2026 FIFA World Cup: Group J - Argentina vs. Algeria

Licha's passing anywhere across the back four is tremendous so he can remain an attacking outlet.

As for those not one hundred per cent keep them rested. Another couple of weeks will do them a world of good. Ideally if we can get 2 wins out of 2 then there is also the chance to shuffle in some to give a few minutes or a run out.

 

Rest it for another 10 days. And then play against Jordan although he won't get much practice. And then into the knock outs.

 

Againts Iceland recently, he's ball watching a corner that flying across his face. Although he did make one good stop againts a surprise long range.

Also, remember when Villalreal beat MU on penalties in Europa final? It took Rulli 10 attempts to finally made one safe.

We surely aint winning a shootout with him.

 

Rulli doesn't have the same mentality as Musso and certainly not that of Dibu. Musso deserves to be number two on form and performances this season.

 

List of players without recent, lingering injuries? Maybe like 3 players?

 

Szymon Marciniak to referee Argentina vs. Algeria at World Cup. https://t.co/3t7lTVUBOS pic.twitter.com/se1Fdbt1vw

— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) June 13, 2026

Perhaps a good sign?

 

Lots of teams have players carrying injuries. Result of a long season which makes more of an argument as with 2022 of holding the WC before the start of the European season.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c05yz1yr08mo

Shows which teams have the most minutes played by their squad. France top. We are seventh but we do have some fresh players like Licha, and Romero thanks to their lengthy lay offs and others to a lesser degree like Almada.

And I suppose Messi and RDP in MLS well it isn't as strenuous as playing in Europe.

 

Messi seemed to thrive in the midseason 2022 tournament compared to the previous ones at the end of his season. Now in MLS, this is technically a midseason tournament for him again. Would be interesting to see that repeat itself.

 

I sincerely hope Scaloni's team will not starts passing the ball around at the back after 2-0 up. That sh!t was the most annoying thing of our performance in 2022.

Only against Croatia we managed to shut the game down and that's because Messi decided to go solo from almost halfway line. The games against France, Australia and Netherlands should have been a shutout victories .

 

In the group stage we have almost a week between games and the last two are indoors so it's not like we have to obsess about conserving energy.

 

so annoying

 

win algeria game and the group stage is smooth sailing

 

Passing the ball back & forth between Otamendi , Dibu , what a pointless gameplan.
Its only allowed our opponents grew their confidence & eventually got back into the game. Taking off Di Maria early againts France was another Pekerman type of decision.

We needs to be ruthless like the 4-1 win againts Brazil or 3-0 win vs Italy & Croatia.

 

Despite it turning out to be the greatest WC final ever I would rather we had taken the other chances and been 3-0 up at half time and 4 or 5 nil up by the hour mark in that final.

I do hope Scaloni makes substitutions more reactively and proactively. He has to factor in these hydration breaks which are affecting momentum in games and also the heat. Well timed subs when players are running on empty and indeed the opposition will be crucial.

Imagine unleashing a fully raring to go Barco and Simeone later on maybe even use Messi as a surprise off the bench against tiring defenders as it's very rare for any coach to change their CB pairings unless due to injury.

 

A 2 días del arranque de la Copa del Mundo para Argentina.
Lautaro Martínez se perfila como titular.
Scaloni probó dos esquemas: 5-3-2 y 4-4-2. Tiene más chances la línea de 4.
Scaloni va a hablar mañana a las 17.30 (ARG). pic.twitter.com/bOdftAmzS4

— Gastón Edul (@gastonedul) June 14, 2026

 

I read the back four he tested yesterday was Montiel-Romero-Otamendi-Medina

Let's hope it's just the classic "decoy lineup" from Scaloni.

 

5-3-2, first half against Bosnia flashback.

 

Montiel-Romero-Otamendi-Medina

would be nutty.

Montiel- Romero - Senesi --- Licha

would be my choice.

 

I'm sure Cape Verde performance is going to inspire most of the minnows to park the bus. I expect Algeria trying to pull similar gameplan.