Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about Lionel Messi being part of the Argentina team, Paulo Dybala’s exclusion from next month’s World Cup qualifiers and Sergio Aguero.

Lionel Scaloni made headlines recently when he announced his squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers. Among the names of those included were Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero. However, what was surprising was who was left out and in this case Paulo Dybala.

The Juventus man has not had the best season. Having missed several matches due to injury, Dybala has found it difficult to get playing time. Speaking in an interview with ESPN, here’s what Scaloni had to say regarding Dybala’s exclusion:

“He is a player that we always had and we love but the lockers were almost complete and we had to make a decision. He hasn’t been playing the last few months and his club is going through a few problems with the standings and their game.

“It’s important that he joins us with rhythm, we will always have him in mind. Hopefully he’s able to regain his form and that he can play to be able to decide later on.

“You have to put aside the affection and empathy towards the players to put together a list of 23 players. We have to deal with Dybala, who always responded in the best way possible and put in the effort to play in positions that weren’t his. But the team always comes first.”

Scaloni also commented on star man and team captain Lionel Messi and his role in the team:

“We are excited because we believe that a base was achieved in which everyone understands. Everyone is playing well and it’s important for Leo (Messi) to be able to incorporate well.

“Unfortunately, we don’t see the players often and we can’t enjoy them the way we want. But in the training sessions and in a few parts during the matches, he gives us some joy. But the real joy is what he will give the team.

“He is the first and the most aware that today, you win with the team. He, along with his team mate need each other, the opposite will be very difficult.”

In addition, Scaloni commented on Sergio Aguero and his current situation:

“I spoke with Kun a month and a half ago and the three matches he played were very good. He gave us a good impression, he made us remember the best Aguero. I understand that he is not playing due to a contract situation. His future is being decided and we don’t get involved in that. We would like for him to be able to play before joining us, we saw him as quite fine.

And finally, Scaloni spoke about the possibility of Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero playing together at Barcelona next season:

“They know each other by heart, it would be good for them and their friendship but regarding the Argentina national team, they know each other well and by memory. It does not benefit us nor does it harm us.”

After the massive Covid outbreak in the squad last Saturday, and the elimination from the Copa de la Liga at the hands of Boca on Sunday, River will today face Independiente de Santa Fe in the Copa Libertadores. With 20 positive cases of Covid in total (5 confirmed yesterday) and two players injured, River’s coach, Marcelo Gallardo, will hardly reach to line up 11 players.

Experienced midfielder Enzo Pérez, who is injured, will play goalkeeper, as the four goalkeepers in the Libertadores’ list are all with Coronavirus.

River’s positive Covid cases during the last 4 days:

Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Germán Lux, Enrique Bologna, and Franco Petroli.

Defenders: Paulo Díaz, Robert Rojas, Gonzalo Montiel, and Alex Vigo.

Midfielders: Leonardo Ponzio, Bruno Zuculini, Tomás Castro Ponce, Santiago Simón, Nicolás de la Cruz, and Agustín Palavecino.

Forwards: Rafael Santos Borré, Matías Suárez, Federico Girotti, Benjamín Rollheiser, Lucas Beltrán, and Fabian Londoño Bedoya.

In addition, Javier Pinola and Enzo Pérez are both injured. Nonetheless, both told Marcelo Gallardo that they want to be part of the team in today’s game.

Even though the situation is unique, River had the chance, before the Copa Libertadores started, to have 50 players included in the Copa’s list. CONMEBOL gave this possibility to all the clubs playing international competitions due to the current pandemic situation. At that moment, Marcelo Gallardo stated that he “wouldn’t like to make youths play under so much pressure, in strange conditions,” and decided to include just 32 players in the list.

In line with how unique the game will be, another extraordinary thing that happens just as often when playing amateur football with friends: The are no rules that say the goalkeeper cannot be changed with outfield players during the match. This means that we may see more than one outfield player playing as goalkeeper, constantly rotating.