Argentina kick off their bid to win a 3rd World Cup with a gaggle stage contest towards Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning.
As the ball nestled in Oswaldo Sanchez’s internet and Maxi Rodriguez was swarmed by a sea of neon-bibbed substitutes, the primary participant to rejoice Argentina’s successful purpose with Lionel Messi was Lionel Scaloni. 16 years on from that World Cup spherical of 16 triumph, the pair function the captain and supervisor of an Argentina squad gunning for gold in Qatar.
Here’s the lineup Scaloni could choose for his or her match opener.
GK: Emi Martinez – “I’m just so proud to be Argentinian,” Martinez declared on the eve of his first World Cup.
RB: Nahuel Molina – The Atletico Madrid full-back has by no means misplaced whereas representing his nation.
CB: Nicolas Otamendi – As a 22-year-old, Otamendi performed three matches on the 2010 World Cup, together with the 4-0 evisceration towards Germany within the quarter-finals.
CB: Lisandro Martinez – The totally no-nonsense centre-back made only one look in Argentina’s triumphant Copa America marketing campaign in 2021 however could also be granted a beginning berth this winter within the potential absence of the injured Cristian Romero.
LB: Marcos Acuna – Given the nickname ‘el Huevo’ – the Egg – as a result of variety of bumps and lumps he would choose up whereas taking part in soccer as a child.
CM: Rodrigo De Paul – On his Valencia debut, De Paul was despatched off after simply 63 seconds. He managed to final the primary 45 minutes of his worldwide bow earlier than getting substituted.
CM: Leandro Paredes – The PSG loanee has began simply three Serie A matches since becoming a member of Juventus in the summertime however is an integral cog in Argentina’s midfield.
CM: Alexis Mac Allister – A participant that may boast Scottish and Irish heritage, Mac Allister’s Argentinian father performed alongside Diego Maradona for Boca Juniors and Argentina.
RW: Lionel Messi – The centre-piece of Argentina’s world title tilt was persuaded out of worldwide retirement by Scaloni following the 2018 World Cup. Every Argentinian fan – and plenty of neutrals – will probably be mightily grateful.
ST: Lautaro Martinez – A desperately streaky goalscorer, Lautaro has gone 4 or extra video games with out discovering the online on three separate events already this season.
LW: Angel Di Maria – In the 2021 Copa America closing, on the house of Brazilian soccer no much less, Di Maria turned the primary Argentinian participant to attain a successful purpose in a closing since Gabriel Batistuta.