Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke to the press following the match where he commented on the team and their reliance on Lionel Messi.

It was a difficult 1-0 win for Argentina in a match which saw six changes from the previous game. The team played a well rested Paraguay and it was Alejandro Papu Gomez getting his first goal in the sky blue and white shirt.

Scaloni commented on the match, Lionel Messi and the upcoming game. Here’s what he had to say:

“What I’m worried about today is the physical conditions of the players. The conditions were not the best to play in. The second half is also a credit to Paraguay. Obviously there are things to improve, like in every match.”

There were rumors that Lionel Messi would be rested for this match but in the end, the most capped player ever for the Argentina national team played the entire 90 minutes. In regards to Lionel Messi, Scaloni had this to say:

“The reality is that Messi has come here having played every match and it’s very difficult not to count on him.”

In regards to the team and the upcoming game:

“I believe the matches in which we got scored on were key moments. Defensively, the team is well. Today, there were players that worked very well for the team.

“It’s a possibility that in the next match we rotate. Having qualified gives us peace of mind. Now we have to recover and train.”

The team will not be playing midweek as their next match will be vs. Bolivia next Monday.

Argentina nationa team coach Lionel Scaloni has made several changes to the eleven for Monday’s Copa America match.

Lionel Scaloni has made six changes in total from the elven which started the 1-0 win vs. Uruguay. Two changes in the back line, two in midfield and two in attack. It’s a 4-3-3 by Scaloni as German Pezzella comes in for Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico is on for Marcos Acuna.

In midfield, Guido Rodriguez maintains his spot while Leandro Paredes is back and Alejandro Papu Gomez gets his first start. Up front, Lionel Messi starts alongside veterans Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria. This is the eleven:

Martínez; Molina, Romero, Pezzella, Tagliafico; Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Papu Gómez; Messi, Di María; Agüero

With the start, Messi will now be on 147 matches, tying Javier Mascherano for the most matches ever in an Argentina shirt.

Rodrigo De Paul is set to be benched for Argentina as coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to make several changes.

Argentina got their first win after three draws and once more, due to injury, Scaloni will be making some changes. Per a report by TyC Sports, Rodrigo De Paul is expected to be rested in midfield.

This would mean that in addition to Gio Lo Celso who won’t start, Scaloni won’t be using two of his regular starters in midfield. With De Paul and Lo Celso out, Guido Rodriguez would maintain his spot with Leandro Paredes back after missing the 1-0 win. Exequiel Palacios would be the third man in midfield.

The other change would be up front as Sergio Agüero would be replacing Lautaro Martinez, who has struggled to score lately.

Per the report, it would be either a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 which Scaloni would be starting. This would be the rumored eleven should it be a 4-3-3 formation:

Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel or Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi or Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Exequiel Palacios; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Lautaro Martínez or Ángel Di María

In a 3-5-2 formation, it would be the following:

Emiliano Martínez; Gonzalo Montiel or Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi or Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Tagliafico, Marcos Acuña; Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodríguez, Exequiel Palacios; Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero