Argentina team announced, Lionel Messi out vs. Uruguay and Brazil

1. A very solid list, the only thing I would change is replace Pezzella with Barnebei, the team needs a legit LB to backup Tagliafico and Barnebei has more than proven his worth.
   Really happy to see Perrone in the list, I was sure that he’d be cut. The kid has shown his worth in Spain last season with Las Palmas and now at Italy with Como not to mention at Argentina with Velez where he was the heart of the team that made the Copa libertadoers semis. Mancity will very likely lose him and they will regret it because they desperately need someone in his position. Some of you mentioned Varela and Barrenechea and I think both of those are excellent players that have earned the right for a callup but for some odd reason Varela continues to be ignored by Scaloni and Barrenechea wasn’t called up this time even though he was called up last time and he’s wasn’t even doing very well at the time.
   I personally think that one of Perrone, Varela or Barrenechea needs to be featured in a midfield 3 behind 2 of De Paul, Enzo and Mac like so:

   —————————————-Mac—————————DePaul/Enzo———————————————-
   ———————————————-Perrone/Barra/Varela————————————————————–

   All 3 0f Mac, Enzo and DePaul are attack minded CMs who need a defensive minded CM behind them, which allows them to bomb forward and while Paredes is doing well with Roma I don’t think he has the athleticism or the defensive prowess that Perrone, Barrenchea or Varela possess at the moment.

   The only other call up that I’m not sure about is that of Dominguez, he’s been solid for Bologna but abit up and down and I wouldn’t have taken him ahead of Garnacho, who is also up and down at ManU mind you but I still feel that he’s at a higher level.

   Lastly I’m glad that Messi is not included, mostly because it gives the team the chance to tough it out without him and to be honest having Messi start against teams like Uruguay and Brazil (physical teams that will ATTACK Argentina) might be a detriment.

2. Good opportunity for team to be tested without Messi. Dybala again misses a golden lifeline & that looks very predictable. Proven beyond doubt that Dybala cannot be trusted on fitness & just enjoy him whenever he is available. Without Messi, Simeone jr can definitely get some cameo minutes in right wing. Same with Paz & Almada who i anticipate playing atleast a half between both matches.
   Happy to see Castro rewarded though i dont expect him to get minutes. 8 goals & 4 assists in the same league where Lautaro stands with 11goals & 3 assists , Castro arguably is the fastest grown youngster for Argentina in last 12 months. Kudos to Bologna for spotting & nurturing him.
   The backup CB & wingbacks selection continue to be troublesome & not future oriented. Cannot understand why Scaloni is not looking at Perez over Pezella. Consolation is that Balerdi gets a chance again. One of Barco, Soler, Giay, Maffeo should always be in the NT camp. I think a youngster wingback should have been prioritized over one of Perrone/Dominguez who both wont get any minutes. It is also surprising why Varela cannot get ahead of Perrone.

   • Even Barrenechea is ahead of Perrone in my opinion.

     • Enzo Barrenechea will be in world Cup squad in 2026 just remember, he is doing well at Valencia they may keep him another season and his parent club aston villa is well satisfied with his progress

   • Biggest surprising for me parrone selection. For me enzo barrencha, Alan verela, equi Fernandez is miles ahead of parrone.

     • Perrone is better passer/playmaker than them and this is very important for Scaloni in DM position (Paredes, Enzo).

3. I really don’t understand scaloni, both foyth and molina will struggle against wingers …. Maffeo is having great season still, i think eventually we will see him play for italy NT.

   • I don’t mind Maffeo, I think he’s decent, but if he wants to play for Italy, so be it, let him. However, I don’t think he is necessarily better than Di Lorenzo, Bellanova and Cambiasso. And in Spain they have Carvajal, Llorente, Porro.

4. Following players should play few minutes.
   Paz should start against brazil.
   Almada
   Dominguez
   Castro ( italy NT after him )

   • Agree. Dominguez + Castro combination has been fire for Bologna.

5. Nico Paz, Almada and simeone. There 3 players will be crucial in next few years. Next 2 matches will be tactical. So experienced players need to be used.

6. This would have been a great opportunity to for Dybala, but he is once again injured.

7. Nico paz and thiago almada have a huge chance to start since messi is out of injury

8. Is Máximo Perrone going to return to Man City? If he’s not in Guardiola’s rebuild plan, then this just tells he is a mid talent.

   Our defenders are extremely weak except for C.Romero. Pezzela and Otamendi should retire and Molina is washed. Our defense will only get worse if Scaloni is not willing to develop young talents.

   • It’s not the job of a national team coach to develop young talents. You know who appears to be washed right now? Ironically Pep Guardiola…

     • True pep Guardiola is run out of ideas 😆

   • National team coach does not build talents. He can inspire and build great combinations out of resources provided to him. He is limited to resources created by club coaches. It is unfortunate that we do not have a next level ready for some of the positions. As far as Messi’s absence is concerned, this was bound to happen some day and it has been happening in the last 2 years. Scaloni now knows 4 days in advance that we are not going into the two classicos with our best team. We are also missing the icing on the cake. Let’s see if he is ready for the challenge – biggest since the World Cup.

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