The line-up has been announced.
Both Angel DI MARIA and Ever BANEGA start for Argentina. Here’s the starting line-up:
ROMERO; ROJO, OTAMENDI, FUNES MORI, ROJO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; DI MARIA, HIGUAIN, MESSI
Ever BANEGA ends training in discomfort
Ever BANEGA was back training with the team today after training seperately yesterday.
While BANEGA trained with the team today, he felt some muscle discomfort and he could be a doubt for the match.. This is according to Martin AREVALO who is with the team in New Jersey.
As of now, it remains to be seen if he would start or not.
Rumor of Tata stepping down after Copa America
There’s a rumor going around that Tata MARTINO will no longer be the coach of the National Team after the Copa America.
According to Fox Sports in Argentina, win or lose, Tata MARTINO will step down as coach after the Copa America. Only Fox Sports is reporting this as I can’t find any other media outlet which is talking about.
Tata was promised the U20 job shortly after taking over but he never got it. Also, he has not gotten paid in months. There’s also a big fiasco going on between FIFA, AFA and the Argentina government and there is a possibility of the AFA getting disaffiliated with FIFA.
It’s all a big mess. I’m not saying Tata will or won’t quit, as it is just one media outlet reporting it but if he does, one cannot blame him. The entire situation is bad.
Argentina line-up in training, DI MARIA starts
Angel DI MARIA is set to start for Argentina.
Angel DI MARIA was a starter in Argentina’s eleven in training. DI MARIA started up front in place of Erik LAMELA. Here was the line-up in training.
ROMERO; ROJO, OTAMENDI, FUNES MORI, MERCADO; BANEGA, MASCHERANO, BIGLIA; DI MARIA, HIGUAIN, MESSI
Tata MARTINO: “We can’t lose another final”
Tata MARTINO held a press conference speaking about the final and the team.
MARTINO spoke about which players are available and more. Here’s what he had to say:
“Except for Augusto FERNANDEZ and Ezequiel LAVEZZI, the rest of the players are available for the final.”
“The only thing I’m worried about is winning the match tomorrow. Both teams reach the final well and there’s no point making comparisons with last year’s. We always have same conviction, desire and wanting to win.”
“We’re up against another chance of winning a title and that is thanks to the hard work of the players. The only thing I’m interested in is playing well tomorrow and above all, win.”
“MESSI is the captain of the team and represents the dream that we all have: To win the final.”
“With respect to last year’s final, the only thing I’d like to change is the result. We have to put last year’s final in the past and this is another chance.”
“The hardest thing was reaching the final and the players were able to achieve that. After what happened last year, the conclusion is that we can’t lose another final.”