There are many reports circulating that interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI has decided on a starting eleven for the match against Guatemala.
There were a few line-ups from training sessions which were recently announced but it finally looks like SCALONI has his eleven players in mind to start the match. Per reports, here’s how Argentina will start against Guatemala.
As we reported, Nicolas TAGLIAFICO of Ajax is set to captain the team. It would mean that five of the eleven would receive their first cap for Argentina. Those five being RULLI, SARAVIA, PALACIOS, SIMEONE and MARTINEZ.
Mauro ICARDI trained normally on Thursday and could feature on Tuesday night vs. Colombia.
Interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI received a boost on Thursday as Inter captain Mauro ICARDI trained with the rest of the Argentina team. As we’ve reported several times this week, ICARDI has been carrying a knock and was (remains) doubtful for the match on Friday against Guatemala.
The official Argentina account confirmed the news regarding ICARDI on Thursday. However, with ICARDI training normally, it would still appear that Fiorentina’s Giovanni SIMEONE will start against Guatemala but ICARDI would likely get some playing time in the two matches.
Giovanni SIMEONE is set to follow in his father’s footsteps and make his debut for the Argentina National Team when they play Guatemala on Friday.
Initial rumors had Mauro ICARDI and Lautaro MARTINEZ as the two starting forwards for Lionel SCALONI. When news broke out that Lautaro MARTINEZ has had to leave the team due to injury and Mauro ICARDI not fit enough to start, one name came up to replace them both. That name being Giovanni SIMEONE of Fiorentina.
Speaking on the AFA’s official Youtube channel, here’s what SIMEONE had to say about his call-up to the Argentina team:
“I’m very happy. When Lionel (SCALONI) called me, I got very emotional for getting this chance and I’ll give it my all.”
SIMEONE, who finished last season with 14 goals, is set to start up front for Argentina alongside Cristian PAVON and Gonzalo MARTINEZ.
In this week’s edition of the Argentina Throwback Thursday, we have Juan Roman RIQUELME scoring and assisting against Peru at the 2007 Copa America. It was the quarter finals of the tournament and Argentina were up against Peru. The Albiceleste started the match with the following eleven:
Roberto ABBONDANZIERI
Javier ZANETTI
Roberto AYALA
Gabriel MILITO
Gabriel HEINZE
Javier MASCHERANO
Esteban CAMBIASSO
Juan Sebastian VERON
Juan Roman RIQUELME
Lionel MESSI
Diego MILITO
Regular number 9 Hernan CRESPO injured himself in the group stages and was ultimately replaced by MILITO. After the end of the first half, Juan Roman RIQUELME took over.
A shot from the edge of the area with his left foot beat Peruvian goalkeeper Leao BUTRON to give Argentina the lead. The second goal was nothing short of a genius. RIQUELME went into his passing repertoir and produced a ball which sliced through three Peruvian players before Lionel MESSI scored to double Argentina’s lead.
Javier MASCHERANO managed to make it 3-0 with his second of the tournament before RIQUELME, of course, netted once more this time off a brilliant counter attack by Carlos TEVEZ.
RIQUELME turned on the style the entire tournament and probably even more so against Mexico in the semi finals. But that performance against Peru, two goals and an assist, was something of RIQUELME’s level. Unfortunately, Argentina would go on to lose the final but Argentina definitely misses a player of Roman’s caliber.
Interim Argentina coach Lionel SCALONI has tried out a different line-up in training ahead of Argentina’s match against Guatemala on Friday.
The general idea appears to be that SCALONI would try out two different formations for the matches against Guatemala and Colombia. With reports that Nicolas TAGLIAFICO will captain the Argentina for both games, it would appear as though he would likely start both matches. Here’s the eleven which was put out by SCALONI:
The eleven isn’t confirmed and SCALONI is still trying out different players but that front three of PAVON, SIMEONE and Gonzalo MARTINEZ looks set to start against Guatemala.
