After winning the Copa America, this time Argentina's fight is to hold on to that success. Which started with the World Cup qualifiers. Coach Lionel Scaloni announced the squad last Monday night.
Last July, the 28-year-old tipped the team over to Brazil. Argentina is also facing those Celesaos in the World Cup qualifiers. The match will be played on the field of Brazil, again on September 6, the great Lionel Messi and Neymar. Earlier, a match will be played against Venezuela, then Albiceleste will play against Bolivia again.
Coach Scaloni has relied heavily on the Copa America team. If Lucas Allario, Sergio Aguero and Augustine Marchesin had not been ruled out due to injuries, the same squad could have been seen in the World Cup qualifiers.
Juan Faith and Paolo DiBalla have joined the team. Faith has been brought in as an extra defender. And when Paolo Dibala came to the team, there was a performance, there was also a touch of luck. Copa backup forward Sergio Aguero is out of the squad due to injury, followed by Mauro Icardi. As a result, coach Scaloni has approached Paolo DiBalla.
However, his performance also speaks for itself. He played for Juventus in the first match of the season, scoring the first goal in less than three minutes.
Meanwhile, Lautaro Martinez was not injured in the match against Inter Milan. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. As a result, there is a possibility of seeing Paolo DiBalla in the center forward role in the match as well.
Needless to say, Lionel Messi will be his partner in the attack. However, there is some fog about the next place. Coach Scaloni used Anhel de Maria as a Super Sub throughout the Copa America except for the final. His arrival in the XI was to give a strategic surprise in the final. However, it is likely to be seen in the World Cup selection. Got a goal in the first match for PSG, how can coach Scaloni not keep him in the XI?
You can keep, if the coach keeps in mind the defensive position of the team. In the last two and a half decades, the contribution of the forwards has been quite large, in which case Papu Gomez or Nicolas Gonzalez can also be seen in the XI.
Lack of creativity in midfield is Argentina's biggest problem. Rodrigo de Paul, a potential midfielder in the XI, and none of the Leandro Paredes are very creative. That is why Giovanni Lo Chelso or De Maria can be seen as partners.
If there is no big mishap, the heroes of Copa America can be seen again in defense and goal. Those who have performed well in their respective clubs in the newly started European leagues.
All in all, Argentina has announced a very strong team on paper to hold on to the success of the Copa America. But only time will tell how far it can be implemented in the field from paper and pen.
Three-match World Cup squad announced:
Goalkeeper:
Emiliano Martinez (Aston Villa), Franco Armani (Riverplate), Juan Musso (Atlanta), Geronimo Ruli (Villarreal)
Defender:
Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla), Nahuel Molina (Udinese), Herman Pezzella (Real Betis), Juan Faith (Villarreal), Christian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Lucas Martinez (Fio) Nicholas Taliafico (Ajax).
Midfielder:
Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid), Ezekiel Palacios (Bear Leverkusen), Leandro Pardes (PSG), Guido Rodriguez (Real Betis), Nicolas Dominguez (Bologna), Giovanni Lo Chelso (Tottenham Hopp).
Forward:
Anhel de Maria (PSG), Anhel Correa (Atletico Madrid), Julian Alvarez (River Plate), Joaquin Correa (Lazio), Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina), Emiliano Buendia (Aston Villa), Lautarone (Laetrone) PSG), Paolo DiBalla (Juventus).