Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez start for Argentina with Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero on the bench.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has decided to start Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez up front. Here’s the starting eleven:

Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez start for Argentina with Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero on the bench.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has decided to start Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez up front. Here’s the starting eleven:

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni gave an interview where he discussed the team, Lionel Messi, Mauro Icardi, Lautaro Martinez and more.
Now in Saudi Arabia for the game vs. Brazil on Friday, Scaloni gave a press conference where he spoke about his team and players. Here is what he had to say:
“The team is almost decided but there are players which are not fully fit and that is why I will wait to confirm the team.
“The last two games against Germany and Ecuador, we didn’t play the same as we did against Brazil at the Copa America. Surely we will copy a few things in terms of the last game against Brazil but the games are different.
“Our style of play will be very similar to that of the Copa America. with offensive players but also being cautious with the opponent. We hope to be able to have the match we want to keep growing.”
Scaloni also spoke about Lionel Messi:
“Messi is a player which the opposition has to take into account and for us, he’s a plus. For us, it’s a great joy to have Leo. He’s one more in the team, he’s great with his team mates. Messi has marked an entire era in football.”
The coach also spoke about Lautaro Martinez:
“Lautaro is well. He didn’t train the first few days, we will wait for him until the last second to see how he responds.”
On playing against Brazil on Friday:
“Brazil is always strong. We are more unified as a team, there is no doubt. We know what we have to do.”
Regarding striker Mauro Icardi:
“He’s a player that we are taking into consideration. He’s back to playing and back at a rhythm after having not played at the end of last season and it’s important that he’s back to scoring goals. He’s always been in consideration but he’s not here now because there are other players which are doing well. He could be back at any time. The door is always open for the best players.”
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni reportedly has most of his eleven confirmed with two doubts as Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero are expected to start.
With the front three all but confirmed as Paulo Dybala replaces Lautaro Martinez, there remains two doubts in the team. It will be between Nicolas Tagliafico and Marcos Acuna fighting for one spot while Lucas Ocampos and Gio Lo Celso fight for the other.
Here is the rumored eleven vs. Brazil on Friday:
Andrada; Foyth, Pazzella, Otamendi, Tagliafico or Acuna; Ocampos or Lo Celso, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, Dybala, Aguero
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni went with Lionel Messi, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero up front in training.
Lionel Scaloni put out an eleven in training which is rumored to be the one which will start against Brazil on Friday. It was Marcos Acuna on the left instead of Nicolas Tagliafico with Juan Foyth on the right, German Pezzella in the middle with Nicolas Otamendi. Standing behind them was Esteban Andrada.
In midfield, Lucas Ocampos with Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul while the front three spearheaded the attack. Lautaro Martinez trained away from the group due to a knock he received on his head while playing with Inter. Here was the eleven in training:
Andrada; Foyth, Pezzella, Otamendi, Acuna; Ocampos, Paredes, De Paul; Messi, Dybala, Aguero
Argentina now know their opponents in their group for the Olympic qualifiers next year.
Drawn in group A, Argentina will play vs. hosts Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador in the tournament which will be held in Colombia in January. Fernando Batista’s team will hope to qualify for the summer games in Tokyo next year with the qualifiers taking place between 18 of January and 9 of February.
Here are the two groups:
Group A:
Argentina
Colombia
Chile
Venezuela
Ecuador
Group B:
Brazil
Uruguay
Paraguay
Peru
Bolivia