Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

I'm happy that no Argentine players are playing in either the Champions League or the Concacaf Champions Cup (both on 5/30).

From this, it looks like a lot of the players are coming on 5/25 which is great so that the team has more time to look at the players

“Those who play in Portugal, Germany and France will have a short vacation period because their leagues end earlier. The rest will not.

“The idea is for those from Europe to travel to Argentina on May 25, to do a pre-conditioning before the start of the training camp in the United States, scheduled for June 1st.”

Argentina national team players expected to join team in late May to early June | Mundo Albiceleste

 

De Paul looks worse and worse every game.

 

Vs Zambia, Scaloni played MacA in that RDP role. When defending, MacA was covering the right side.

There was another game in which, MacA played the same role (I forgot what game that was).

At least it's something that Scaloni is experimenting. There are other players that I can think of who can perform this role that has the physical profile are the likes of Nico Capaldo and Nico Dominguez. We also have Exe Palacios as well.

 

Great goal from RDP

 

Seems it's all he's good for now. Just don't ask him to make a pass.

 

Messi with a goal and two assists

 

V.Gomez starts for betis

How many players can Scaloni call up ? 27/28?

I'll go out on a limb and say despite not regularly playing time Gomez for his versatility should be included.


I'll also concede to @soul24rage and say he was right Senesi should be included as well.

Otamendi
Senesi
Romero
Licha
Taglifico
Molina
Montiel?

Enzo
RDP
Alexis
Paz
Paredes
Barco
Perrone

Lautaro
Messi
Alvarez
Simeone
Almada

Plus 3 keepers. Who would I be missing?

 

Balerdi, Palacios, Gonzalez and one LB (Acuña?).

I'm not sure Perrone will make it btw, could be Lo Celso or Lopez instead (hopefully no).

 

Balerdi can kick rocks guy has a turning radius of a diesel truck.

Palacios will make it if healthy. Gonzalez shouldn't and he probably picks up an injury soon anyway. Ya Acuna will make it but Gomez should instead.

Perrone should make it based on ability.

 

Not sure if the question of call up meant calling up before the final list is announced, but don't think that there is a limit iirc (before the final list is announced) and the WC squad is 26 players only (including the GKs)

Is this the list where we hope that they are included or who we think Scaloni will pick?

If it's the former, then I would like to include Soule, Nico Capaldo, and V. Gomez/Medina

Latter, it'll probably be Balerdi, Acuna/Medina and Nico Gonzalez

 

Good thing passing is not much of a prerequisite for Scaloni-ball!

 

I meant final list I thought it was going to be expanded with more games but I double checked it is 26. Thats horrible

My list was a mix of both I tried to be realistic and to get into Scaroni's head.

 

Lautaro with a goal and an assist. Not really important news but I just found out Gio Simeone actually has 11 goals for Torino this season, good for him.

Messi has reached 100 goals contribution with 51 goals + 49 assists for Miami. He achieved this within just 64 games and scoring only 4-5 penalties.

 

To be fair, while he did have more stinkers in recent times, we tend to focus only on the bad when it comes to him and Otamendi. He had 3 goals & 3 assists in 10 games this season. He made a great pre-assist long pass for Messi on Miami second goal.

 

Cholo has their number, definitely.

 

I'm confident that Scaloni will know how to use Leo.

 

Thats my issue as well. We dont have a player who will break up the play, win the ball, protect the defence. Too many stationary midfielders for my liking.

 

Scaloni is at the Mallorca–Villarreal match. There aren’t any Argentinians playing, so perhaps he’s on holiday before the World Cup starts.

 

It's odd that he would go to Europe when the WC is in North America. Is it possible he's scouting potential post-WC jobs, possibly stepping down after this one?

 

Scaloni played at Mallorca in the past and he has a house there (I believe that his wife is from Mallorca). In the past, he went to see a few Mallorca games as well so it's not a surprise to see him attending Mallorca games.

There's a possibility that he's also in Europe to talk to the Argentine players playing in European clubs.

 

Watching Messi yesterday has me convinced that he still has magic left to make important things happen. I'm also referring to the magic of a veteran with experience who thinks at a higher level.

 

He still has magic at the highest level and his physicality is much better than that of 2024.

 

Molina is out for around 3 weeks (he should make the friendly matches to build fitness)

Preocupación en la Selección Argentina: Nahuel Molina se desgarró a semanas del Mundial - TyC Sports https://t.co/BD22ANnTVg

— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) May 10, 2026

Put everyone on cotton wool!

 

So its all make sense now. Scaloni's travelling to Spain to tell all his squad there to put on the bubblewarp .

Enzo and Dibu will play FA cup & Europa finals though.

 

Great goal from Acuna.

He's definitely going to the WC

¡REACCIONA RIVER PLATE! 💪 Marcos Acuña define el 1-1 y el 'Millonario' se levanta ante San Lorenzo. #ArgentinaEnFOX #FOXDeportes pic.twitter.com/6A9m3I2tsw

— FOX Deportes (@FOXDeportes) May 10, 2026