Tevez has no World Cup hopes, avoids watching Argentina

Carlos Tevez holds out no hope of being part of Argentina's World Cup squad and prefers not to watch their matches on television, the Juventus striker said on Friday.

The 29-year-old, who has been in fine scoring form with 10 Serie A goals for juve so far this season, has been overlooked since Alejandro Sabella became Argentina coach in August 2011.

"If Sabella hasn't called me up, I'm not going to phone him to find out why he doesn't pick me," Tevez told Argentina's La Red radio station.

"Sabella must not be asked to call me up... Let him work in peace because it's not easy for Sabella not to call me. I know there's a lot of pressure especially from fans."

The former Manchester City, Manchester United and West Ham United striker said he had a good relationship with the Argentina players and national team captain Lionel Messi.

"I have no problems with the group and I get on great with Messi. I don't lose sleep over the World Cup. I don't think I will watch it because it hurts me to see the national team, it's bad for me," he said.

Some media pundits say Tevez, who last played for Argentina in the 2011 Copa America quarter-final defeat by Uruguay, may not fit into Sabella's tactical plans while others argue that he might disrupt the squad's harmony.

Tevez was part of the Argentina teams that reached the quarter-finals of the last two World Cups in Germany in 2006 and South Africa in 2010.

Argentina, winners in 1978 and 1986, are in Group F with Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria at next year's finals in Brazil which kick off on June 12.

Image: Carlos Tevez

Photograph: Giorgio Perottino/Reuters