HomeFIFA World CupArgentina starting eleven for World Cup final, Lionel Messi starts
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Argentina starting eleven for World Cup final, Lionel Messi starts

Roy Nemer
By Roy Nemer
202

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has named his starting eleven for the World Cup final and Lionel Messi starts.

Lionel Scaloni has made three changes to the Argentina team that won 2-1 against England. Here is the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Mac Allister, Nicolás González; Messi and Julián Álvarez

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202 Comments

  1. Scaloni humiliated Argentine legacy.this is not football.this is low class mentality.worst performance.humiliation of argentina football to the world.i can’t believe Messi’s last world cup match turned out like this.this is humiliation of highest order.thank god Maradona is not there to see this day whole world is laughing at us.0 shot vs 20 shot in 90 minutes what the hell

  2. you can repeat this game 10 times, it would be always spain dominating, no matter who we have on the pitch. maybe we still could snatch 1 or 2 wins. spain were clearly superior, we have to accept that.

    the 2014 loss was billion times worse, though 2022 win healed that wound. the 2014 had great defense, we were not worse than germany and had 3!!! chances to score 1:0, and missed the target every time.

  3. My twenty year journey ended here. I will support Argentina regardless. But i will not have the excitement anymore. Why? I don’t know.

    I didn’t want Argentina to win worldcup. But i didn’t want them to accept defeat like this. Logging out. Will never comeback to this forum.

    Life will go on. I will Just keep an eye for Argentina results. But nothing else.
    Goodbye brothers.

  4. Should be the end for the badge for many of the players here. Montiel, Molina, Paredes, Otamendi, De Paul. Messi we’ll have to wait and see. Honestly many of these players bring so much drama have you seen what Paredes did at the end of the match? Really classless, Argentina doesn’t need this

  6. This is the irony of football. The hero of the semis Enzo suddenly became a villain by getting his first yellow card in such a silly fashion. But what’s the point doing a post mortem?

    Bigger questions are:
    What happens to the Argentina story now which started in 2018?
    If Scaloni resigns who’s next? We took 22 years to find someone as great as Bilardo. This time how many years?
    Do we have enough talents to rebuild a success story? Enzo and MacAllister stories are over. Would Barco and Paz be the next big finds? IMHO a big no.
    Once Messi puts down his shoes for the National team, who or what story the team would rally around?
    Paredes, De Paul, Molina, Montiel all go to the trash can now. Who after them?
    1978 was all about Mario, 86 about Maradona, 22 about Messi. We don’t have any more M in visible horizon. We ain’t going to be a Spain because we don’t have enough talent in pipeline.

  7. So Argentina lost for the obvious reason that we all witnessed, Spain was the better team but it could have been much worse had it not be for Debu who came alive today finally and saved his nation a major embarrassment.
    Spain is the least hurtful team to lose to, THANK GOD.

    Now Messi will retire in peace and the new generation comes in.
    Don’t be so hard on yourselves, playing the rest of the game with 10 showed grit, determination and not giving up.
    We had a couple of chances at the very end but that’s how it goes sometimes.

  11. We basically did what England did against us.

    Our tactical failures today:

    – Started Nico Gonzalez and MacAllister
    – Subbed off Montiel for Molina
    – Subbed Julián for Senesi
    – Enzo red card
    – Empty midfield, every counter had no support for Alvarez or Messi
    – Did not attempt any crosses, Messi especially always trying to kick it back into open play was a huge mistake

    Our tactical successes:

    – Tagliafico was able to keep Lamine silent
    – Simeone was a good attacking presence and made some good recovery

    What a waste today, Emi was our sole light today and the only reason we didn’t concede more. I wonder how it will be for Copa America in two years.

  12. English media blaming Touchel for playing ultra defensive in the last 40mins.. what about Scaloni? Once Alvarez was taken off Spanish midfielders and defenders didn’t have to worry about defending! Why the fuck did you not bring in Lautaro instead! Why???

    Scaloni is so scared of taking any risks whatsoever! He got outwitted by Spain ! His only answer to Spain’s midfield was playing 11 in your own half the entire 90mins!!

  13. 2 shots on goal lol, and one of them was a failed pass and counted as a pity. We were pathetic this game. We were unsportsmanlike and showed piss poor football. I don’t want this to continue. We can go on and on about failed starting lineup today, but Argentina’s attitude needs to change first.

  14. Can we go back in time and start the match again? This doesn’t feel real. My beloved Argentina can’t play like this. Such negative defensive football. This is not Maradona and Messi’s Argentina.

    • You gotta also understand that when there is a small margin of rest days at this stage, even one extra day for Spain makes a difference. On top of that both referee and VAR referee are European.

      • Well that is definitely a factor. And why is it that only Argentina gets red cards? In 1990 they first suspended 4 Argentina players before the match. Then they gave 2 red cards to Argentina playeres during the match, while the bad tackles on Diego and co were completely overlooked. And even after that when it was not working they gave a super soft penalty at 85th minute.
        Today’s red card for Enzo was also so soft.

  15. Montials sub was the worst decision of all time .
    We should have sub in lautaro for julian instead of senesi.
    Whatever we only conceded one goal. I thought we would concede more than 3 goals . Spain played better ngl.
    And Enzos first yellow card was avoidable
    Hats off to Dibu . U kept us alive till the end .

  16. 2 CB got injured then scaloni got panicked
    That montiel sub
    And julian sub was shocking when julin was in great defending mode
    And when he started nico was also a shocker
    With all respect to messi when the 10man team he must have subbed messi and out alverz to press

  21. The best team won. But, Molina just couldn’t stop having a role in the most important goal. He left the ball to Williams.

    I don’t care if we didn’t have a single shot in the goal, if we had won it in penalties

  22. Thank you Scolani
    For give us 2022 world cup
    & Thanks again for give us such a ultra negative match in my Argentina supported life ….
    Plz step down
    We need an attacking minded coach
    The world now demanding attacking football with young talent
    & U not believe our young talent

    • Not Scaloni’s fault. Sometimes the other team is simply better, by a lot. Argentine fans simply have to accept that, congratulate Spain, and stop looking to point fingers.

      Time to rebuild. First order of business, find a right back.

  23. Scaloni was a big letdown first of all taking off Montiel was bad call. Why the cowardice approach playing for penalty shootout. This Spanish team looked beatable but not with likes of Macalister and DePaul. Enzo Fernandez what a disgrace, the first booking was avoidable. Scaloni should do away with old guards and start looking for competent fullbacks.

  25. Congratulations to Spain, they clearly deserved the World Cup. Sad end to Messi’s World Cup career losing 2 finals. Complete disaster class by Scaloni accompanied by some stupid rash decisions on the pitch by the players. How Nico Paz and Barco and even Lo Celso weren’t utilized at all this World Cup is disgraceful. If you don’t learn from history you’re bound to repeat it

  32. History will mention that Argentina once played in a world cup final and its xG was 0.04. Even the 1990 Argentina team didn’t play this ugly football in the final. Congrats to the “let’s get behind the coach” team led by the idiot called Chris Brown. You got what you deserve now!

    • Scaloni brought great joys, not by his football tactics but by bringing a sesnse of unity within the players. As a tactician he was very average like an average player he was. There’s a reason why the great Maradona once said Scaloni was not capable to control traffic. His cowardice in this WC was unbelievable.

      Anyway, his era should be over. Need a brave new coach with fresh ideas, more attacking intent, preference for young and stronger players. Let’s see..

        • I agree. Maradona was good in his prime as a player and then a major disgrace. He was clueless as a person, when not on the field.

          Scaloni got a few things wrong today, but having 2 subs forced upon you with Romero and Lisandro’s injuries is what hurt us the most. Especially when one was before halftime. Also, probably would have started with the exact same starting side as against England and then brought on Nico Gonzalez and Lautaro.

          We will be a very strong team at next World Cup, especially if Scaloni or maybe Placente is in charge.

  35. Its okey guys, it was simply not our day, we didnt deserve to win today, Kudos to this group for giving it all till the end.

    We keep on marching together. As always we will support each other and our beloved team forever.

  39. Messi, you gave everything for Argentina, you are the goat for centuries.
    Scaloni, your time is up buddy; you can’t defend the crown with the same winning squad, you should believe what people have been saying.

  46. Our tactics were way too predictable tonight. No width, no pace on the counters, and way too many back passes. We kept losing possession cheaply, and Spain read us like a book from the first whistle.

  49. No complaints whether we lose or get red cards. We didn’t do anything to deserve anything.

    Simeone turned out to be another Pavon of 2018. Got into very good positions two times but his final deliveries were worse than my 8 years old son.

    Everyone is playing without brains. Fouling dangerously near Dbox, passing balls numerously to Spanish players and so on and on.

    How badly McAllister needs to play to get replaced by Nico Paz or Lo Celso? This shit is neither defending nor creating any chances.

  51. Team is filled with absolute morons. Paredes pushing a player in front of the ref, gets booked. Enzo aggressively throws his hands towards the ref gets booked. Absolute moronic players these Argentines

  60. I had honestly thought Mac Allister and Enzo were back in form after their performance in the semi. It is very difficult to see them not being able to string a few accurate forward passes together.

  68. So the plan is to take it to penalties, we are playing like England..except that we dont have a lead. The later we concede it would be more difficult to breach. Now both our CBs are gone, is the whole team unfit!

  74. Very painful to watch this shitty display. Only chance of winning if we can drag this to tiebreaker. There’s gap in technical abilities and huge gap in physical conditions.

    Whether we win or lose today, I think Scaloni should step down after this match. Need to start with fresh ideas with young legs.

    It seems Arg players stopped even trying to win the ball in midfield. Just ball watching

  77. What… Montiel has made multiple game saving tackles in a team already overwhelmed in defense. Bringing in Molina given his poor form and lack of defensive skill seems mindless.

    And has Paredes forgotten he is not playing in the Argentine league? These kind of fouls can lead to disaster.

  83. I don’t see why all are complaining. Yes, we are not playing as expected but we’re not playing bad either. Spain had the ball and a few chances. We know they’ll have more of those but their conversion rate is worrying thought the WC. Hope we will see more of the ball in the second half. We need a goal and Argentina have so many ways to get a goal.

  85. Very nervous. Same thing happened in first half what i expected. We can’t keep the ball . We hardly made any opportunities which is scary. I really don’t know how our goal will come but It feels like they will score any moment ffs. We need to stop looking for Messi . I was thinking 🤔 if we get corners then we can score coz of our headings ability now Ota here too but we not even able to take the ball there ffs .

  87. Our midfield is shit everyone knows it.but this long break may help us.may break spain rhythm.you can’t win with this kind of pressing intensity we are getting dominated.we are unable to pass also what a disgraceful performance.only messi and Alvarez can save us.

  89. Spain is too good in passing. Most of them barca players. We will need a good counter n defend like a wall. Licha injury a big loss, his long balls were effective. Should try paredas to try to controll midfield. We cant win them on pace they are young n energetic. We desperately need a player like Di maria for counter

  91. Lisandro Martinez leaving the field injured is not a good sign. Not that, he was playing good. He even saw a yellow card. But now suddenly our average age on the field has gone up against a very young, talented and well-connected side. What a defensive organization!! Simply wow. Midfield – they have made our midfield vanish in thin air. It was a brilliantly dominating performance by Spain.

  93. Even though we are playing deep so far we haven’t let Spain’s midfield create much! Licha was already on yellow and Otamendi coming in for him could play in our favor! However Nico, MacAllister and Depaul needs to stepup! But how long are we going to stay back trying to contain their midfield! We haven’t created any chance and not a single shot on target yet!

  94. Scaloni should sub off de paul and mac alistar

    At bring on parades for de paul.
    As early as he can . Our mid looks totally clueless. Nico gonzalez is losing ball a lot but i have high expectations from him

  96. As I mentioned in another post of mine. Spain has a simple straightforward task – stop Messi’s supply and stop him from supplying. All others in our team would completely collapse like a house of cards. That’s exactly what we are witnessing. We are playing like last Final’s France. Running like headless chicken against the finest team in the world. We desperately need someone creative in the midfield. De Paul cannot start after the first half. He has to be replaced by Paredes and Enzo by someone like Lo Celso. At least, MacAllister is seen trying. What has Enzo done so far?

    • Yes bro de paul must sub off as soon as possible . Idk what scaloni is cooking . I never saw arg this much helpless before . Dibu made some gd saves. Mac alister is so poor today . We badly need parades

    • The problem Enzo is playing as DM and preventing him from moving up the pitch. The creative role relies on Macca and he is also playing deep to prevent Rodri from finding Olmo. I think we need Paredes to free Macca and Enzo, but Nico G is helping Tagliafico dealing with Yamal. We need some creative in the middle of the pitch because we’re trying to make way sideways and it’s not bearing fruit. Messi needs some sort of supplies. But rest assured, Scaloni and co will make adjustments

  101. Argentina have lost the midfield battle. Enzo has been anonymous, Macca has had some bad passes and offers nothing as well as De Paul. I was hoping Scaloni would have learned last game that De Paul is more impactful from the bench but big mistake on that part. Well atleast no goals have been conceded so hopefully the team can make the right choices coming into the 2nd half

  102. Inclusion of Nico was a poor poor strategy. Simeone who is a regular in the Spanish league could have been a much better choice. What happened to the Argentina who looked like well-oiled team till the last Copa? We are playing so disjointed. Inaccurate passes, zero connect, poor recovery — this is not the display which Scaloni can claim to be coming from a team which has a solid bonding.

  104. We have survived so far on errors from Spain, rather than any good play from Argentine players. Completely outclassed.

    Gonzalez, De Paul and Mac Allister especially need to raise their game significantly.

  112. Why are Argentina’s full back positions always cursed? Only two great full back in past 30 years – Zanetti and Zabaleta. The rest were all dodgy.

    Bayena and Yamal basically have free passage down the wings.

  119. Nico Gonzalez looks like a deer in headlights, his ball control is horrible! What the fuck? That could have been a goal from Alvarez on his right. He also stops too early, he could have easily jumped from De Paul’s cross as well.

  126. Big risk.paredes out who was our best midfielder and could have interrupted rodri game.it can be either a masterstroke or a big blunder.its surely scaloni worried about Yamal so he is playing nico gonzalez for defensive cover for tagliafico.we will see tagliafico and nico will double team yamal.with no paredes Spain could have 60-70% ball possession i don’t know how we defend in that scenario.we are surely setup for soaking up pressure and hit them with counters.im not atall confident

  129. No matter the score, we’ll always be here cheering. Tonight, may the stars align and our team etch their names in history. Let’s go! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵

  139. So this is it guys, Scaloni has done it again, making a huge change for the finals.

    What a final we are going to have, man! There are so many intriguing storylines in this battle: the Messi–Yamal connection, the Scaloni–Luis de la Fuente mentor–student connection, and so much more. This could be a final for the ages.

    Two nations, both built on the philosophy of keeping the ball, constantly passing, and controlling the game. The Creole style versus Tiki-Taka — a clash of two footballing identities.

    I have a gut feeling that it won’t go to penalties or even extra time; it may get settled in normal time.

    Man, this is so emotional. It’s probably Messi’s last dance too. I may not even be able to watch it properly without getting emotional. How am i gonna finish watching this match, no idea, i already have enough heart attacks since this WC started courtsie of our matches. 🤣

  141. If the idea is to recreate a “Di María moment” through Nico González, I think that’s wishful thinking.

    His priority should be helping Tagliafico contain Lamine Yamal. Spain are too well organized to allow Nico the space or time to pin them back consistently. They simply won’t let him build sustained pressure on their defence.

    On the other flank, De Paul and Molina have to execute their defensive assignments to perfection against Cucurella and Baena. On paper, that looks like the easier battle compared to dealing with Lamine. In reality, it isn’t. Spain’s left side has been one of the tournament’s most potent attacking avenues.

    What Argentina are truly missing is Ángel Di María.

    Not just a great player—a big-game player.

    He scored in the 2021 Copa América final. He nutmegged Vinícius Jr. in the Maracanã and constantly unsettled Brazil. He scored again in the Finalissima. He played his part in the brilliantly rehearsed corner routine in the same match. Then he scored in 2022 World Cup final as well. Even in the 2024 Copa América final, after Messi went off injured, Di María stood tall and carried the team through one last battle.

    Time and again, when the stakes were highest, Di María found a way to tilt the balance.

    That is the void Argentina have to fill tonight.

    The staring Xi makes me wonder whether Scaloni could have gambled on Nico Paz—not because he is another Di María, but because every great final seems to demand an unexpected hero. Could Nico Paz have been that surprise? Or would that have been asking far too much from a young player still finding his place at the highest level?

    Perhaps that’s the biggest difference between this Argentina side and the one that conquered the world in Qatar. Then, we had two once-in-a-generation match-winners. Today, we have one. And everyone else must collectively become the second.

  145. Interesting line up.. trying to do the Di maria thing with Nico. If Enzo plays as 5 that should be good. De paul needs to play like the last match although when he came in, England was already on the defensive. But he will bring some physicality to irritate the Spanish.
    A little more attcking line up so the full backs will be more defensive , thats why Montiel I guess. Montiel is a big match player, he is a warrior.. VAMOSSS ARGENTINA

  146. Very interesting…. a big reason in my opinion to keep Paredes on bench is that Scaloni is also being prepared for penalties… Paredes will sub in and be there for crucial end if required.

  148. Our tactics should be to defend in a mid-block and keep it narrow and tight. The goal is to squeeze Spain’s midfield. Spain doesn’t have too many ways of scoring goals, they haven’t scored a single goal outside the box this World Cup.

    Argentina, on the other hand, has so many ways of scoring. If we don’t concede before the 70th minute, I’m confident we can score — whether from a free kick, corner, cross, or outside the box.

    Messi hasn’t scored in the last two games. A goal feels overdue.

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