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Rodrigo De Paul set to be benched, possible 5-3-2, 4-3-3 for Argentina

Roy Nemer
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Rodrigo De Paul is set to be benched for Argentina as coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to make several changes.

Argentina got their first win after three draws and once more, due to injury, Scaloni will be making some changes. Per a report by TyC Sports, Rodrigo De Paul is expected to be rested in midfield.

This would mean that in addition to Gio Lo Celso who won’t start, Scaloni won’t be using two of his regular starters in midfield. With De Paul and Lo Celso out, Guido Rodriguez would maintain his spot with Leandro Paredes back after missing the 1-0 win. Exequiel Palacios would be the third man in midfield.

The other change would be up front as Sergio Agüero would be replacing Lautaro Martinez, who has struggled to score lately.

Per the report, it would be either a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 which Scaloni would be starting. This would be the rumored eleven should it be a 4-3-3 formation:

Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel or Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi or Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Exequiel Palacios; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Lautaro Martínez or Ángel Di María

In a 3-5-2 formation, it would be the following:

Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel or Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi or Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Tagliafico, Marcos Acuña; Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Exequiel Palacios; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Leandro Paredes comment on team

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni and Leandro Paredes both spoke to the press on Sunday.

This time it was Leandro Paredes who spoke at a press conference. Paredes, who missed Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Uruguay on Friday, has a strong chance of starting vs. Paraguay on Monday. He was replaced by Guido Rodriguez who ended up scoring the only goal of the match and gave Argentina the 1-0 win. Here’s what Paredes had to say in regards to Guido and the team:

“The truth is that I am very happy for Guido, for the Argentina national team, because it shows that every guy that is here can bring something.”

“We are taking this one match at a time. I believe we have a group of incredible players. We’re on the right path and we’re growing. With the quality of the players we have, I think we can expect a lot.”

Regarding Paraguay:

“Paraguay have top level players. I feel better, I am good to play. In midfield, we have players of good quality, with a lot of dedication and with different playing styles.”

Lionel Scaloni spoke after Paredes and commented on several things. In regards to the opponent on Monday:

“Paraguay are a very uncomfortable team, a very difficult opponent who know how to play. They have a great coach.”

The coach also spoke about Lionel Messi’s leadership:

“I think Messi’s leadership is always the same on the pitch. Off it, he’s a spectacular guy, who leads the group forward as he has always done.”

Sergio Aguero and Lautaro Martinez were also a topic of discussion:

“Sergio Aguero is getting better every day and that for us is an important contribution.

“As long as I am coach, Lautaro is part of the base. I am satisfied with him and he knows what I think.”

And Scaloni commented on the wingbacks:

“In Brazil, the wingbacks chage. Here too. For me, Molina, Montiel, Tagliafico and Acuña are starters.”

Argentina national team reaches 1000 matches, statistics and numbers

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Friday’s 1-0 win vs. Uruguay at the Copa America was Argentina’s 1000th game played, counting matches against senior teams only and excluding matches vs. B teams (like Catalunya) or clubs.

Incredibly, Argentina’s first match was also against Uruguay and also a victory. On May 16, 1901, the Albiceleste beat La Celeste 3-2 in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.

Match number 500 for Argentina was a well-remembered one too. It was the 6-0 win vs. Peru during World Cup 1978 played in Argentina. On that occasion, the national team had to win by four clear goals to reach the final.

In the middle of the Argentine dictatorship, which was filled with suspicion and controversy, it saw Argentina’s dictator Rafael Videla visiting Peru’s locker room. What was on the line for that match as the national team, with Mario Kempes as the star, making it to the World Cup final.

Here, Argentina’s record against some of its rivals:
+25 vs. Uruguay (187 matches played, 84 wins, 44 draws, 59 losses)
-2 vs. Brazil (107 matches played, 40 wins, 25 draws, 42 losses)
+51 vs. Chile (87 matches played, 57 wins, 24 draws, 6 losses)
+11 vs. Mexico (30 matches played, 15 wins, 11 draws, 4 losses)
+3 vs. Germany (23 matches played, 10 wins, 6 draws, 7 losses)
-3 vs. England (15 matches played, 3 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses)
0 vs. Spain (14 matches played, 6 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses)
+3 vs. France (12 matches played, 6 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses)
-3 vs. Netherlands (9 matches played, 1* win, 4 draws, 4 losses)
-2 vs. Italy (15 matches played, 4 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses)

*Argentina’s only victory vs. the Netherlands was at the 1978 World Cup final. Argentina’s memorable win on penalties in the Semifinals of the 2014 World Cup is considered a draw.

Sergio Aguero, several changes expected for Argentina vs. Paraguay

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to make several changes for Monday’s match vs. Paraguay at the Copa America.

Nahuel Molina, who had a good match vs. Uruguay, could start on Monday or Scaloni could revert back to using Gonzalo Montiel. That spot remains undecided. In midfield and attack is where the big doubts are for Scaloni.

Per a report by TyC Sports, Gio Lo Celso, who was substituted off for Exequiel Palacios in the 1-0 win vs. Uruguay, has a swollen left ankle and is bandaged. He is set to miss the match on Monday and could be replaced by either Exequiel Palacios or Leandro Paredes.

The other issue in midfield is that of Leandro Paredes. The PSG was replaced by Guido Rodriguez, who scored the match winner for Argentina and brought more defensive stability to the team. We could see Guido replacing Paredes and Paredes replacing Lo Celso or Guido replacing Paredes and Palacios replacing Lo Celso.

Nicolas Gonzalez is not fully fit after having received a knock vs. Uruguay and is set to be replaced by Angel Di Maria on the wing. Up front, Lautaro Martinez could lose his starting spot for Sergio Aguero. This is the rumored eleven, if taking into considering the doubts:

Emiliano Martinez; Molina/Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna/Tagliafico; De Paul, Guido/Paredes, Palacios/Paredes; Messi, Lautaro/Aguero, Di Maria

Lionel Messi’s game vs. Uruguay: Man of the Match, unstoppable, leader

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Lionel Messi played a fantastic match vs. Uruguay and led the national team to its first victory after three consecutive draws, in the 1000th game of Argentina’s national team history.

The Argentina captain assisted Guido Rodríguez with a precise cross, which was the Albiceleste’s winning goal. But it wasn’t just the cross as Leo made some incredible runs against the always tough Uruguayan defense, being able to dribble many opponents in difficult situations.

But Messi’s importance on the game wasn’t just when he had the ball. He was seen giving orders constantly to his teammates, trying to organize the team on the pitch. In addition to his magnificent never-ending skills, it seems that we are seeing more of a leader and a more mature Messi than in previous occasions.

Messi’s assist to Guido’s goal is his 13th, a record at the Copa America.

Here is a short Lionel Messi compilation from Argentina’s 1-0 win.

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