Argentine NT: News, Stats & Players [R]

You miss out most important one who played in two WC, Palacio.

 

I hope Pep will figure out a way to get Julian into matches because Haaland is basically scoring for fun.

 

Looks like he's done shooting the movie..

 

Soule has scored his first Juve goal, 1 month before turning 20.

 

There is another Juve youngster to keep your eye on. He’s been getting more and more minutes and even taking minutes away from Paredes.

Max Allegri is in awe of Enzo Barrenechea‘s talents as a modern midfielder, capable of winning the ball from players and touching the ball with grace and intelligence. The 21-year-old Barrenechea is now considered a permanent first-team player for Juventus. (@Gazzetta_it) pic.twitter.com/dwReHDyqCn

— JuveFC (@juvefcdotcom) March 3, 2023

 

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64955217

"I am disappointed to also miss the opportunity to be with my team mates of the Argentinian national team in what would have been a great and proud moment for me and my family," added Garnacho on Instagram.

_______________

 

Paredes isn't playing mostly because Juve never intended on buying him and his high salary and want to send him back to PSG (contract stipulated condition of sale based on games played).

and lol Allegri is a butcher of talent hopefully he doesnt ruin him

 

He'll be in CA next year I believe. Im not worry about his opportunity.

 

The midfield is going to be so stacked by 2026!

 

I think Paredes’ best days are behind him. He’ll be 32 by the time 2026 comes around. I mean, he’s already lost his position and if some of these kids progress as we hope they will, then it will be tough for him to recapture a spot.

I did predict our third star about a year and a half before the tournament. If they can continue… well, I just may have to throw out a “ Man, just slap on that fourth star already!”

 

By 2026

---------------------Alvarez (26)
Garnacho (22)---------------------------???
-----------MacA (27)-----------RDP (32)
-----------------------Enzo (25)
XXX-----Lisandro (28)---Cuti (28)-----Molina (28)
---------------------------Dibu (33)

Subs: Palacios (27), Nico G. (28), Lautaro (28), Dybala (32), Lo Celso (30)

• The ??? could be either Messi (39), Dybala (32), Buonanotte (21), Soule (23)

• The XXX is the most unknown for me. Hoping the likes of L. Blanco (27) or Franco Carboni (23) pan out.

The core of the team is already there by 2026, just need to find the starter LB and a back up LB and maybe improve the squad depth if needed.

 

You never know who is going to pop up. That’s the thing. Who had Cuti, Lisandro and Molina on their radar in 2018? Cuti was laughed at by Belgrano when he decided to leave for free for Italy. They said he’d be back in Argentina in no time looking for a job. Boca let Molina go for nothing.

As for your question. Juve are interested in Barco. His situation with Boca is a mess but he’s got a ton of promise. Franco Carboni, who is less talented than his brother is in loan from Inter to Monza is another player who is still young and developing.


Time will tell. I trust in Scaloni’s scouting department. But I do have to say, we are a bit thin in the forward department. I mentioned this in “Argentines playing for other national teams…” Letting Retegui go to the Tanos without talking to him or promising a call-up could be a mistake. He’s 23, and we do not know how he will develop but yet he called up Gio Simeone, who is a finished product and he rides the bench for Napoli. If he had called up Giuliano Simeone, okay, fine, he’s 20 and is coming along nicely in Spain’s second division but Gio Simeone…? He’ll score 8 goals in a matter of three weeks and vanises for 2 months. Strange move by Scaloni.

 

At least it's far better than the 3 teams group that was originally planned, this is similar to the 24 teams WC.

 

I don't see us giving up on Lautaro that easily as a starting forward.

 

Lautaro played under pain killing injection. His lack of pace was pretty obvious. He scored goals at Copa America KO stage, scored & assited at Finalssima, scored 7 goals + 3 assists in qualifier. It would be silly to write him out because of one bad tournament.

Even if he missed a sitter againts Netherlands, he actually had two shots on target. He also had shot on target againts France, had indirect assist for Messi second goal. That goal againts Saudi was legit aswell.

 

I was thinking more in 2026, but in 2024 Copa, I could see something like this

---------------------Lautaro (26)
Alvarez (24)---------------------------Messi (37)
-----------MacA (25)-----------RDP (30)
-----------------------Enzo (23)
Acuna (32)-Lisandro (26)---Cuti (26)-----Molina (26)
---------------------------Dibu (31)

Acuna will have to be more forward than usual so that Alvarez can drift in to the middle more often.

 

The WCQ 2026 Qualifiers have been released. Keep in mind that the top 6 out of 10 teams automatically qualify while the 7th best team goes to international play offs (Ecuador starts with -3 points).

Sept. 2023
- vs Ecuador at home
- vs Bolivia away

Oct. 2023
- vs Paraguay at home
- vs Peru away

Nov. 2023
- vs Uruguay at home
- vs Brazil away

Sept 2024
- vs Chile home
- vs Colombia away

Oct. 2024
- vs Venezuela away
- vs Bolivia home

Nov. 2024
- vs Paraguay away
- vs Peru home

March 2025
- vs Uruguay away
- vs Brazil home

June 2025
- vs Chile away
- vs Colombia home

Sept. 2025
- vs Venezuela home
- vs Ecuador away

 

. . . I keep thinking that Mexican, Dutch and Portuguese fans are reading this thread and jumping out the window bc the Scalonet is here to stay.

 

I used to have a soft for the Portugal NT, Rui Costs, Figo, Eusabio etc, etc, so many great players produced by a relatively small country (similar to the Netherlands) but man alive, looking at the Portugese forum and seeing their hatred for Argentina was eye opening. I mean it's no as if, unlike Argentina v Netherlands, there is a historical rivalry between the 2 teams, but apparentely Portugal going out of the world cup against Morocco was a conspiracy to, erm, ensure Argentina won the world cup!!!!

 

I like that we get Bolivia away and Brazil away early. Get right back to work with some of the more difficult match-ups.

I’d bet some money Argentina will be playing 2 of the US, Mexico, & Canada in friendlies to fill in the March 2024 window. Get them the competition they want to prepare for the 2026 WC and help ensure they vote for us for the 2030 WC.

 

In the past, I would be concerned about those games. With qualification a lot easier now this time around (especially with Ecuador starting with -3 pts.), I'm not too concerned about those games anymore (obviously I want us to win the game vs Brazil )

 

With 6 automatic and 1 potentially through a play off qualifying for the world cup it's will be pretty hard not to qualify. Guess it give the manager a chance to try new players, formations etc, etc, and rest players as qualification is all but guaranteed.

 

26 points was the magic number to qualify for the previous WC editions. I would expect this time to be around 20 points. Based on this, we should target Fall 2024 to guarantee qualification to the WC (maybe with a lot of luck and depending on other teams' result, even in Nov. 2023 is a possibility )

 

If they love us, we're world champion
If they hate us , we're still world champion
Makes no difference.

 

There you go, the last time Argentina played Portugal was in a friendly game in 2014, (we lost), Otamendi, Di Maria and Messi all played.

Starting Lineups - Portugal vs Argentina | 18.11.2014 (skysports.com)