Argentina
- Thread starter soul24rage
- Start date
The squad list is out!
I'm not 100% satisfied with the list but I'm not as pessimistic. It's still a solid decent list.
Ones to keep an eye out are Montiel and Nico Gonzalez. They can still be taken out based on their injuries, especially Montiel. I would be surprised if the list is the same by the time we face Algeria.
I trust Scaloni with his judgement, let's see if it pans out.
Lookd basically same like in 2022 minus di maria but should have taken Paulo instead of this temu fermin lopez guy
soul24rage
Well-known member
Flaco is a Plan B. Scaloni was debating between him and Panichelli until Panichelli got the ACL injury. I personally would not have selected Flaco as I feel there are other positions that needs an extra body.
RB and LB starters are solid with Molina and Tags. Capaldo can replace Montiel for the RB back up position and think he'll do very decent. LB backup is definitely a position that I am worried about. Might have to go with Licha at LB.
soul24rage
Well-known member
I think most of the players that are coming from injury should be back for the 1st WC game, but I rather not risk it and not have their first game back vs Algeria and let them recover fully from their injury.
Vs Honduras and Iceland (friendlies) + vs Algeria and Austria, this would be my team (I need to keep Tagliafico in cotton wool until the knockout stages) and give chances for Medina and Capaldo (Capaldo can still play in the friendlies - If Scaloni does not replace Montiel with Capaldo then sub in Molina vs Iceland)
-----------Lautaro---Flaco
Barco------MacA----Enzo----Palacios
Medina---Lisandro--Otamendi----Capaldo
-----------------Musso
Sub in Balerdi, Tags, Lo Celso, RDP, Giuliano
Use the Jordan game as the game to have the injured players back to speed
---------Alvarez---Messi
Almada---Paz----Paredes----Nico G
Medina---Balerdi--Romero---Molina
----------------Dibu
Sub in Lisandro (play him as LB and move Medina to LCB for experimentation), Lo Celso, Palacios, Montiel, Flaco
Vs Honduras and Iceland (friendlies) + vs Algeria and Austria, this would be my team (I need to keep Tagliafico in cotton wool until the knockout stages) and give chances for Medina and Capaldo (Capaldo can still play in the friendlies - If Scaloni does not replace Montiel with Capaldo then sub in Molina vs Iceland)
-----------Lautaro---Flaco
Barco------MacA----Enzo----Palacios
Medina---Lisandro--Otamendi----Capaldo
-----------------Musso
Sub in Balerdi, Tags, Lo Celso, RDP, Giuliano
Use the Jordan game as the game to have the injured players back to speed
---------Alvarez---Messi
Almada---Paz----Paredes----Nico G
Medina---Balerdi--Romero---Molina
----------------Dibu
Sub in Lisandro (play him as LB and move Medina to LCB for experimentation), Lo Celso, Palacios, Montiel, Flaco
DonAK
Well-known member
Can always put Barco at LB in crisis even though it wouldn't be ideal.
They don't really have that much CB talent tbh. Senesi is the obvious name that is out however I read both Argentine and Bournemouth fans claim he is beyond awful in a high line which is why he's a bad fit for Argentina and probably why Deco didn't pursue him either.
Temptation
Well-known member
Some of their starters have had awful seasons like Mac Allister and Romero.
How TF are Senesi and Buendia not even in the squad?!
How TF are Senesi and Buendia not even in the squad?!
soul24rage
Well-known member
I would have included Senesi over Balerdi and Buendia over Flaco, but nothing that will make me lose sleep.
DonAK
Well-known member
Senesi cannot play in a high line and has apparently been awful in the three matches he has played for Argentina.
Buendia is a headscratcher, but Lo Celso despite his poor form has always been fantastic for the national team.
Temptation
Well-known member
Bournemouth and Iraola are being rated highly because of their attacking Football with a high line?
How would that work with Senesi's major weakness?
I'm a GLC stan but there are other players Buendia could have replaced.......
DonAK
Well-known member
I have no clue. Haven't watched any of Senesi's games or Bournemouth. Just saying that's what their fans have been saying.
Temptation
Well-known member
I saw someone say that on Reddit and was very confused.
We're trying to sign Iraola because of his attacking Football and high line system.
Albiceleste2010
Member
Scaloni has really messed up. Instead of using the WC qualifiers to test the newer players and kids he kept playing the same old faces. Ditto the poorly chosen friendlies against very weak opposition. Nothing was learnt.
Nothing also learnt from the multiple times previous WC winning coaches have tried to win the WC again with similar squads. He deserves tremendous criticism. You pick players on form and fitness not sentimentality or what they have done in the past.
So many players recuperating from injuries that could flare up at crucial times. Not taking Senesi over Medina and Balerdi..... Senesi could fulfil the passing from deep role of Romero if needed. As for the left back issue after Tags well he should have tried Licha. Perrone far superior to an over the hill de Paul.
Paredes decent form albeit in the Primera. Barco, Enzo and Paz great form. Others in poor form and also injury prone. That's Alexis and Palacios. Not encouraging. Paz for instance. Barely allowed to take a match as head of the side. It's what I would have done in the last qualifiers.
Capaldo and Giay are still there for a reason concerns over Molina. Flaco Lopez is a good choice. Excellent form for Palmeiras and he has really developed under Abel Ferreira like Perrone has under Fabregas.
I would rather di Maria come back than de Paul and Otamendi. Two whole spots wasted. This WC will be exhausting, sides that can move the ball quickly and accurately will do best and the plan could be to sit back and hit on the counter. We do have players that will work hard from the front like Julian a world class player now and Simeone and Flaco and Lautaro . But midfield is a concern but most of all the defence. If Licha and Cristian were fit Tags would do his job and then Giay could offer the thrust of a Molina going forward v-v Capaldo a more stay at home very solid defender.
I might have taken Beltran as the third keeper for the experience versus Rulli planning longer term. Simon Escobar aged 17 will be the future left back once Tags retires. We may see him after this WC is over. I might have liked to see Aranda as well for his dribbling ability and not many sides will have faced him.
Overall a poor selection from Scaloni and a QF exit I think which will be heartbreaking. A balanced fit squad could have done much better. There will be huge changes after the WC and thankfully the friends reunited club will end and either Placente/Aimar to take over or Gallardo. And of course plenty of young talent waiting in the wings. Some of which should have been filtered into this squad.
PS What happened to the old forum. All those wonderful threads gone.
The WC after winning one is always a battle between do we blood new players or bring back the old guard to try and run it back again, for some reason managers always chooses to run it back with the old team, it hasn't work yet.
But the goat wasn't involved.
Personal would have liked to see a few more changes
But the goat wasn't involved.
Personal would have liked to see a few more changes
soul24rage
Well-known member
L3v1s
Active member
@soul24rage What's your take on this current squad? It's questionable if they have the motivation to do something big again. Most players are in their prime but some of them didnt have their best season at club level, while others are returning from injuries.
soul24rage
Well-known member
The motivation is still there. They won't let Messi's last international tournament end in shambles. Also, a lot of people are criminally underestimating them - that'll put a chip on their shoulders.
The LB depth is definitely the position that worries me.
I'll reserve my thoughts of the squad until the squad is "finalized". Balerdi got injured today and a new defender will need to come in. Montiel is another that will be scrutinized by the coaches if he is able to make it by the 1st WC match.
Temptation
Well-known member
Windvane
Active member
Changed nothing for me, he was the best player ever long before that even if he lost.
Just like Ronaldo transcends sport like Messi never will and is the greatest.
Oops. Took me long enough
Mbappe is a bit overrated lately seems like. Still a good player. It really doesnt bode well for the man that Paris retained CL just as he left.
soul24rage
Well-known member
Wish Dybala was around 20 years old today.
He would have been great to take the mantle from Messi and lead the national team.