The Copa America champion Argentina has selected their 26-man team for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Giovani Lo Celso, who will miss the World Cup due to a leg muscle injury he sustained while playing for Villarreal, is the most obvious omission in Lionel Scaloni’s roster. The two-time world champion is just two wins away from matching Italy’s record under Roberto Mancini, as they are now undefeated in 35 games.
In place of the typical No.10 position in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Lo Celso’s absence allows Scaloni to switch to a 4-3-3 formation.
- Goalkeeper
The apparent starter between the sticks is Emiliano Martinez. He was a key contributor to Argentina’s successful run in the 2021 Copa America. Martinez is renowned for commanding a great deal of respect from his backline and maintaining regular contact with his defense due to his towering presence in goal. He is also skilled at setting up his backline for set pieces. In recent years, Martinez hasn’t often made a mistake for his country’s team, whether blocking shots or moving off his line to eliminate the danger.
- Defenders
Due to their calm demeanor, Scaloni has come to trust Nicolas Otamendi and Cristian Romero as the center-back pairing. One of Manchester United’s top players this year, Lisandro Martinez, is another member of Scaloni’s team. Martinez has proven his detractors wrong by compensating for his lack of height with his skill at predicting the ball’s flight and by developing a habit of persistently upsetting and bothering his opponents, despite all the criticism he received for his lack of aerial presence.
Scaloni is anticipated to choose Nicolas Tagliafico and Nahuel Molina as his full-backs. When Argentina has a finisher like Lautaro Martinez in the box, who has a strong aerial presence, Tagliafico, who provides more attacking support, can be helpful with his runs on the overlap and underlap. While Molina’s offensive impact may not be on par with Tagliafico’s, his tackling skills make up for it. Additionally, even if he does join the attack, he has demonstrated a propensity for turning around quickly when his team loses the ball. This feature will be useful, particularly if Argentina is struck on the counter.
- Midfield
Giovani Lo Celso’s injury while playing for Villarreal made Scaloni unable to include him in his 26-man roster, which left him with an understandable sorrowful heart.
Nevertheless, turning to the players that are accessible, the most obvious option in the center of midfield is Rodrigo De Paul. Even though De Paul may not have the finest season in club colors, he has proven to be a very different performer when sporting that Blue and White jersey. He is a team player and will be Scaloni’s go-to man to control the park’s middle and start plays for the attacking line. In addition to his ability to break up play and cover big areas on the ground, De Paul can occasionally find a solid ball to open up defenses. He assisted Angel Di Maria’s goal, which gave Argentina the Copa America championship in 2021.
Scaloni is anticipated to start De Paul, young Benfica player Enzo Fernandez, and Leandro Paredes. The presence of Paredes, who has expertise at the top level, will encourage Fernandez to be aggressive while going up the field as the extra attacker. This season, Fernandez has contributed three goals and four assists for Benfica, demonstrating his ability in the attacking third.
- Forwards
On the whole, this is the most thrilling stadium in Argentina. Naturally, having Lionel Messi, one of the finest players in the world, has its advantages. Still, one of the best things Scaloni has accomplished during his leadership is to wean Argentina off of the “Messi-centric strategy” and to hold everyone accountable.
Angel Di Maria, Messi, and Lautaro Martinez are considered Argentina’s front three. The presence of Messi and Di Maria on the wings will mean that Lautaro, who will virtually play the No. 9 position, will receive many services. Apart from his ability to challenge defenders and score goals, Messi has developed a playmaking style that plays to his strengths, making him one of the best playmakers in all of football. This season, he has contributed 14 assists for Paris Saint-Germain, which is sufficient evidence of his chance-creating skills.
The middle front-three player, Lautaro Martinez, will have to communicate with his wingers often. He can beat a defender and score goals, but Argentina will also benefit from his ability to play the fox in the box.
Paulo Dybala remains in Scaloni’slineup despite being less than fully healthy. On his best days, Dybala can worry about any defense, but he frequently falls short of expectations while playing for his country. He is still a crucial player to have, though.
