BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain earned a place in the Argentine national team for the first time as coach Diego Maradona named 18 players Friday for two vital World Cup qualifiers.

    The decisive matches against Peru at home on Oct. 10 and away to Uruguay in Montevideo four days later will also see Liverpool left back Emiliano Insua make his national debut.

    Argentina, now fifth in the 10-team South American group from which the top four qualify, must win the last two qualifiers to be sure of progressing to next year's finals in South Africa.

    The team finishing fifth will play off against the fourth-placed side from the CONCACAF region.

    Brazil, with 33 points from 16 matches, and Paraguay with 30 points have qualified.

    Chile are third on 27, fourth-placed Ecuador have 23 points, Argentina are on 22, Uruguay and Venezuela 21 and Colombia 20, while Bolivia (12) and Peru (10) are out of the reckoning.

    Squad:

    Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (AZ Alkmaar), Mariano Andujar (Catania)

    Defenders: Emiliano Insua (Liverpool), Fabricio Coloccini (Newcastle United), Gabriel Heinze (Olympique Marseille), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Nicolas Pareja (Espanyol)

    Midfielders: Javier Mascherano (Liverpool), Luis Gonzalez (Olympique Marseille), Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle United), Angel Di Maria, Pablo Aimar (both Benfica)

    Forwards: Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid), Carlos Tevez (Manchester City), Gonzalo Higuain (Real Madrid), Diego Milito (Inter Milan), Ezequiel Lavezzi (Napoli).