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Giovani LO CELSO to start ahead of Lionel MESSI for Argentina

Friendly Matches

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March 23, 2018

Giovani LO CELSO to start ahead of Lionel MESSI for Argentina

Giovani LO CELSO is set to start ahead of Lionel MESSI for the match tonight.

As we reported late Thursday night, a report emerged that Lionel MESSI is not fully fit and could potentially sit out Argentina’s friendly match against Italy. Now Friday afternoon in Manchester, England, it does appear as though MESSI has been ruled out for the match and the fans at the Etihad stadium will see Givoani LO CELSO of PSG start instead of MESSI. The Argentina captain is fighting muscle fatigue.

As things stand, here’s the rumored eleven for the match:

Giovani LO CELSO for Lionel MESSI

CABALLERO; BUSTOS, OTAMENDI, FAZIO, TAGLIAFICO; PAREDES, BIGLIA; LANZINI, LO CELSO, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN

A fairly balanced team but a lot on the line for many of the players. Bar for possibly Nicolas OTAMENDI, Lucas BIGLIA and Angel DI MARIA, the rest of the players are all fighting for a place in the 2018 FIFA World Cup final squad.

Lionel MESSI not fully fit for Argentina matches

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Roy Nemer

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March 22, 2018

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Lionel MESSI not fully fit for Argentina matches

Lionel MESSI is not fully fit for the Argentina matches.

Per a tweet by Martin AREVALO from TyC Sports, Lionel MESSI is not 100% for Argentina’s match against Italy on Friday. The idea is that MESSI will play but it does depend on how he is prior to the match.

MESSI is tires from the amount of matches he has played for Barcelona this season. The news is that he has a muscle injury.

No news as to who would replace the Argentina captain in the starting eleven should he not start. And with no Paulo DYBALA in the squad, it opens the door to many posibilities.

Away shirt against Italy, anti doping test

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Roy Nemer

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March 22, 2018

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Away shirt against Italy, anti doping test

The Argentina National Team will, for the first time ever, playing with the away shirt, a black kit against Italy.

It has been confirmed that the team will play with their secondary “away” kit on Friday. When they take the pitch against Italy, it will be with the away black kit which was released earlier this week by Adidas. Here’s the shirt they will play:

Argentina's away kit against Italy — Argentina’s away shirt against Italy

Every player on the Argentina squad underwent a doping test on Thursday in Manchester, England. With the Italian National Tean training in Italy on Thursday ahead of their visit to England, it remains to be seen if they will have the antidoping tests.

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference, talks MESSI, ICARDI, more

Roy Nemer

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March 22, 2018

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Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference, talks MESSI, ICARDI, more

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI held a press conference on Thursday in Manchester, England.

The Argentina man commented on a number of a subjects ahead of the match on Friday against Italy at the Etihad stadium. One of the topics of discussion was obviously Lionel MESSI but also Sergio AGUERO’s fitness as well as Mauro ICARDI and Paulo DYBALA. Here’s what he had to say:

Jorge SAMPAOLI press conference:

Jorge SAMPAOLI on Lionel MESSI:

“Leo (MESSI) has everything for this to be his team, not mine. I’m obliged to help the best player in the best way. For that reason I feel it’s his team.”

Jorge SAMPAOLI on Sergio AGUERO:

“It’s going to be hard for AGUERO to be fit for the match against Spain but we’ll try. It’s worth the effort. For me, Sergio AGUERO’s best version was when he was with Independiente and that’s the AGUERO I want. The one that resolves problems himself with his play and personality. Today’s version is sensational but I think he can get even better.”

Jorge SAMPAOLI on Mauro ICARDI:

“Mauro (ICARDI) was the chosen one. There’s a difference between ICARDIi’s partnerships in his club and with the National Team. Mauro’s case is similar to that of DYBALA’s. He’s a player we had chosen for something in the National Team but with the National Team, he didn’t have the footballing relationship with his team mates. I’m not counting him out, it gives me pride that he’s Argentine.”

Jorge SAMPAOLI on Gonzalo HIGUAIN:

Everything about HIGUAIN at the moment, I see that he has the potential to have a World Cup which would reflect him, that is to say one of the best center forwards in the world. If mentally, HIGUAIN will be the way he is now, at the level he’s showing in training and what he’s shown for his club, then for us it’s a real possibility that Argentina will have a very strong attack.”

Jorge SAMPAOLI on the goalkeepers:

“We have the idea of giving every goalkeeper some minutes because we have to evaluate them. The same thing for outfield players.

Jorge SAMPAOLI on Manuel LANZINI:

“Manuel LANZINI is a vital player.”

Jorge SAMPAOLI on the team:

“Today, the players are aware that the only way of playing the World Cup is by enjoying it. With the little time we have together, we have to work on shaping the defence. TAGLIAFICO and BUSTOS are more natural fullbacks for us.

“I still beleive Italy is a footballing force and the match on Friday could even be a semi-final of a World Cup.”

Argentina’s line-up from training in Manchester

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Roy Nemer

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March 21, 2018

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Argentina’s line-up from training in Manchester

With the players all in Manchester, the first Argentina line-up from training is out and it’s different from what we have seen in the past.

Argentina National Team coach Jorge SAMPAOLI has opted to go with a four man back line in training session, which is different from the usual three man at the back that we have seen from him. There’s been a variation of players tested in training. Here was the first line-up tested out:

ROMERO; MERCADO, FAZIO, OTAMENDI, TAGLIAFICO; BIGLIA, PAREDES; MEZA, MESSI, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN

However, per TyC Sports, Chelsea’s Willy CABALLERO could get his first ever cap for Argentina at the home of his former club, Manchester City’s Etihad stadium when the team play Italy on Friday. Fabricio BUSTOS and Manuel LANZINI could also start. Here is TyC Sports’ probable eleven against Italy:

CABALLERO; BUSTOS, OTAMENDI, FAZIO or ROJO, TAGLIAFICO; BIGLIA, BANEGA or PAREDES; LANZINI, MESSI, DI MARIA; HIGUAIN

Going with the line-up above, Marcos ROJO could play in his natural position for Argentina as he would partner Nicolas OTAMENDI in the heart of the back line. But his spot is up for grabs as Federico FAZIO could also start alongside OTAMENDI instead of ROJO. Nicolas TAGLIAFICO of Ajax would start as left back.

In midfield, it appears to be between Ever BANEGA and Leandro PAREDES to play beside Lucas BIGLIA. Manuel LANZINI would get the start on the right side of midfield. What does remain the same is that Lionel MESSI, Angel DI MARIA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN (who formed part of the original fabulous four with Sergio AGUERO back in Alejandro SABELLA’s days) start.

This is still not confirmed and far from it. Coach SAMPAOLI is still holding training sessions and we could have a better idea of the eleven which will start against Italy by Thursday. Make sure to keep checking for updates!

Which line-up would you like to see start against Italy? The first one with Sergio ROMERO as the goalkeeper or the second one with Willy CABALLERO as the goalkeeper?