Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni could start both Nico Paz and Matías Soulé against Bolivia.
Lionel Messi is not going to play against Bolivia and Scaloni is set to start both Paz and Soulé. According to ESPN Argentina, here is the rumored eleven:
Emiliano Martínez; Giay, Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Medina; Palacios, Mac Allister, Nico Paz, Soulé; Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez
I was waiting for this new era. I think the 2024 Copa America victory had Scaloni delusional to think that players like RDP, Otamendi, Montiel and Almada were good enough to compete with the best because of past achievements. Enzo and Macca, still in their primes, were never made to compete for the starting positions, hence Argentina was tactically awful in most matches. I came to realize that Scaloni is a player manager more than a shrewd tactician, when he said it is difficult to play like 4 years ago in Qatar. With the same personnel, seriously? That for me, means the WC was won by determination, grit and luck, not by concerted tactical strategy.
Therefore, I am interested to see how, the team intends to play post King Leo.
I don’t care about the formation or the starting XI rubbish, that some friends like to suggest here as if real football is Playstation FIFA game.
All I need to see is the team attacking with purpose and balanced in all departments.
My biggest concern with this lineup is Medina and Palacios. I think we hve seen enough of both to know that they’re not longterm solutions, especially if the goal is to build a team capable of winning the 2030 World Cup.
Palacios, in particular, seems to be going downhill. If he couldn’t convince Scaloni to start him ahead of DePaul even when Depaul was going through his worst run of form, then at what point do we start looking at other options? It’s time to start integrating Equi fernndez and see what he can offer this midfield.
The same goes for medina. We’ve seen enough to know that he isn’t a natural left-back. He’s a makeshift lb who, too often, is invisible at both ends of the pitch when argentina actually needs something from that position. It’s time to find and develop a proper long-term left-back.
And I don’t see Guliano simeone as a national team material either. To me, he’s basically Garnacho with a better work rate. He gives you energy, pressing and effort, but his finishing is a deal breaker.
“And I don’t see Guliano simeone as a national team material either. To me, he’s basically Garnacho with a better work rate. He gives you energy, pressing and effort, but his finishing is a deal breaker.” – by that logic Alvarez also should not be national team material.
15 goals in 59 games is pretty awful scoring rate for a center forward. At least Giuliano is a winger where energy is more important than finishing.
Have you not wayched G.Simeone play for Atletico? He is a piss poor finisher! And good enough to be fullback.