CARACAS (AP) — Midfielders Yangel Herrera, Darwin Machis and Jefferson Mataldo return to the list of 32 called up by Argentina coach Fernando Batista for upcoming friendly matches between Venezuela and Honduras and Guatemala in the United States.
Herrera, Matches and Mataldo, who were key players in the previous World Cup qualifiers, were left out of the first call-up for the warm-up matches under Batista due to injuries.
Batista was appointed coach of the Venezuelan national team on 10 March, two days after the termination of the contractual relationship between Argentina’s José Pekerman and the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) became official.
Batista, who was a strategist for the Argentina U20 and U23 teams, left his position at the Argentine Football Association to join Pekerman’s coaching staff, signing in November 2021. , indicated at the time of FVF.
The FVF refrained from denying or confirming versions that suggested that Pékerman’s agent Pascual Lezcano triggered the events. An audit process found that the director of the Venezuelan national team could not justify his expenses and that the strategist would have refused, keeping him on the sidelines for the duration of his performance review process.
Salomon Rondon looks on top of the Red Wine forwards alongside Inter Miami’s Joseph Martinez. Rondón, who plays for River Plate, is the top scorer in the history of the Venezuelan team with 39 goals.
Venezuela – which is preparing for the next South American qualifier for the 2026 World Cup between the United States, Canada and Mexico, which begins in September – will face Honduras on June 15 and Guatemala three days later.
Goalkeepers: Joel Graterol (Panetolikos, Gracia), Alain Baroja (Caracas), Rafael Romeo (Catholic University, Ecuador), Javier Otero (Orlando City B, MLS).
Defenders: John Aramburu (Real Union, Spain), Jordan Osorio (Parma, Italy), Jhon Cancellara (Coritiba, Brazil), Wilker Angel (Aucas, Ecuador), Christian Makoun (Charlotte, MLS), Miguel Navarro (Chicago Fire, MLS) ) ), Luis Mago (Banfield, Argentina), Moises Tabalante (Orlando City B, MLS)
Midfielders: Jose Martinez (Philadelphia Union, MLS), Tomas Rincon (Sampdoria, Italy), Cristian Caceres Jr. (New York Red Bulls. MLS), Daniel Pereira (Austin, MLS), Yangel Herrera (Girona, Spain), Junior Moreno (Cincinnati , MLS), David Martinez (Monagas), Eduard Bello (Matzlan, Mexico), Samuel Sousa (Emelec, Ecuador), Jhon Murillo (Atletico San Luis, Mexico), Jefferson Savarino (Real Salt Lake, MLS), Darwin Machis (Real Valladolid, Spain), Jefferson Mateldo (Santos, Brazil), Romulo Otero (Aucas, Ecuador).
Forwards: Ernesto Torregrosa (Pisa, Italy), Alejandro Marques (Estoril Praia, Portugal), Kevin Kelsey (Shashtar Donetsk, Ukraine), Salomon Rondon (River Plate, Argentina), Joseph Martinez (Inter Miami, MLS).
