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Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Papu Gomez starting for Argentina

Roy Nemer
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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.

Lionel Messi benched for Argentina, Papu Gomez, Lisandro Martinez to start

Roy Nemer
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Lionel Messi could be rested for Argentina as Alejandro Papu Gomez could start in his place.

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni is expected to make several changes for tonight’s Copa America clash. As we reported earlier, both Gio Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul are not expected to start. In addition to those two, Lionel Messi and Nicolas Otamendi will likely also start from the bench.

The attack would be one which Scaloni has not yet played. The front three would consist of Alejandro Papu Gomez, Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria. And a midfield two of Guido Rodriguez and Leandro Paredes. Here is what we are being told is the XI which will start the match:

Emi Martinez; Molina, Pezzella, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico; Guido Rodriguez, Paredes; Papu Gomez, Aguero, Di Maria

Rodrigo De Paul set to be benched, possible 5-3-2, 4-3-3 for Argentina

Roy Nemer
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43

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

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and Leandro Paredes comment on team

Roy Nemer
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Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni and Leandro Paredes both spoke to the press on Sunday.

This time it was Leandro Paredes who spoke at a press conference. Paredes, who missed Argentina’s 1-0 win vs. Uruguay on Friday, has a strong chance of starting vs. Paraguay on Monday. He was replaced by Guido Rodriguez who ended up scoring the only goal of the match and gave Argentina the 1-0 win. Here’s what Paredes had to say in regards to Guido and the team:

“The truth is that I am very happy for Guido, for the Argentina national team, because it shows that every guy that is here can bring something.”

“We are taking this one match at a time. I believe we have a group of incredible players. We’re on the right path and we’re growing. With the quality of the players we have, I think we can expect a lot.”

Regarding Paraguay:

“Paraguay have top level players. I feel better, I am good to play. In midfield, we have players of good quality, with a lot of dedication and with different playing styles.”

Lionel Scaloni spoke after Paredes and commented on several things. In regards to the opponent on Monday:

“Paraguay are a very uncomfortable team, a very difficult opponent who know how to play. They have a great coach.”

The coach also spoke about Lionel Messi’s leadership:

“I think Messi’s leadership is always the same on the pitch. Off it, he’s a spectacular guy, who leads the group forward as he has always done.”

Sergio Aguero and Lautaro Martinez were also a topic of discussion:

“Sergio Aguero is getting better every day and that for us is an important contribution.

“As long as I am coach, Lautaro is part of the base. I am satisfied with him and he knows what I think.”

And Scaloni commented on the wingbacks:

“In Brazil, the wingbacks chage. Here too. For me, Molina, Montiel, Tagliafico and Acuña are starters.”

Argentina national team reaches 1000 matches, statistics and numbers

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Friday’s 1-0 win vs. Uruguay at the Copa America was Argentina’s 1000th game played, counting matches against senior teams only and excluding matches vs. B teams (like Catalunya) or clubs.

Incredibly, Argentina’s first match was also against Uruguay and also a victory. On May 16, 1901, the Albiceleste beat La Celeste 3-2 in Uruguay’s capital Montevideo.

Match number 500 for Argentina was a well-remembered one too. It was the 6-0 win vs. Peru during World Cup 1978 played in Argentina. On that occasion, the national team had to win by four clear goals to reach the final.

In the middle of the Argentine dictatorship, which was filled with suspicion and controversy, it saw Argentina’s dictator Rafael Videla visiting Peru’s locker room. What was on the line for that match as the national team, with Mario Kempes as the star, making it to the World Cup final.

Here, Argentina’s record against some of its rivals:
+25 vs. Uruguay (187 matches played, 84 wins, 44 draws, 59 losses)
-2 vs. Brazil (107 matches played, 40 wins, 25 draws, 42 losses)
+51 vs. Chile (87 matches played, 57 wins, 24 draws, 6 losses)
+11 vs. Mexico (30 matches played, 15 wins, 11 draws, 4 losses)
+3 vs. Germany (23 matches played, 10 wins, 6 draws, 7 losses)
-3 vs. England (15 matches played, 3 wins, 6 draws, 6 losses)
0 vs. Spain (14 matches played, 6 wins, 2 draws, 6 losses)
+3 vs. France (12 matches played, 6 wins, 3 draws, 3 losses)
-3 vs. Netherlands (9 matches played, 1* win, 4 draws, 4 losses)
-2 vs. Italy (15 matches played, 4 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses)

*Argentina’s only victory vs. the Netherlands was at the 1978 World Cup final. Argentina’s memorable win on penalties in the Semifinals of the 2014 World Cup is considered a draw.

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