Carlos Tevez excluded from Argentina FIFA World Cup squad

Buenos Aires: Carlos Tevez excellent form for Italian champions Juventus this season failed to earn him a recall when Alex Sabella named a provisonal 30-man squad for the World Cup finals on Tuesday.

Tevez, capped 64 times, scored 19 goals for Juventus as they retained their Serie A title this term but not even that was a strong enough argument for Sabella to call up the 30-year-old for the first time since he took over at the helm of the national side following Argentina's failure to win the 2011 Copa America which they hosted.

Carlos Tevez. Pic/ AFP

Tevez, who played a full part in Argentina's 2010 World Cup finals campaign, had wanted to make up for his last appearance as it ended in him missing a penalty in the shootout loss to eventual champions Uruguay in the Copa quarter-finals.

Sabella, who has till June 2 to decide on his final 23 players, opted to allow star player Lionel Messi to play in the role he pklays to such effect at Barcelona -- that did not allow for Tevez to be part of his plans.

Argentine -- who won the last of their two World Cups in 1986 -- have been drawn in Group F with Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria, debutants Bosnia and Iran.