Argentina

[Don Juan Laporta Estruch]

Not only is he not very good in my opinion with little hope of becoming top class (as I have alluded to on here a few times), but he's a Ronaldo fanboy playing in Messi's team. Now obviously you want people to have their own opinions and not be forced into groupthink, but there's something weird about a rabid Ronaldo worshipper playing for Argentina.

He also trolled Barca and Messi is the Son of Barcelona, as Rodrigo de Paul said, so that's another attack on Messi.

He also loves Real Madrid, the fans of which spend half of their waking hours on the internet trying to persuade people Argentina's World Cup win was a rigged, undeserved, refereeing conspiracy.

Argentines that like Madrid are traitors in my book, even more so now with so many Argentines at their big rival Atleti.

 

[Maradona37]

He also trolled Barca and Messi is the Son of Barcelona, as Rodrigo de Paul said, so that's another attack on Messi.

He also loves Real Madrid, the fans of which spend half of their waking hours on the internet trying to persuade people Argentina's World Cup win was a rigged, undeserved, refereeing conspiracy.

Argentines that like Madrid are traitors in my book, even more so now with so many Argentines at their big rival Atleti.

Aye it's weird as fuck. Plus Man United are Ronaldo's old team too and where he made his name which is probably why he partly likes Ronaldo. Plus he's that same type of (very inferior) player the creep is.

Lisandro Martinez is different - he plays for United but you get the sense he loves Argentina and Messi as much as the rest of them. He doesn't seem to be a Ronaldo fanboy. I bet Garnacho doesn't even like Messi and probably doesn't even feel that Argentinean. But might be wrong as if that was true he could easily have played for Spain instead.

There's not much Argentina heritage at Real Madrid, true. A few like Di Stefano, Valdano, Redondo and others but not much in recent history (Di Maria and he was forced out, anyone else?).

I also notice they hate Dutch players often because of the Dutch influence at Barcelona. They forced out Sneijder and Robben and Van Nistelrooy.

 

[soul24rage]

Squad for the October Window has been released

- Dibu is out suspended by FIFA for 2 games
- Romero is suspended for the 1st game, so surprised to see him there
- At this point, I don't expect to see Senesi, Medina, Maffeo, Varela, Equi Fernandez. Shame that Castellanos was dropped.
- I don't know what is the point of calling up Otamendi, Pezzella, Acuna. Good thing that Guido was dropped though.
- Sad that Soule and Barco got dropped as we would need to prep for the future.
- Happy to see Nico Paz called up as he's been in good form for Como.
- Most importantly, the GOAT is back!

GK: Benitez, Musso, Rulli

RB: Molina, Montiel
CB: Romero, L. Martinez, Balerdi, Otamendi, Pezzella
LB: Acuna, Tagli

RM: De Paul, Palacios
DM: Enzo, Paredes
CM: MacAllister, Lo Celso, Thiago Almada

RW: Messi, Dybala, Nico Paz, Carboni
FW: Alvarez, Martinez
LW: Garnacho, Nico Gonzalez

We'll probably see a lineup like this vs Venezuela

--------------Alvarez----Messi
Lo Celso----MacA----Enzo------RDP
Tagli-----Lisandro----Otamendi---Molina
-------------------Rulli

 

[soul24rage]

About 3 months ago

Paredes' beautiful tackle, Lo Celso's one touch pass and Lautaro's clinical finish

The 3 captains lifting the trophy together

Finally, the last match for his country for this beautiful man

One of the greatest national team in football history.

 

[Fati_Future_BallonDor]

About 3 months ago

Paredes' beautiful tackle, Lo Celso's one touch pass and Lautaro's clinical finish

The 3 captains lifting the trophy together

Finally, the last match for his country for this beautiful man

One of the greatest national team in football history.

Cant see the first video in my country *cry*

But the Di Maria video, good that we can still enjoy him in Benfica 🥺
🥺

 

[soul24rage]

A few players are out due to injury, so a new list has arrived
- Julio Soler is one of Argentina's brightest talent and has been linked to Liverpool. Hope to see what he is like.
- Buonanotte is on good form right now. The team has so many left-footers.

GK: Benitez, Musso, Rulli

RB: Molina, Montiel
CB: Romero, L. Martinez, Balerdi, Otamendi, Pezzella
LB: Julio Soler, Tagli

RM: De Paul, Palacios
DM: Enzo, Paredes
CM: MacAllister, Lo Celso

RW: Messi, Nico Paz, Carboni, Facundo Buonanotte
FW: Alvarez, Martinez
LW: Thiago Almada

 

[soul24rage]

Can't comment too much on the game vs Venezuela much, the pitch condition was terrible. Seemed like a swimming pool.

Pezzella and Otamendi need to retire internationally. Balerdi is there. So is Senesi and Medina to take over as well.

It's been said before, but Scaloni really should have done better in terms of squad selection. With Nico G. and Garnacho injured, Thiago Fernandez could have been called up and see how he does. Maffeo is doing well in Spain while Montiel is not playing at all and Molina still not in good club form. Castellanos should have been called up. Buonanotte, Nico Paz, Carboni are all similar style of players especially with Messi in the squad. Not sure if we needed all of them in the squad.

Seems like both Lisandro and MacA are injured/having physical problems. Vs Bolivia, I would go with this lineup.

-----------------Alvarez-------Messi
Lo Celso-------Enzo------Paredes-------RDP
Tagliafico-----Balerdi------Romero------Molina
--------------------------Rulli

Subs: Soler, Montiel, Palacios, Almada, Martinez

Let's get 9 points for the rest of 2024. That should be more than good enough to clench WC qualification.

 

[soul24rage]

This is just my gut feeling and I know that we are far away from the WC, but I feel that these are the 23 players that has the highest chance to be selected for the WC26 by Scaloni, regardless of their club form.

Since there is 1 more match in the WC assuming the team gets to the final, I would think that the squad size will be 28 player squad. I could see where Scaloni just uses these 23 players and the 5 extra players are just there in case.

GK: E. Martinez (33), Rulli (34), Musso (32)

RB: Molina (28), Montiel (29)
CB: Romero (28), Balerdi (27), Pezzella (35), Otamendi (38)
LB: Tagli (33), L. Martinez (28)

RM: De Paul (32), Palacios (27)
DM: Enzo (25), Paredes (32)
CM: MacAllister (27), Lo Celso (30)

RW: Messi (39), Dybala (32)
FW: Martinez (28), Alvarez (26)
LW: Nico Gonzales (28), Garnacho (22)

If these are the players to be selected, defense would be my biggest concern.
- Fullback position is a very intensive position. How would Tagliafico perform at the age of 33?
- I would assume that Romero and Lisandro will be the CB pairing, but I'm hoping that Balerdi would be the 3rd choice option ahead of Pezzella and Otamendi

 

[soul24rage]

According to ESPN Argentina, Scaloni is considering starting Messi, Julian and Lautaro together vs Bolivia. If that is the case, then I could see something like

-----------------Lautaro-------Messi
Alvarez-------Lo Celso------Enzo-------RDP
Tagliafico-----Balerdi------Romero------Molina
--------------------------Rulli

 

[soul24rage]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1848391754329767959

 

[Maradona37]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1848391754329767959

Great reaction there. Messi has such an ability to glide and make everything look so effortless. It looked there like he was playing so cutely and everyone else was really trying.

 

[soul24rage]

Analysis of how Lisandro is performing as a LB and I think Scaloni is going to go with this tactic (got hints of it with Tagliafico as well).

On paper and while defending, it'll be something like this

---------------Julian------Messi
Nico G.------MacA-----Enzo-------RDP
Lisandro-----XXX-----Romero------Molina
-------------------------Dibu

But building up play will be something like this with the famous 4 box midfield. This will most very likely to be the starting XI for the WC26.

------------------------Julian
Nico G.------MacA----------Messi--------Molina
---------------Enzo-----------RDP
-------Lisandro------XXX-------Romero
------------------------Dibu

 

[soul24rage]

Finally!

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1848732087009825107

 

[soul24rage]

If I were Scaloni, this would be my squad for Nov.

GK: Dibu, Musso, Rulli

RB: Molina, Maffeo
CB: Romero, L. Martinez, Senesi, Balerdi, Otamendi
LB: Tagli, Soler

RM: De Paul, Palacios
DM: Enzo, Paredes, Varela
CM: MacAllister, Nico Dominguez

RW: Messi, Dybala
FW: Alvarez, Martinez, Castellanos
LW: Garnacho, Thiago Almada

- Montiel hasn't been getting any games at all and Maffeo has. High time Maffeo gets called up
- Senesi should be a no brainer at this point. Otamendi just there for the vibes but it's time to stop calling up Pezzella
- Barco hasn't been getting any game time at all, so would have Soler there
- Both Nico Dominguez and Nottingham Forest has been flying and Forest are 3rd in the Premier League as of right now. A good all-rounder. Lo Celso is injured right now.
- Time to call up Varela
- Castellanos has been great so far and is the 3rd top scorer in Serie A.
- With Nico Gonzalez injured, high time Garnacho gets more game time.

 

[soul24rage]

The list of the players are out!

GK: Dibu, Benitez, Rulli

RB: Molina, Montiel
CB: Romero, Pezzella, Balerdi, Otamendi, Perez
LB: L. Martinez, Tagli

RM: De Paul, Palacios
DM: Enzo, Paredes, Barrenechea
CM: MacAllister, Lo Celso

RW: Messi, Nico Paz, Buonanotte
FW: Alvarez, Martinez, Castellanos
LW: Garnacho, Nico Gonzalez, Thiago Almada

- The absolute joke is Pezzella ahead of Senesi again. I have no words. I haven't watched Perez too much since his loan to Porto so can't comment on him
- Tagliafico being the only LB probably means that Lisandro will be the other LB
- Montiel ahead of Maffeo is baffling
- Like seeing Barrenechea in the team. Probably will replace Paredes in the future.
- No Dybala, guess the injuries and such made him lose his spot for now.
- Glad to see Castellanos, Nico Paz and Buonanotte in the squad.