Four players who won the World Cup with Argentina are not part of the preliminary team for the Copa America.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has announced his preliminary team for the Copa America and there are four World champions that are missing. Scaloni has not selected Juan Foyth of Villarreal, Alejandro “Papu” Gómez, who is banned for two years, Thiago Almada of Atlanta United and Paulo Dybala of AS Roma.
Juan Foyth has only played in 12 league matches with Villarreal, having missed the majoriy of the season due to injury. Alejandro Gómez is banned for two years due to a failed drug test.
Thiago Almada is not included as he will be selected for the Argentina U23 team for the Olympics, which will take part after the Copa America. The surprising name that is missing is Paulo Dybala.
The 30 year old has had a good season for AS Roma and there is no report yet as to why he was not included.
Here are the 29 players which have been picked and will be with the team for the matches against Honduras and Ecuador before the Copa America in the United States.
Goalkeepers:
Franco Armani (River Plate)
Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax)
Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Defenders:
Gonzalo Montiel (Notting Forest)
Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille)
Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Germán Pezzella (Real Betis)
Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina)
Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United)
Marcos Acuña (Sevilla)
Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
Valentín Barco (Brighton)
Midfielders:
Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis)
Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Forwards:
Ángel Di María (Benfica)
Valentín Carboni (AC Monza)
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Ángel Correa (Atletico Madrid)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Nicolás González (Fiorentina)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
If Dybala was not selected because of injury issues, same should apply to Lisandro Martinez and Rulli. I doubt if Lisandro Martinez will be effective defensively after being injured whole season.
I have no issue with Dybala’s exclusion. I have said it before that his low work rate and lack of pressing will put the defense and midfield under pressure. Against big serie a teams like Bologna, Leverkusen, Inter & Atalanta, Dybala looked average. Messi at 37 has more impact
On the hand, Pezella is a liability defensively. Am disappointed by Scaloni’s omission of Senesi or Neheun Perez. Imagine repeat scenario of Pezella vs Luis Diaz or vinicius jnr.
Only surprise is Dybala and sensei. I thought both would be there. Dybala only needs a couple minutes to make an impact but I guess it’s an injury concern which is warranted, but again we only need him as a late sub.
My concern, that isn’t being mentioned is messis fitness, he missed a couple for his club for minor injury, scalonis needs to take this into account. What happens to our formation if Messi is out or subbed out. Alvarez will need to be utilized more and I was hoping Dybala would be around for this situation
Late subs aren’t immuned to injuries that’s why Scaloni can’t put his bet on Dybala. La Joya’s exclusion is a 100% correct decision, in my opinion.
Good to see Carboni. His cameo against Costa Rica was excellent. Would love to see players hungrier after World Cup victory rather than complacent ones. True glory comes with consistency in winning cups.
Paulo exclusion is justified when you see his injury track record but Senesi exclusion is baffling! Carboni offers a lot more. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets in the 26. I feel for Paulo but his staying fit is serious issue nowadays. Senesi should have been there instead of Pezzella
Dybala was initially selected for the last two friendlys but had to again miss out due to his never ending injury crisis. I think it is safe to assume that Scaloni and Co have reached a conclusion over Dybala and unless he is super fit and in super form before the next world cup , he will not be selected. He has become extremely unreliable and if we were able to win the world cup without any significant contribution from his alongside an out of form main striker in Lautaro then his absence in Copa won’t be a significant setback.
Moreover, he is in his 30s now and he is getting injured every 4th game and misses another 3 – 4 subsequent matches. Juventus medical team were well aware of his fragile body which is why they let him go for free. His current club Roma are also seriously thinking about not renewing his contract which will enter the final year of 3 year deal next season. Due to his unreliable fitness record, Roma had to miss out again from Champions league after he missed a crucial second leg game against Leverkusen which they could have won with a fit Dybala.
If Carboni is selected with an eye to the future, why not go for Echeverri?
Carboni instead of Dybala…that’s bat shit crazy.
Two defenders and one Forward to be dropped..?
I think..Carboni will be dropped for Angel Correa.
Benitez is a champion now and Musso back to his best. But Scaloni went for Rulli..! I think Rulli, Scaloni make sure of a backup for the Penalty kicks.
Last month I have commented here, I wish Garnacho to be included in place of Dybala.
I thought Barco is not ready yet..but considering injury issues of Acuna, he should be there.
Senesi and Pablo Maffeo would have been better in place of Pazella and Montiel but they didn’t get integrated to the team on time.
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