Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI could go with 5 man back line, Lionel MESSI, Lautaro in attack

By
Roy Nemer
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56

Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI appears to have his starting XI in mind and he will likely go with a 5 man back line.

Per a report by TyC Sports, SCALONI has 8 names confirmed and 5 names left to fight for 3 spots. Franco ARMANI will be the starting goalkeeper when Argentina take to the pitch agaisnt Venezuela on Friday. Gonzalo MONTIEL and Nicolas TAGLIAFICO would be the two full backs.

In midfield, Givoani LO CELSO and Leandro PAREDES as the midfielders and in attack, Lionel MESSI with Pity MARTINEZ and Lautaro MARTINEZ.

That would leave three defensive spots left and SCALONI reportedly has five names. Juan FOYTH, Gabriel MERCADO, German PEZZELLA, Lisandro MARTINEZ and Walter KANNEMANN.

It remains to be seen which three would get the start.

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56 Comments

  1. I am not a fan of scaloni but this is a logical line up. Why?

    Remember we don’t have any good number 5. A 5 man backline make sure we can play without a proper dm without compromising defensive stability.

    Foyth and licha are great with ball, mercado is also good. Montiel is good going forward. So it won’t be any problem.

    • I agree with most of what you said Mafioso except on Argentina not having good 5s. Ascacibar, Nico Dominguez and Caseres are all capable no.5s not to mention that I personally think both Licha and Foyth are more suitable for midfield duties than defense due in part to their excellent ball skills and (in Licha’s case in particular) superb passing ability.

      • i agree, fear was the reason we lost two world-cups and we’re starting off the next trophy campaign with fear again. Our central vertical is undoubtedly strong – Foyth, Parades-Celso, Messi. but strenthening the flanks cannot come at a cost of bad formation and ‘filler’ players like Mercado… i dont like this formation (just my opinion)

  2. Ok everyone take a deep breath! The line up is unexpected to be sure but I think it can be quite attacking if utilized properly:

    ———————————————Armani—————————————————

    ———————-Mercado————Foyth——————Licha—————————–

    —–Montiel——————Celso—————–Paredes———————Tagliafico——-

    ———————Dios—————-Martinez——————Pity——————————

    Honestly I kinda like the line up, it seems balanced both defensively and offensively and it has plenty of youth players (5 U23 to be exact) not to mention that Pity is finally back to the team after a series of unfortunate injuries and then missing out due to the copa lib final.
    Like I said this line up could be very attacking IF used properly, if not it could end up as a mess with some weird 5-2-3 concoction but to be honest that’s what friendly games are all about, trying out something new and see what works.

    • Agree. 3 man backline gives more freedom to Paredes and Lo Celso, Paredes in particular as he has got more cover. As usual for these formations, wingbacks are the key. And I’m glad to see many fresh faces(which would have never happened under our previous bosses) and trying out something new. As you mentioned these are what friendlies are about, results and to an extent performances if things don’t go according to plan are irrelevant.

  3. Some of you guys are so funny that I had to create an account just to share my thoughts as well since everyone is so negative. Scaloni has done a great job as a coach and I’m glad he’s with us and I think it’s a blessing to our national team. I am 29 years old and grew up as a kid watching batistuta, veron, sorin on our national team. I remember we would win almost every game and it was always fun to watch. As I got older we get Messi and I watch the games and get sooo dissapointed from low effort performances. It’s as if we are building up and attack all the way till the game is over. Messi walks around pissed off instead of making his teammates happy and pumped up to play with him. He treats them like paparazzi. I love him as I do anyone from our country but I think he can make a huge impact on our team in the locker room and his personality does the opposite. It’s like if the players think Messi doesn’t like them for some reason. Moving on, we haven’t had a good midfield since veron played. Now with Scaloni he brought up kids that have dominated the midfield in every game we have played with scaloni. The pace of ball movement and aggressive defense is something that I only saw during the 90s when verons team was around. I have seen every match with scaloni as coach so I think the people doubting him have not seen the games because our team plays amazing. We had a great game against Brazil with our young guys. I think our wc team would have lost that game for sure. The players have fun and look happy with scaloni and it’s all that matters. Argentina is the best in the world at soccer I don’t care what anyone says so it’s just a matter of managing personalities and loving each other and playing as a group. Saravia, paredes, foyth, lo celso, pity have all shown amazing efforts with the National team. It’s funny to me reading people’s comments criticizing scaloni’s strategy against shitty teams like venezuela. Then we dominate the game and win 4-1 and then even more excuses come out as to why we won and played so good. Cmon guys let’s get serious. As far as 5 man back line, it’s obvious that it’s really a 3 man defensive system. The wingers are just good defensively so they are going to be playing winger the whole game unless they have to come back which I highly doubt will happen at all. On top of that, juan foyth plays as an attacking center back (which I’ve never seen until him) and he’s very very good at it. Pity is the best LW our national team has had in years. The game he played with scaloni, him and pavon would be non stop attacking the goal every possession. Another thing, in hockey the best coaches in history never were superstars as players. The best coaches are the guys that ride the bench and aren’t as skilled, they absorb everything during the game and practice and they pick the coaches brain and learn everything from their superstar teammates and super star coach potentially. Scaloni is a real brain with balls, not a big name. I agree with every move he’s made and has finally brought me happiness when watching the games instead of the intense dissapointment from watching messi’s club.

    • Although our views contradict, but still, I appreciate it. Very humbly written. But, the ending is disappointing. What’s this Messi club thing according to you???

      • Copa, what I meant by messi’s club I am referring to the recent world cup teams he’s had with argentina.

    • Nice post. I dont think you should feel the need to change account.

      i do completely disagree with some of your thoughts.

      > As I got older we get Messi and I watch the games and get sooo disappointed from low effort performances. It’s as if we are building up and attack all the way till the game is over. Messi walks around pissed off instead of making his teammates happy and pumped up to play with him. He treats them like paparazzi. I love him as I do anyone from our country but I think he can make a huge impact on our team in the locker room and his personality does the opposite. It’s like if the players think Messi doesn’t like them for some reason. Moving on, we haven’t had a good midfield since veron played

      i’m afraid you’re speculating and it’s mostly wrong. Time and time again teammates have always said messi is a leader on the pitch and he often motivates throughout the game. Time and Time again players have said how they love to play with him again and they constantly praise and admire him. This comes directly from players, which i have to consider more than someone speculating from their TV.

      It’s also important to recognize the context of the events you’re describing. I’d imagine Croatia or France comes to mind when Messi was photographed rubbing his temples looking like he wanted to die….. stressed the F out.

      The context:
      1) Sampaoli: The absolute madness shit show that Sampaoli thrust upon the team. His actions did everything but instill confidence…he literally crippled the teams moral.
      2) Arg Media/Fans: The dog shit Arg media and the dogshit fans who constalty talk shit and hate Messi. The guy dies for the shirt and all these thankless bastards spit in his face and cast stones everytime we lose. Imagine a how the team would feel if they praised them after losing???
      3) Losing to 3 finals

      So,
      Lunactic Shitshow Samplaoli + Disgraceful Arg Media/Fans + Losing 3 Finals = unhappy Messi

      The fix isn’t on Messi. We need a better coach, we need better fans, and the Arg media can go fuck themselves.

      > Now with Scaloni he brought up kids that have dominated the midfield in every game we have played with scaloni.

      Our midfield isn’t dominating. horrible possession and we haven’t been able to string together more than 3 pasess.

      • @choripan :”i’m afraid you’re speculating and it’s mostly wrong. Time and time again teammates have always said messi is a leader on the pitch and he often motivates throughout the game. Time and Time again players have said how they love to play with him again and they constantly praise and admire him. This comes directly from players, which i have to consider more than someone speculating from their TV.”

        –Sorry to burst your bubble boy. You believe whatever bullshit the players and coaches say on media. You’re so naive to think that they’ll say anything bad about the player(s) in question or the truth in front of the people. It’s never gonna happen, at least for the moment. For instance, we don’t have to go anywhere else but just look at the recent events happened at both Man Utd and Leicester. We all saw what happened there.

        I’m not saying there’s problem with Messi as the original poster mentioned, I’m only saying that you can’t count what players, coaches and co. say in front of the media; it’s total BS majority of the time!

        • batigol_cowcho

          > I’m not saying there’s problem with Messi

          Sorry to burst your bubble boy but why are we even talking about this bullshit then. I’ll tell you what, go ahead and listen to some youtube armchair expert and ill lean towards what players and coaches have said.

          (btw, don’t get me wrong, theres BS absolutely everywhere including our own opinions)

      • “The fix isn’t on Messi. We need a better coach, we need better fans, and the Arg media can go fuck themselves.”

        I think There was no other options besides Scaloni, So he has my support. I still think he will do good, considering the circumstances and the players available to him, he is ok

        Still when things go wrong, the blame lands on the little man. I am amazed at how he keeps composure and still has the desire, will and energy to come and play for us. and yet, expect him to carry us on his back match after match.

        Reiterating “Messi’s club” is pure and complete counter supportive argument.
        how some fans expect great footballers to perform when they are told that they are on the the team just because they are Messi’s friends? complete disrespect.

        • Scaloni being a last resort or only choice is deeply disturbing but what’s New with this dysfunctional organisation.

          The “meat club” commentary is mind numbing

  4. i don t care about who will play or not.
    the names i mean.

    just disturb me why to waste one friendly game for our coach to see something that we all know
    from 2002.
    THAT SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING TO ARGENTINA. IT IS NOT FIT TO OUR TEAM FOR GOD SHAKE.

    what more should happened to us for not do that mistake again and again.

    as about the guy that said that in 2014 world cup our team played system 4-4-2.

    my friend or other team you was watching or other world cup !!!

    • It is a myth that Argentina used 4-4-2 in 2014 world cup infact sabella used so many formation in that wc. That includes 5-3-2, 3-4-1-2, 4-3-3. The match where Argentina played best was semi final if remember correctly well in that match Argentina used 4-3-2-1.
      4-4-2 is very old and traditional formation it cannot guarantee sucess in modern football. Bielsa three man was failure in 2002 WC but it had huge sucess in SA qualifiers so there must be other reasons for that wc failure.

      • my friend in 2014 except the first half against Bosnia when Sabella realize how wrong was to play with that system all the other games he used 4 in back.

        from 2006 till our days our philosophy was always to play with 4-3-3
        with combinations of that system (4-5-1 , 4-2-1-3 etc )
        the main philosophy was 4-3-3.

        with that system we arrive to 3 finals and we succeed what we succeed.

        the system with 3 in back is very difficult to play one team. it demand a lot of things from your players against very good teams. Argentina don t have the tools to successful play with 3 in back.
        dozens of examples exist which i am bored to write all now.

        other thing to play with Venezuela or Bolivia and other thing to playwith European teams.

        in 2002 and in 1998 we played like this and we failed both times exactly because as you said correct we could play in South America that way with success but when we play against teams like England , Netherlands , Sweden and England again we had big fails. with England in 1998 we bleed to death to qualify but the main picture was same anyway.

        Argentina can t success with 3 in back. history teach us clearly.

        Scaloni can test whatever he wants ok. no problem. he is the coach so he is the boss. ok too.

        just my argue is only why we should waste one friendly game for see something that we already know.

        • 3 at the back is not Argentina style. period
          2 bulldog WBs are essentially required for that system to work along with Inverted Wingers. WE have the inverted wingers but we do not have world class WBs

  6. Mercado GTFO of our sights. Piece of crap has no biz in the NT.
    Btw, Federico Navarro already on Man City wish list (as Fernandinho understudy).

  8. 5 man backline is like 3 man backline depending on the height the fullbacks are placed at (or if they are more like wing backs).
    Similarly a 3 man backline can be more defensive than a 4 man backline depending on fullback height of the back 4 on pitch.
    In modern game wide players can have different roles depending on the coach regardless of the name of their position or formation. You can only tell by looking at it.
    I cannot imagine Scaloni playing pure 5 man back. Even with back 4’s he does push full backs up and drop a CM into the back.

    I am more concerned with which 3 center backs in this game regardless of formation. If they are in a straight vertical line it will be waste of a man against Venezuela – for example if its Mercado, Pezella, Kanneman. However if Foyth or Lisandro are playing the 3rd CB, it is quite possible one of them is more like a sweeper behind Parades, so like an advanced CB. This could effectively be like playing a 2 man backline even though on paper it is a 5 man backline.

    • Yes….you are correct. I dont get it why people are so much concerned with this line up. These line up can be transformed into 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 in the match.

  9. Well u have to try something… I know ppl see 5 in back but its actually 3 Montiel & Tags are basically wing backs it’s why Scaloni isn’t using a true wings with i jury to Fideo which shouldn’t be counted on as a strt always the same with him

  10. Scaloni should be out no matter win or lost tomorrow.

    532with lo celso ,paredes in double 5 that is not enough .Lautaro Martinez is not impressive enough to be number 9 .

    5 defense vs Venezuela , Argentina 532 vs Venezuela 541 come on guys what will happen next ? 0:0?

    • He was like a horse this season for PSG. I still think that this injury is ‘politically motivated’.
      PSG will play 3 matches in the 11 days following the international break. If He plays any of them, then I think it was a mutual understanding among some of the members of the team and ADM to make way for other players in a nice way, which is healthy for the team. Scaloni probably called him out of respect and to encourage competition. Or Maybe ADM wanted to visit Madrid and enjoy a plate of Paella with friends 🙂

  12. IT is clear that this guy will be gone soon as coach. Menotti said it pretty much that he will pick the coach after Copa.

    This is the formation of a man more afraid to lose than wanting to win.

  13. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is the shape of the team when we don’t have the ball….he needs to strike the right balance from attacking and defending.

      • It depends how will behave the fullbacks. If they will looks more like midfielders or wingers then why not…

      • Tony
        .5-3-2 can also be
        3-4-3
        4-4-2
        If you want your fullbacks to push up the midfield then you have 3-5-2
        If you want your one of ypur midfield to support the attack you can have 4-4-3 or 3-4-3… It’s all depends on where you want your numerical advantage..do you want to give them the midfield and choke them on the wings or do you want to flood the midfield and expose your Center backs….THE ONLY SHAPE THAT MATTERS IS THE SHAPE WITHOUT THE BALL.

  14. There is nothing wrong with a defensive formation luke this, but I honestly believe Scaloni could make something more out of this. Especially since there are a great number of attack minded players in our squad. Maybe a 4:4:2 would work. It is defensive yet balanced.

    • At this point it is just common sense… a 4-4-2 with lanzini, locelso, parcedes and Correa on the right in midfield with Lautaro and Messi up top … balanced, defensive yet dangerous offensively 🤦🏻‍♂️

  16. Wtf 5 man back line against Venezuela?! A 5-2-3 🔥🤦🏻‍♂️Will we play a 11 man defense against Brazil!! 🤣🤣 oh we did already against Brazil! This coach is something else …

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