The practice behind closed doors that the Argentine National Team carried out this Thursday at the Doha University Complex left more speculation than certain data. One thing is certain: Lionel Scaloni will make changes for the decisive match next Saturday against Mexico for group C of the World Cup in Qatar, which will be directed by the Italian referee Daniele Orsato. But it is not known how many.
According to reports leaked by the coaching staff itself, it is almost a fact that, basically, Lisandro Martínez and Gonzalo Montiel will enter for Cristian Romero and Nahuel Molina and that Enzo Fernández or Alexis Mac Allister will occupy a place in the midfield. But in the last few hours, the presence of Leandro Paredes as central midfielder seems to have been confirmed and it is not so clear that Marcos Acuña will play as left back instead of Nicolás Tagliafico.
This Friday from 9 (Argentina time), Scaloni will give the usual press conference prior to the matches, and in the afternoon the practice with still ball will take place in which perhaps it will be known who will be the eleven that will be played against Mexico the ticket to the round of 16 of the World Cup. The probable team, according to the available data, would then go with “Dibu” Martínez; Montiel, Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez and Acuña or Tagliafico; From Paul, Paredes and Enzo Fernández or Mac Allister: Messi, Di María and Lautaro Martínez.
During the activity, Lionel Messi performed kinesiology due to a discomfort in the soleus that he has been suffering from for some time. But when he participated in the practice he did it alongside his teammates, so his participation in the match on Saturday is not at risk. Precisely, the part of the training that the AFA published on its social networks emphasized that all the players were “on par” in a sort of denial of the rumors that Messi had trained differently. Photos and videos of the Rosario supercrack running with the boots on together with his teammates were also attached.
According to official information, Scaloni did not do tactical work to test the changes he is considering making for Saturday. The Qatari afternoon activity was completed with definition exercises with the participation of the defenders and forwards. Just after the practice this Friday there will be some greater precision about the Argentine formation that could also only be known when the squad arrives at the Lusail stadium on Saturday, an hour and a half before the game with Mexico.
