Lionel Scaloni held a press conference on Wednesday and he was asked about Lucas Esquivel, Sergio Romero and the Argentina team.

Scaloni had commented on if Lionel Messi will start for Argentina against Paraguay while also discussing the possibility of Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez starting together. In the same press conference, Scaloni was asked about 21 year old left back Lucas Esquivel. Here is what he had to say:

“Esquivel us a kid that we value, training more with us because it is a position that, with Huevo’s injury (Acuña) in the previous call up, he could be just right and we are interested in seeing him. He is the one we are looking at so that he can be part of the national team. Farías has not trained with us, he goes with Masche, but he has a huge future.”

In regards to Sergio Romero:

“I already answered about Chiquito and after that, he kept saving well. There is no doubt that he is at a good level, I am not anyone to say otherwise. Everybody appreciates him at the facilities, besides, he is a spectacular kid.

“He helped us a lot at the beginning of our cycle, the doors are open. Today, we believed that the boys who are here are doing well. If at any moment they give us reasons to change, we know that the doors are open.”

About the Argentina national team:

“Beyond results, beyond continuing to win, it is time to continue with the way we play, with the way we see football. Today we are getting everything in front of us but the wind can change.

“That is where we need to be as we are now, which is the idea. Logically, we have to take advantage of the moment, especially to bring in youngsters who can see how the older players train, to see our idea of the game.

“We have to take advantage so that everything stays the same. At the end of the day, the national team is there so that everyone can contribute their bit.”

Players from the U23 team being called up:

“Everyone knows that if the U23 team makes a call up, many times, the clubs do not send them because they think they are not worth it. So sometimes we make the call ups for the senior team and we put them there so they can be sent.”

And the match against Paraguay:

“I don’t know how Paraguay are preparing for the match, it could be with three center backs, with Junior Alonso on the left. We analyze how the team plays and we take our precautions. But the first idea is to play our game and we will think about the match based on what we want to do. We have players who can do different things and that’s what the match is all about.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Wednesday about the possibility of both Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez playing together.

Lionel Scaloni had commented on Lionel Messi and if he will start for Argentina against Paraguay on Thursday but Scaloni was also asked about Alvarez and Martinez. Here is what he had to say:

“The nine’s have played together, in the previous press conference they told me they didn’t but they have played together from the start. I am open to many things, it will depend on the match and if we have think that they have to play together.
“It would not be an inconvenience, they are both nines but they are different and can play together. First, we are going to see what is best for the match and we will decide based on that.”

Scaloni was also asked about Alexis McAllister and Enzo Fernández:

“I don’t know if they will both play or if we will alternate. There’s also Leandro (Paredes) and Guido (Rodríguez). They can both play the same position. Both can gie us things, against Ecuador we started in one way and changed it. It can be positive for us.”

The coach also discussed the injuries in the team:

“We know that they are important losses but we know that those who come will try to do their best and that they are worthy players, who will try to earn their place. That is what we are looking for from them, that those who came because of injuries want to play and stay.”

He was also asked about Marcos Acuña and Gio Lo Celso:

“Acuña is coming from an injury, he played half in the last match and he is in conditions to be part of the call up and to play. We will evaluate if he will start or not because he has very few minutes under his belt, as well as Lo Celso who we value a lot. But he is also coming from an injury. We are not in favor of forcing them.”

Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Wednesday and commented on if Lionel Messi will be starting for Argentina while also discussing about Messi’s time off with Inter Miami.

Scaloni held a press conference before Argentina’s World Cup qualifying match against Paraguay on Thursday and one of the topics discussed was Lionel Messi. The Best player in the world is just returning from injury with Inter Miami and Scaloni was asked about Messi and if he will start against Paraguay. Here is what he had to say:

“We still have one more training session and one more is important for him. We see him well and we will talk to him before to decide if he will start the match or not. Based on that, the team can change but I have to talk it over with him and above all, that he is well, that we are convinced that he can play as a starter.

“He looked good. We will base the rest of the team on that.

“The decision first is to see how he feels. Second, we have another game in four days. He can play 80 minutes and against Peru, nothing. Or he can play 90 minutes in both matches and be fine. It is not that easy.

“If he is available, you know what I think about it. On the subject of minutes, it is important. What reassures us is that if he is not fit to start, whoever starts will do just as well, that’s the most important thing.

“Almost none of them had a strong pre-season, Leo in this case went and competed but the rest did friendlies in the United States. Sometimes you are fine and nothing happens but sometimes the calendar takes its toll. The players are feeling the calendar.”

He was also asked about Messi and Inter Miami not making the MLS playoffs and how that could play a role with the Argentina national team:

“As far as the national team is concerned, he will be moving around until the next FIFA date. It won’t affect us too much, he will be training and playing matches, it’s not a problem.

“I didn’t talk about what will happen after that, he will have his well-deserves vacation and will return to training with his team later on but it won’t affect the national team’s plans too much.”

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has already held two training sessions this week and there is already speculation of a starting eleven with Lionel Messi expected to start.

The World Cup champions will play Paraguay on Thursday and according to TyC Sports, we will not be getting too many changes from what the team normally looks like. With no Ángel Di María who has not been called up due to injury, Nicolás González is expected to start up front.

Lionel Messi is also set to start after returning from injury as he trained with the team normally on both days. Up front with Messi and González, it will be one of Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.

Marcos Acuña missed the September matches due to injury but has returned and it will be between himself and Nicolás Tagliafico on the left with Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel starting on the right. Between them will be the regular pairing of Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi.

It is expected that the midfield will be the same one which started against both Ecuador and Bolivia, that is Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández. Here is the rumored starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico or Marcos Acuña; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez or Lautaro Martínez and Nicolás González.

Lionel Messi and several Argentina national team players have started to arrive for the team’s two World Cup qualifying matches.

Messi was photographed arriving to the Lionel Andrés Messi training complex on Monday morning, as was Julián Álvarez, Alexis Mac Allister, Emiliano Martínez and Gonzalo Montiel. Players began arriving to Argentina on Sunday to join the Argentina national team.

The World Cup champions will play two World Cup qualifying matches this month. The first is on Thursday, October 12 against Paraguay and the second on Tuesday, October 17 against Peru.

Argentina will be without Paulo Dybala and Juan Foyth, both of which are injured as are Ángel Di María, Lisandro Martínez and Gerónimo Rulli. Here are the players that have been called-up by coach Lionel Scaloni:

Goalkeepers:
Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)
Franco Armani (River Plate)
Juan Musso (Atalanta)
Walter Benítez (PSV)

Defenders:
Gonzalo Montiel (Nottingham Forest)
Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Germán Pezzella (Real Betis)
Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur)
Lucas Martínez Quarta (Fiorentina)
Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica)
Marco Pellegrino (AC Milan)
Marcos Acuña (Sevilla)
Nicolás Tagliafico (Lyon)
Lucas Esquivel (Athletico Paranaense)
Facundo Medina (RC Lens)

Midfielders:
Leandro Paredes (AS Roma)
Guido Rodríguez (Real Betis)
Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid)
Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen)
Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton)
Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham Hotspur)
Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool)
Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)
Bruno Zapelli (Athletico Paranaense)

Forwards:
Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
Julián Álvarez (Manchester City)
Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
Facundo Farías (Inter Miami)
Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina)
Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United)
Nicolás González (Fiorentina)
Lucas Ocampos (Sevilla)

The World Champions are in Argentina! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/lj82vTkBQK

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) October 9, 2023