Argentina host Chile in South America’s CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 23, 2017 at the Monumental.

The Albiceleste won the first encounter in Santiago, Chile in 2016 but a lot has happened since that last match. A 2-1 win with goals from Gabriel MERCADO and Angel DI MARIA ensured Gerardo “Tata” MARTINO’s men picked up the vital three points. However, both teams have faced each other twice since that night in Santiago. The first was in the group stages of the 2016 Copa America and once more, Argentina picked up the victory with the same score line. Angel DI MARIA was on the score sheet with Ever BANEGA adding the second.

However, Chile got their revenge when it mattered most in what is now an infamous match for Argentina. At the final of that very same tournament, the match was score less and it went to penalty kicks and with both Lionel MESSI and Lucas BIGLIA missing, Chile lifted their second consecutive Copa America in less than a year.

Argentina’s line-up:

The shirt numbers for tonight’s match have been announced.

Lionel MESSI will be wearing his number 10 shirt with Gonzalo HIGUAIN wearing the number 9 on his back. Below are the numbers:

Argentina shirt numbers:

1. Sergio ROMERO
2. Gabriel MERCADO
3. Facundo RONCAGLIA
4. Emmanuel MÁS
5. Guido PIZARRO
6. Lucas BIGLIA
7. Sergio AGÜERO
8. Enzo PÉREZ
9. Gonzalo HIGUAÍN
10. Lionel MESSI
11. Ángel DI MARÍA
12. Nahuel GUZMÁN
13. Mateo MUSACCHIO
14. Javier MASCHERANO
15. Marcos ACUÑA
16. Marcos ROJO
17. Nicolás OTAMENDI
18. Lucas PRATTO
19. Ever BANEGA
20. Ángel CORREA
21. Julio BUFFARINI
22. Ezequiel LAVEZZI
23. Mariano ANDÚJAR

Argentina National Team coach Edgardo BAUZA spoke about Argentina’s upcoming World Cup Qualifiers.

Edgardo BAUZA took to the media to discuss Argentina’s upcoming matches as well as a number of other things. Lionel MESSI, Paulo DYBALA and Gonzalo HIGUAIN were among some of the things he spoke about. As we already reported, the starting line-up has been announced with Sergio AGUERO getting the start. Here’s what he had to say:

On the match:

“We’re going to play against a direct rival (in the World Cup Qualifying standings), we know the problems that we can have. We have to find the right balance and if we do that, we’ll be able to move forward.”

The team:

“I see the team well. They’re very motivated and they know what this match is about. I’m optimistic, I have a lot of faith. We’ll qualify. We have great players that are capable of causing Chile a headache.”

Lionel MESSI:

“He can change positions, he has total liberty.”

Gonzalo HIGUAIN:

“HIGUAIN knows that for me, he’s the starting number 9. I have a lot of faith in him.”

Paulo DYBALA:

“He won’t even be on the bench. We’ll see if he can get there on Tuesday (against Bolivia).”

Sergio AGUERO:

“I picked him because for me, he’s the best if DYBALA isn’t there. I see him well. Together with MESSI, DI MARIA and HIGUAIN, he can unbalance an opponent.”

Chile’s coach, PIZZI:

“We’re friends and I know what he can do for Chile but we’ll be rivals for those 90 minutes.”

This round of Qualifiers:

“This World Cup Qualifying round is important for everyone. I’m giving importance to both matches.”

Conditions of the pitch:

“I spoke to those who take care of the pitch. It won’t be a 10 out of 10 but a 7 or an 8.”

Argentina’s starting line-up for their World Cup Qualifier against Chile has been announced.

In typical Edgardo BAUZA fashion, the starting eleven has been confirmed ahead of time. The rumored line-up had either Manchester City’s Sergio AGÜERO or Inter’s Ever BANEGA. The final decision is that it will be the England based AGÜERO who will start in the number 10 role. Here’s the line-up:

Starting line-up:

ROMERO; MERCADO, OTAMENDI, ROJO, MÁS; MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; MESSI, AGÜERO, DI MARÍA; HIGUAÍN.

An injury to Manchester City’s Pablo ZABALETA means that Gabriel MERCADO is the undisputed starter in the right back position. The suspension to Everton’s Ramiro FUNES MORI means that Argentina will have an all Manchester based center back pairing with Manchester United’s Marcos ROJO as his replacement alongside Manchester City’s Nicolas OTAMENDI. On the left, Emanuel MÁS covers for ROJO who will play alongside him.

In midfield it’s the partnership we have become accostomed to seeing. Javier MASCHERANO and Lucas BIGLIA will play in front of the back line. It’s the (not so) fantastic four which was formed by Alejandro SABELLA during his tenure as coach which we will see up front for Argentina.

Lionel MESSI will be on the wing with Sergio AGÜERO in the number 10 role playing behind Juventus forward Gonzalo HIGUAÍN with Angel DI MARÍA occupying his usual left wing spot.

Edgardo BAUZA has also spoken about the team selection, Paulo DYBALA and more. Here’s what he had to say:

The team:

“The team will be ROMERO; MERCADO, OTAMENDI, ROJO, MÁS; MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; MESSI, AGÜERO, DI MARÍA; HIGUAÍN.”

About Paulo DYBALA:

“He won’t even be on the bench. We’ll see if he can get there on Tuesday (against Bolivia).”

AGÜERO and HIGUAÍN

“With DYBALA out, the best one there is is Kun. It’s for that reason I’m putting him. HIGUAIN knows that for me, he’s the starting number 9. I have a lot of faith in him.”

Ten of the eleven players who will start for Argentina on Thursday took part in last year’s Copa America Centenario defeat. The ten being ROMERO, MERCADO, OTAMENDI, ROJO (who received a red card and was sent off), MASCHERANO, BIGLIA, MESSI, AGÜERO, DI MARÍA and HIGUAÍN. The only one to miss out was Emanuel MÁS.

Of the eleven starting against Chile, seven of them took part in the World Cup final defeat against Germany. ROMERO, ROJO, MASCHERANO, BIGLIA, MESSI, AGÜERO and HIGUAÍN. It would have been seven had Angel DI MARÍA been fit to play.