Lionel Messi's Argentina now World Cup's oldest squad as Enzo Perez replaces Manuel Lanzini

David Cooper - Writer 00:38 14/06/2018
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  • Following Enzo Perez’s late call-up to the Argentina World Cup squad, his side now boast the oldest team at a second World Cup in a row, with an average age of 29 years and six months.

    The 32-year-old has taken the place of 25-year-old Manuel Lanzini who injured his knee. The River Plate midfielder’s inclusion takes Argentina past Costa Rica as the oldest squad by a single day.

    Argentina also had the oldest squad in Brazil four years ago, when they finished as runners-up to Germany, with an average age of 28 years, 11 months and six days.

    At 36, Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero is the eldest member of the squad, two years older than Javier Mascherano, while Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Pavon are Argentina’s youngest players, both 22.

    Latin American sides account for the third and fourth oldest squads as well, in Mexico and Panama respectively, while Brazil are eighth out of the 32 teams.

    At the other end of the scale, Nigeria, who will face Argentina in Group D, feature the youngest squad at an overall age of 25 years and 11 months.

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