Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni made four changes in training prior to the team flying out to Paraguay for their World Cup qualifier.

Lionel Scaloni stated on Wednesday at a press conference that the eleven which would start Thursday’s World Cup qualifier against Paraguay would be the same which won the Copa America. However, according to media outlets in Argentina, during the last training session, Scaloni made four changes to the team.

In the back line, Scaloni put Nahuel Molina in place of Gonzalo Montiel. The other changes were Alejandro Papu Gomez for Gio Lo Celso, Angel Correa for Angel Di Maria and Joaquin Correa in place of Lautaro Martinez.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference on Wednesday.

Lionel Scaloni commented on the team, the match against Paraguay and the October World Cup qualifiers. The Copa America champions trained on Wednesday with Scaloni speaking to the press after the training. Here’s what he had to say:

“The team is not yet confirmed but it’s almost 99% going to be the one from the Copa final. We might make a small change based on a player that has some discomfort.

“The challenge I have as a coach is that the team competes in every match, and to improve where needed. On a collective level, the team is performing regularly.

“We are functioning well as a team. On the other side, it’s obvious that we have players that on an individual level, can define a match. The players should be ready for what the coach decides. Our choices are always because of football and for what they can bring us match by match.

“We are happy with this group. We always take into consideration how the players are doing at their clubs.”

In regards to the World Cup qualifiers:

“Our intention is to take it match by match. It’s our way of working and we believe that we will continue to do well that way.

“We watch all of our rivals. How they can cause us problems. We are constantly watching football. We want to add to our knowledge all the time.

Scaloni also spoke about Paraguay, Argentina’s opponents on Thursday:

“Paraguay are an uncomfortable team to play. We will see how they approach the game, our way of playing will not change.

The coach also commented on Julian Alvarez, who has been in great form:

“We appreciate Julian (Alvarez) very much. He’s growing enormously. He’s a guy whom, in addition to giving us a lot in terms of football, in training, it’s incredible how he works. Him playing or not has nothing to do with his age.”

As Scaloni mentioned, the team would be that from the Copa America final. The player in doubt appears to be Marcos Acuña who had suffered an injury with his club. This would be the starting eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso; Di María, Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi.

Exequiel Palacios trained with the Argentina squad on Wednesday with everyone else being available.

Palacios was called up to the Argentina national team despite not being fully fit. An injury meant that Palacios would be a doubt for the October World Cup qualifying matches but he did train with the squad on Wednesday.

According to ESPN, Palacios could be available for Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni against Peru, the last of the team’s three World Cup qualifying matches. This would mean that he would not be fit for the matches against Paraguay and Uruguay this week.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni has the entire squad available and held a training session on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi and his PSG team mates Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes were the last to join the group in the morning with all three rumored to be starting vs. Paraguay on Thursday. According to several reports out of the Argentine media, Scaloni is rumored to be starting the same eleven which won the Copa America. Here is the rumored eleven:

Emiliano Martínez; Montiel, Romero, Otamendi, Acuña; De Paul, Paredes, Lo Celso; Di María, Lautaro Martínez and Messi