A small ripple of concern went through the Argentina camp this week, but it quickly faded. Nicolas Otamendi, the rock in their defense, missed training on Tuesday. Coach Lionel Scaloni shared with reporters that Otamendi had been dealing with “small problems.”
Good news arrived swiftly, though. The Benfica captain is already back with the squad. He is now a full option for the coach. Scaloni confirmed this directly, saying, “Otamendi didn’t train yesterday because he had some minor issues. Today, he will be available again.”
Argentina has already secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup. The team will play its final qualification matches soon. They face Venezuela at home first, then travel to play Ecuador. These games are scheduled for the early hours of September 5th and 10th.
At 37 years old, Otamendi continues to defy time. He is a true ironman for his club. This season, he has played every single official minute for Benfica, showing incredible fitness and dedication.
