The world champion begins his journey to the World Championships in North America, and Scaloni not only did not approve the composition, but also tried the option.
The world champion officially begins his title defense with his first match en route to the 2026 World Championship in North America: The Argentina national team takes on Ecuador at the Monumental Tournament.in which both teams will debut in South American qualifying tournaments.
South American qualifier match
The match will take place this year Thursday, September 7, from 21:00. at River Stadium, which will be completely filled.
Ahead of the first window of the World Cup qualifier, which will also include a clash next Tuesday against Bolivia at the peak of La Paz on the 12th, Lionel Scaloni formed the backbone of the team crowned in Qatar in 2022. , but also a few young players who will be upgraded in the future.
Of the 28 world champions injured, only four are not in service: injured Jeronimo Rulli, Marcos Acuña and Paulo Dybala and erased? Alejandro Gomez. In the middle of last month, the goalkeeper had to undergo surgery due to a shoulder injury, the Egg was torn open on Monday, August 21st, and the Jewel suffered an adductor sprain on Saturday, the 26th.
Another who had a physical problem during the FIFA date preview was Lisandro Martinez, who had to be substituted in Manchester United’s loss to Arsenal on 3 September due to a toe problem that he broke the previous year but still went to the team. After passing the tests, he was excluded for the match against El Tri, but could participate in the trip to Bolivia. Based on this situation, the coach decided to supplement the squad Facundo Medina.
As for the new faces, DT surprised with the first call of four players: Lucas Beltran, Alan Velasco, Lucas Esquivel and Bruno Sapelliwho was called up to the Italy under-21 team and will now play for Albiceleste.
Squad List
Archers: Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani, Juan Musso, Walter Benitez
Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Voit, Christian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martinez, Marcos Senesi, Nicholas Tagliafico, Lucas Esquivel.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis McAllister, Eqequiel Palacios, Facundo Buonanotte, Bruno Sapelli
Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez, Alejandro Garnacho, Angel Di Maria, Angel Correa, Lucas Beltran, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Alan Velasco, Lionel Messi
ARGENTINA TRAINING AGAINST ECUADOR
Without much time for testing, logic dictated that the coach would use a line-up very similar to the one that started on an unforgettable December 18 last year in Lusail. And Scaloni himself promoted it this way, apart from the fact that he did not want to publicly confirm eleven: “I have determined the team, it will not change much compared to what the last games were. We have changed little, because they do not give me a reason to change it, although there can always be a surprise, especially since Ecuador is a good team whose coach makes them play well.. Although the team may change tomorrow, it will almost always be the same.”
However, in practice after the conference, a football test came as a surprise with Nico González playing as a left winger instead of Ángel Di Maria, although Fideo was still there from the start.
This question adds to one that has been going on for several days now: with Lautaro Martinez fully recovered from his ankle problems and in great shape (he scored five goals in the first three rounds of Serie A), the manager must determine if he should return possession. which he undeniably had for almost the entire cycle, or keep Julián Alvarez, who won this place at the World Cup.
Probable? Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Christian Romero, Nicholas Otamendi, Nicholas Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martinez or Julian Alvarez, Angel Di Maria or Nico Gonzalez.