Newcastle defender Fabricio Coloccini has admitted that he is concerned he will miss out on a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad if his form does not improve for the Magpies over the remainder of the Premier League season.
The centre-half last featured for Argentina in their 5-2 win over Paraguay in September 2013, meaning he has missed the last five games for his country, although he was included in the squad for October’s clash with Uruguay but did not make it onto the pitch.
Coloccini admits he is desperate to be included in Alejandro Sabella’s World Cup squad but he fears he will miss out as a result of his club form if he cannot impress in Newcastle’s remaining Premier League fixtures.
“Of course, I think about the World Cup,” Coloccini told the Gazette.
“But I’m focused here, because if I’m not playing well for Newcastle United, I can’t go to the World Cup.
“The World Cup is my dream, but I have to do well here.”
Coloccini, 32, faces competition from the likes of Napoli’s Federico Fernández, Benfica talisman Ezequiel Garay and Sporting Lisbon defender Marcos Rojo for a place in the Argentina squad this summer, while Federico Fazio is enjoying a fantastic season for Sevilla in La Liga and will be hoping to add to his two caps.
Argentina are strong favourites at 1.21 to top Group F, which includes Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria and Iran, while the Lionel Messi-led South Americans can be backed at 5.10 to go all the way and win the World Cup in Brazil (Bet on Brazil world cup), which would be their third success following wins in 1978 and 1986.
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