Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

Messi is now constantly dealing with some injury. He did not look good at the Copa América. He missed a number of chances in the first game of the tournament, picked up an injury, missed the third game, and was mostly anonymous for the rest of the tournament (he also got hurt in the final). It is still a really small sample size, but in the games we have played without him, we have looked better. We are a bit more dynamic. That being said, he will be at the Mundial. I think Messi will be okay with coming off the bench. It is funny to read things like "Argentina are still very much depended on Messi..." I seriously do not think people watch games, and they just blow smoke out of their asses. It is truly amazing.

I think there is some good news. Our cracks are emerging about a year before the World Cup, and that is a positive. The likes of Mastantuono, Paz, and Soulé are showing their worth. But again, they need to stay consistent. Rumors are circulating that Madrid want to bring back Paz, but he wants to stay another year at Como. The real rumor I do not get is that Franco wants to go to Madrid. I do not understand that one. I hope both hold tight. Matí is in a good place at Roma. Scaloni needs to call up these kids—I think each one of them can be a game changer. Both Paz and Mastantuono show true maturity in their game. They are MILES ahead of Garnacho, who I think has lost his spot to someone like Giuliano, who has more intangibles and fits the mold of a Scaloni-esque player.

But we need more grinders in the midfield. I also am not sure what happened with Varela at Porto. He is apparently starting games, and he was linked to several European sides at the end of 2024, but that has cooled down. I think we are also disappointed in Equi for going to Saudi Arabia. I believe he would have been someone Scaloni could have used. Barrenechea is being linked to Atlético and Roma, but as mentioned previously, he might be on the outside looking in. Paredes is, I think, one of Scaloni's untouchables.

The backline is still a major question mark. If Scaloni can stop with his favoritism and try more things out this summer and next year, then I have no doubt we will contend for that fourth star.

 

The Barca v Inter game was absolutely brilliant, reminds you of the joy of watching football. What a player Lamal is.

 

I honestly think him playing in turf pitches like in Atlanta and Vancouver has an effect of Messi getting injured. It's not a coincidence that he started getting all these injuries ever since he came to the US. Good news is that FIFA will implement natural grass for all stadiums for the WC26 and not like those crap pitches that Conmebol implemented in the CA24.

For the grinders in midfield, Nico Paz has been shining for Como for good reason, but I could see Perrone taken a look at. He's been selected for the March games vs Uruguay and vs Brazil although he didn't play. Nico Dominguez is having a great season at Nottingham, so I could see him in the June WCQ.

For the backline, I guess we just have to accept the fact that Otamendi will be a starter and the probable back 4 is Otamendi, Romero, Lisandro and Balerdi. Hopefully Pezzella isn't chosen. LB will be Tagliafico and Medina. RB will be Molina, Foyth, Montiel/Maffeo

 

Messi not winning the Concacaf Champions Cup is a good thing in the long term imo.

1. Inter Miami wakes up and buy some competent players and puts pressure on Mascherano
2. Messi doesn't have to participate in the FIFA International Cup in December and gets more time to rest and prep for the World Cup 2026.

 

More likely its simply due to Messi getting older.

 

Di Maria gets injured constantly back in the day, but then he gets injured less as he gets older. In fact he has played close to 40 games this season.

 

Ugh

 

If he wants to Messi will be going to the world cup. By then he may not be a starter, or if he is he will be subbed after an hour or so, he can still make an impact on games, but obviously he won't be able to play the full 90 minutes, espcially if games are played every 3 or 4 days. But just his presence in the squad will be massive.

 

At the group stage, the second game will be played after a 6 days rest, and the third game with a 5 days rest. The knockout games start as soon as 4 days after the last group stage (some teams could get so more rest the way qualification works out). After that, games are played with 4-5 days rest.

Its taxing on a player that will be celebrating his 39th birthday during that WC, but he is not asked to run around. That's RDP's job.

 

Messi on the board again

That man Messi strikes again!

Patrick Mahomes is loving it. 👏 pic.twitter.com/o0HXoxaqxa

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) May 4, 2025

 

Inter Miami needs to play a 433.

Messi on the RW, Suarez as a 9 and Fafa as a LW

 

Scaloni's team would have flattened that 2014 Germany 4-0 and 2015-2016 Chile-3-0.

Remember when it used to be "just pass the ball to Messi and watch"? good times.

 

Man argentinian football was 100 years behind with that double 5 crap

 

Enzo scored vs Liverpool, Mac got an assist in same match. Lo Celso scored a great solo, beating 3 defenders.

Garnacho also scored, he actually managed ro reach 21 goals contribution this season, 10 goals & 11 assists.

 

Nico Paz. What a player. Reminds me of Kaka the way he carries the ball.

Nico Paz - 24/25 so far pic.twitter.com/sNMakU37OH

— Gus (@gusxrp13) March 24, 2025

Giuliano Simeone. Had his fair share of criticism, but he improved a lot this season. He might be the fastest player in the squad

Giuliano Simeone- 24/25 So Far
Breakthrough. pic.twitter.com/S3UKgSyC4Z

— TheGriezmannEra🎥 (@Madz_1523) March 22, 2025

Both of them will be important for the national team soon, hopefully in the WC

 

Lautaro equalled Crespo's record as Inter player with most CL goal in a single season.

 

He also scored in every stage up to this point, including goals againts Barca & Bayern.

Its ridiculous enough he only finished 7th in Ballon race last season. If he win CL this time, I wonder if he'd still get overlooked...

 

Inter v Barca part 2 was even more brilliant than Barca v Inter part 1, just 2 incredible games of football.

 

How the effing heck are England ahead of Argentina!!!!!!

Who are the favourites for the 2026 World Cup in the United States?

 

LOL apparently losing to Paraguay once on the road raises serious doubts while losing to Greece at home doesn't

And of course Brazil ahead of us even though we wiped the floor with them.

 

England being considered as top fav all the time proof to be a good thing. It keeps them without trophy for almost 6 decades already.

Brazil is no.1 fav in last 5 WC. You can still trace it in various articles on google. Reality, they only passed QF once in which they're beaten 7-1.

 

Cuti will face Garnacho in Europa final and Enzo will face Lo Celso in Conference final.

 

The June WCQ is happening in about one month time and Argentina will be facing Chile Away and Colombia Home. With Argentina already qualified to the WC and some Argentines heading to the Club World Cup, think Scaloni should only select players who are not going to the Club World Cup. With that in mind, I'm hoping that Scaloni goes with these 28 player selections (there could be possibilities that the participating clubs can buy some players during the special transfer window from 6/1 - 6/10).

GK: E. Martinez, Rulli, Benitez
RB: Maffeo, Foyth
CB: Romero, Senesi, Balerdi, Medina
LB: Tagli, Soler, Barco

RCM: Palacios, Dominguez
DM: Paredes, Barrenechea, Perrone
LCM: MacAllister, Lo Celso, Mastantuono

RW: Soule, Paz
FW: Castellanos, Dybala, Castro
LW: Almada, Garnacho, Benja Dominguez

I would go with the following lineup vs Chile Away

Almada-----------Castellanos----------Dybala
------------Nico Paz--------Dominguez
-------------------------MacA
Medina-------Senesi-------Balerdi-----Maffeo
--------------------------Rulli

Subs:
- Garnacho for Almada
- Soule for Dybala
- Mastantuono for Dominguez
- Barrenechea for MacA
- Foyth for Balerdi

 

Almost agree with some tweaks in backline (new players). Foyth, Medina are iffy for me.
And bring in Echeverri. This is the time to start trying out new players on the pitch

 

Funnier is Brazil ahead of Argentina despite the fact that we just thrashed them, are way better in qualifiers, and have beaten them regularly in recent years.