In the extensive conference he gave this afternoon at the Ezeiza complex, the technician from the Argentine National Team, Lionel Scalloni, did not confirm the team that will play against Venezuela. But he gave some guidelines for the formation that will go to the Bombonera: Lionel Messi will start, Franco Armani, the goalkeeper to replace the suspended Dibu MartÃnez, and it is possible that Alexis Mac Allister will start as a midfielder on the left.
“Leo is fine, he trained normally after the flu and is available,” said Scaloni, who added that “Messi is comfortable. We managed to make him feel like one more. Something that should be normal, it started to be a little over a year ago” expressed the coach with the satisfaction of having secured qualification for the World Cup in Qatar and one of the seeded positions for the draw next Friday the 1st of April in Doha, the capital of that Asian country.
Facing the games with Venezuela and Ecuador, Scaloni said that intends that the team sustain the operation despite the rotation of names and consolidate the idea that he has been promoting since he was ratified in office after the 2019 Copa América. “When we took office in 2018, the idea was to add people who understand that coming to the national team is an invitation and that later I think they can be there. Our merit is that: knowing with which players the team plays better”he reflected.
“The World Cup is a unique and unpredictable occasion. If it’s not Germany, it will be the Netherlands. It’s all very difficult,” Scaloni said in a relaxed tone, adding that his only wish for the draw was “to qualify directly for the round of 16.” Regarding the final list, the coach said that he awaits an official confirmation from FIFA to expand it to 26 “since it is being complicated to put together a 23”.