Copa America champions Argentina will play their first match since lifting the trophy in Brazil when they play against Venezuela on Thursday.
All 30 players are in Venezuela and with the players having already trained on Tuesday, some rumors have already started circulating regarding the eleven. As reported on Tuesday, both Cristian Romero and Leandro Paredes are suspended after having each received two yellow cards.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni will be without both players for Thursday’s match but according to several media outlets in Argentina, it would be German Pezzella replacing Cristian Romero with Guido Rodriguez in place of Leandro Paredes.
These would be two changes that we saw during the Copa America where Romero was unfit and Pezzella started in his place or when Scaloni preferred Guido over Paredes.
Lionel Scaloni has 11 players in the squad on a yellow card and one more for them and they would miss Argentina’s match against Brazil on Sunday. Here are the eleven players:
Gonzalo Montiel
German Pezzela
Nicolas Otamendi
Lucas Martinez Quarta
Nicolas Tagliafico
Rodrigo De Paul
Exequiel Palacios
Nicolas Dominguez
Gio Lo Celso
Nicolas Gonzalez
Lautaro Martinez
While at the moment there are rumors of a starting eleven, it would be only a guess as Scaloni has not yet tried an eleven in training.
If rumors are to be believed, this could be the eleven against Venezuela:
Emiliano Martinez; Tagliafico/Acuña, Otamendi, Pezzella, Montiel/Molina; Guido, De Paul, Lo Celso/Nicolas Gonzalez; Messi, Lautaro, Di Maria
Scaloni has a difficult task at hand. He also needs to protect a few players who are one yellow card away from suspension in the Brazil match. Brazil, anyway, would be a tough contender. They are on a high after winning the Olympic gold and would be eager for a revenge of Copa Final. They would be full of young players who would want to make a mark. Copa Final is history now. Scaloni needs to ensure that the team realizes that in both the matches.
Are they not broadcasting the game? Does anyone know
Fubo has it. They lost la liga but got SA qualifiers instead.
I am confused on the Brazil situation. How many players do they have at their disposal? I know that Tite called up the likes of Hulk and other players from the local league to make up for players that can join. Does anyone have a list of the Brazilian players that won be there? The only one I know about is Richarlison
Ederson, allison, tiago silva, fred, jesus, firmino, fabinho, clown richalison, douglas luiz are all out. Lodi droped😊.
Dani alves, hulk are back. Some of the olympics stars like cunha, claudinho, bruno guimraes, Malcolm are in
Start Nico G against Venezuela and have Di Maria sub on to get playing time. Then start Di Maria against Brazil.
Molina over Montiel for Venezuela. Montiel for brazil. I prefer Molina, but he struggled defensively against Almiron and probably will even more so with Neymar. Montiel doesnt add much to the offense, but he’s defensively sound IMO
Acuna over Tags. While Acuna is not as good in defending, he is a much better player and plays very well with the Nico and other wingers
Scaloni just had his interview just now. He said a couple of interesting things:
1. The EPL based players are here for all 3 games not 2 games
2. Montiel or Molina or Foyth? Anyone that is in the best condition.
3. He did not confirm the starters but he said it will be not much different from the final against Brazil.
At the time we had: Emi; Montiel, Cuti, Otamendi, Acuna; Paredes, Lo Celso, De Paul; Di Maria, Messi, Lautaro.
I am sure it will be the same except Cuti and Paredes who are suspended. Pezzella and Guido will replace them.
Emi Martinez
Molina – Pezzela-Otamendi- Acuna
—-Palacios——-Guido
——-Buendia—–
–Messi—————–Papu
Dybala
need to save Depaul ,Dimaria( no yellow but don’t want to risk him if any injury occurs) ,Locelso ,N.Gonzalez ,Lautaro & Montiel for Brazil
Venezuela is struggling no doubt, but your lineup consists of four players that dont play defense. Dropping points is worse than having a player suspended. Buendia and Papu cant be paired with Messi and a striker
Happy to see excited and relaxed argentina NT. I am sure we will destroy Venezula.
Also on Barca, they will probably concede more than 8-2 vs bayern. Their main problems are still there likes of roberto, pique, busquets, ter stegen, alba and they got rid of their not problems like messi, emerson, gerizemann etc.
Didn’t know Hulk was back with the squad in Brazil
I am hoping we take sarmiento to the world cup just like pekerman did with messi in 2006.
For the simple reason, it’s good to have 1 promising youngster get an insight of tournament football and get some bonding time with quality around him. He can also be a Trump card against somewhat weaker opposition. As a relatively unknown, his pace and skill can unsettle teams. I would be more than happy to drop one of Dybala, Icardi and Aguero for Sarmiento.
I agree, but I think dybala should be on the ride along with the team.
Lets see how he does at Girona before recommending him for the WC. He has only played two or three games so far
My team VS Venezuela
Emi Martinez
Montiel Pezella Otamendi Acuna
De Paul Paredes Lo celso
Messi Dybla A. Correa
Subs
Di Maria
Foyth
Buendia
N. Gonzalez
Guido Rodriguez
Paredes is suspended, it’ll be Guido instead and Molina would be over Foyth due to the Copa America, Molina was solid throughout except I think the Colombia game and has good understanding with De Paul so I’d rather have him start
I’d like to see Scaloni to test 3412, Emi Martinez-Foyth, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez-Buendia, De Paul, Guido, Acuna-Messi-Angel Correa, Joaquin Correa. Seems quite balanced to me.
I think Scaloni knows what he is doing. He also proved it. So I would not ask any questions I ll have this team play WC. There is no time to change and start over. Its time to use this group of players as a team and make them even better, prolly the best in the world and build more chemistry. Now 1 or 2 changes I can see happening. Some players are old and some may go out of form or may get injured. But beside that i dont see the reason for any changes at all.
I think Scaloni is one of those coaches who work based on project. The fact that we won our first trophy, Copa America in 28 years which is huge helps his case a lot. The captain Messi has admittedly said that he likes Scaloni project. He has started his project when he took over from Sampaoli.
I do not think there will be a lot of changes for the WC roster next year unless there is injury/anything unexpected to the current squad. Why would he change his winning team? Especially the majority of the Copa America players are on fire.
Those who are on fire are: Musso, Molina, Acuna, Otamendi, Cuti Romero, Licha Martinez, Nico Dominguez, Guido, De Paul, Lo Celso, Di Maria, Nico Gonzales, A. Correa, J. Correa, Lautaro. These players have played at least better than average for their clubs. Add the likes of Emi Martinez, Pezzella, Tagliafico, Messi, Paredes, Papu, Palacios. Then you have the group of “untouchable”. Those are 22-23 already guys… and we can only bring 23 to the World Cup (unless they change the rule).
The ones who did not make the Copa America squad are catching up too such as Rulli, Foyth, or Dybala.
For me the doubts as of now are: Aguero (if he can never stay fit), Tagliafico (if somehow he loses his starting spot in Ajax, but Scaloni loves him to death), Montiel (if Sevilla keeps benching him), Marchesin (injury).
Icardi, Dybala, and Alario will fight for that one spot of back up striker.
Foyth will go head to head until the end of season with Montiel.
Tagliafico has no back up yet. As long as Ajax play him, he is nothing but confirmed.
I read a lot of you want someone new to be included in the squad but my question is instead of who? Unless there is a new Cuti or Emi (finishing the season as the best player in his position), then I say the ones what we saw in Copa America who won our first trophy in 28 years will be there again for the main event: World Cup.
I mostly agree, we should keep the core of our winning team for the world cup. But I have mentioned before that we should keep things more fresh so figuring out what to do with Dybala and incorporating Senesi for instance will be helpful.
Actual rumored starting XI
Dibu Martínez; Molina o Montiel (no jugó tras la lesión en River), Pezzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico o Acuña; De Paul, Guido Rodríguez, Lo Celso; Messi, Lautaro y Di María o Nico González.
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