Andújar
N. Gaitán

Sunday 19 May

04:59	Badstuber suffers injury blow
04:43	Ranieri eyes Falcao swoop
04:22	Carragher open to coaching role
04:07	Stramaccioni resigned to Inter fate
03:58	Clichy extends City stay
03:39	Vilanova not involved in Neymar talks
03:19	Neymar future up in the air
03:17	Hodgson wants players released
03:00	Conte has big plans for Juve
02:32	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Shabab stay in running
01:50	Emotional Beckham thanks PSG
01:27	Home-town club farewells Heynckes in style
00:26	La Liga Wrap: Valencia, Sociedad notch vital wins

Saturday 18 May

23:50	Allegri: Players should not have to tackle racism
23:11	Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain 3 Brest 1
22:57	Serie A: Sampdoria 3 Juventus 2
20:26	Thai Super League Wrap: Muangthong extend their lead at the top
19:15	Vilanova to have more cancer treatment
19:13	SPL Wrap: Hibernian finish with a win
19:05	Mazzarri coy over Napoli future
19:04	Bundesliga Wrap: Hoffenheim make miracle escape
17:59	Parkinson: Bradford fans deserve promotion
17:47	Lambert wants highest possible league finish
17:31	Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2
17:27	Celtic´s Wilson pleads for longer break
17:21	Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4
17:11	McArthur wants Wigan to end on a high
17:05	Cortese to remain executive chairman at Southampton
16:31	English League Two: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 3
16:18	Rodgers praises Carroll´s West Ham form
16:15	Brighton investigate dressing room incident
16:14	Pardew admits to second season struggle
15:59	Laudrup keen on bringing in Michu assistance
14:43	Hughton insists Holt will stay put
14:34	Jol outlines summer transfer plans
14:08	Colback eyeing Tottenham shock
13:07	Villas-Boas would welcome technical director
13:01	Tiote: Newcastle have not been good enough
12:25	Neville proud to win over Everton fans
12:08	Mancini sacking is ´amazing´, says Ferguson
11:31	Benitez coy on lap of honour
11:08	Wenger: Bayern win was turning point
05:28	Liga MX Wrap: Monterrey share spoils with America
02:47	Simeone: We no longer fear Real Madrid
02:31	Mourinho laments ´horror season´
00:26	Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (AET)

Friday 17 May

23:49	Stoke to investigate pig´s head incident
22:42	Beckham could still have PSG role
21:02	Lennon fears Hearts relegation
20:52	Dante out to defeat Gladbach
20:35	Second year of Malaga ban waived
19:45	Villas-Boas confident of keeping Bale
19:13	Balotelli warned against walk-off protest
18:58	Premier League reveal third-place play-off plans
18:43	Navas ´excited´ by Manchester City link
18:39	Ancelotti denies Real contact
18:08	DIS confirm Neymar to Barcelona talks
18:04	Serie A Preview: Siena v Milan
17:48	Premier League Preview: Wigan v Aston Villa
17:37	Bassong crowned Norwich´s player of the season
17:28	Laudrup: Finishing eighth would be like winning the title
17:18	Premier League Preview: Southampton v Stoke City
17:12	Rodgers wants lengthy Liverpool stay
16:57	De Vrij pens new Feyenoord deal
16:43	Bale named Barclays Player of the Year
16:36	Ward-Prowse: I´ll keep improving
16:28	Jol calls for strong finish
16:28	Del Bosque: Casillas has my support
16:15	Coloccini: French recruits will blossom with time
16:04	Clarke has learned a lot in first year at West Brom
15:24	Di Canio backs Fletcher to shine
15:19	Icardi flattered by Inter rumours
14:48	Walters aiming to end season on a goalscoring high
14:26	Premier League Preview: Manchester City v Norwich
14:24	La Liga Preview: Barcelona v Valladolid
14:09	Lambert keen to secure future of Christian Benteke
13:29	Pirlo hoping for Juventus improvement
13:27	Roberts criticises new FA racism ruling
13:25	Serie A Preview: Inter Milan v Udinese
13:19	Serie A Preview: Sampdoria v Juventus
13:16	Premier League Preview: Swansea v Fulham
13:09	Moyes praises Everton squad
13:04	MLS stars pay tribute to retiring Beckham
12:50	Villas-Boas still battling for fourth place
12:35	League One play-off final Preview: Yeovil meet Brentford at Wembley
12:23	Ferguson raring to go in his final Manchester United match
11:59	Premier League Preview: West Ham v Reading
11:48	Premier League preview: West Brom v Manchester United
11:40	Wenger: Destiny in our own hands
11:28	Premier League Preview: Newcastle v Arsenal
11:19	Podolski focused on UEFA Champions League qualification
11:13	McManaman ruled out for three months
11:11	Premier League Preview: Tottenham v Sunderland
11:03	Premier League Preview: Liverpool v QPR
10:42	Manchester City appoint Patrick Vieira as new Head of Elite Development Squad
10:37	Lampard: Return of Mourinho would be a huge lift
10:35	Cesar does not expect QPR stay
09:07	Ligue 1 Preview: Top versus bottom, Lyon aim for Europe
08:34	Lewandowski coy on next move
05:39	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Olimpia, Santa Fe progress
04:33	Loew rues missing stars
03:48	Deschamps talks up Nasri recall
03:00	Simeone: Atletico happy to be Copa underdogs
01:52	Beckham retirement shocks May
01:45	Stramaccioni focused on Udinese
01:07	Keller calls for late Schalke surge

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