The Argentina shirt numbers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been released.
As we reported a few days ago, Ole had released the list of numbers which were being rumored and it is now confirmed. Here are the official numbers for Argentina to be used at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
1. Nahuel GUZMÁN
2. Gabriel MERCADO
3. Nicolás TAGLIAFICO
4. Cristian ANSALDI
5. Lucas BIGLIA
6. Federico FAZIO
7. Éver BANEGA
8. Marcos ACUÑA
9. Gonzalo HIGUAÍN
10. Lionel MESSI
11. Ángel DI MARÍA
12. Franco ARMANI
13. Maximiliano MEZA
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Manuel LANZINI
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Nicolás OTAMENDI
18. Eduardo SALVIO
19. Sergio AGÜERO
20. Giovani LO CELSO
21. Paulo DYBALA
22. Cristian PAVÓN
23. Wilfredo CABALLERO
Argentina’s shirt numbers for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Gonzalo HIGUAÍN, Lionel MESSI, Javier MASCHERANO and Marcos ROJO will all keep the same shirt numbers as they did at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Lucas BIGLIA would change from shirt number six to number five. Ángel DI MARÍA would go from number seven to number 11 this time around.
All signs report that coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has his starting eleven for the match against Haiti.
Willy CABALLERO is set to get his third cap for his country when he starts versus Haiti at La Bombonera. Up front will be Gonzalo HIGUAIN who gets the nod ahead of Sergio AGÜERO who is just returning from injury. Here’s the expected eleven:
CABALLERO; ANSALDI, MERCADO, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; MASCHERANO, LO CELSO; LANZINI, MESSI, DI MARÍA; HIGUAÍN
It’s being reported that coach SAMPAOLI will make six changes during the match, many, if not all coming at half time. The rules and regulations for the friendly match stipulate that coaches cannot make more than six substitutes.
As part of the 50 days, 50 Argentina World Cup moments, we will be counting down the top 50 Argentina moments at a World Cup using the daily number.
We are just 20 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup and in 16th place we have Gabriel BATISTUTA scoring in the 16th minute for Argentina versus Romania at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Arguably one of the strongest Argentina teams ever assembled at a FIFA World Cup, Alfio BASILE’s men had just taken a massive blow after it was announced that Diego MARADONA would msis the tournament. Argentina’s star man for a decade had just been ejected from the team and during a World Cup no less.
However, the team still made it out of the group stages and had to play against Romania in the Round of 16 of the World Cup. Romania had taken an early 1-0 with DUMITRESCU scoring in the 11th minute. Argentina were awarded a penalty kick and Gabriel BATISTUTA stepped up just as he did versus Greece in the group stages and scored to make it 1-1 but only for a few minutes. In the 18th minute, DUMITRESCU scored for a second time in the match to make it 2-1 for the Romanians.
Superstar HAGI netted a third to make it 3-1 in the second half. Abel BALBO pulled one back for Argentina but it wasn’t enough as they lost 3-2 and were eliminated.
Here was Argentina’s starting XI for the match:
12. Luis ISLAS
3. Jose CHAMOS
4. Roberto SENSINI
5. Fernando REDONDO
6. Oscar RUGGERI
8. Jose BASUALDO
9. Gabriel BATISTUTA
13. Fernando CACERES
14. Diego SIMEONE
17. Ariel ORTEGA
19. Abel BALBO
Paulo DYBALA has stated that it’s all a dream come true and he would like to help Lionel MESSI and Argentina in winning the FIFA World Cup.
Speaking in an interview with Cadena 3, the Juventus star stated his desire in wanting to win the FIFA World Cup.
“The desire to help him (MESSI) achieve something that would be great for everyone is very big. We try to help him from wherever we are. We have the best player in the history of football on our side and the dream is very big. It’s everyone’s dream to be world champion.
“To train and to have the possibility of seeing MESSI every day is something incredible, because you learn a lot from his quality. Being world champion is everyone’s dream. It won’t be easy but we have the best player in history and we will do everything possible to get that done.”
The Argentina team – Will we get to see Lionel Messi and Paulo Dybala play together at the World Cup?
DYBALA also made it clear that he has no problems playing anywhere up front as he has played in all the attacking positions.
“I have played every where up front, be it at Instituto, Palermo or Juve. I don’t feel uncomfortable playing as a playmaker up front.”
While he is included in Argentina coach Jorge SAMPAOLI’s World Cup squad, there were times where it was a doubt. Here’s what he had to say about the possibility of not being called to the World Cup:
“I always spoke to my family who tried to be calm with me. I always thought I’d be here and that the coach would call me up. Playing in a World Cup is one of the biggest desires you could have as a football player.
“Everything happened very quickly. It started in 2011 at Instituto and to think that in six years I would be in one of the most important clubs in the world and playing in a World Cup is something incredible and a dream come true. It represents a big number of kids who have fought for this dream and I am thankful that I got the chance.”
Willy CABALLERO is set to start for Argentina as is Gonzalo HIGUAÍN against Haiti on Tuesday.
In the first of two friendly matches before the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Argentina will host Haiti at La Bombonera on Tuesday night. Per a report by Ole, coach Jorge SAMPAOLI will go with this eleven:
CABALLERO; TAGLIAFICO, FAZIO, MERCADO or OTAMENDI, ANSALDI; LO CELSO, MASCHERANO; DI MARIA, MESSI, LANZINI; HIGUAIN
Argentina’s expected line-up vs. Haiti
While not confirmed, this does appear to the line-up which is being reported in the media.
