Lionel Scaloni confirmed that he will make changes to the initial formation of the Argentine National Team that will face Brazil at the Maracaná. But he also clarified that will decide them “not for performance but to harm the classic rival”on the last date of the year for the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.
“I have decided on the team but I haven’t told the players yet. (Ángel) Di María has possibilities, like the rest of his teammates. We are going to play but not much. Surely there will be some change but I’m not going to say what.” Scaloni expressed at the beginning of the press conference that was held at the Lionel Messi Complex in Ezeiza after morning practice.
“We always said that we were not unbeatable. You have to be prepared to continue competing. Nobody likes to lose and we are the first ones who want to recover. Now we have a great game ahead of us against a great rival and we have to try to get the three points,” said the coach of the world champions, who has just suffered against Uruguay, his first defeat in the South American Qualifiers.
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Scaloni once again admitted that the National Team did not have a good game against the Uruguayans led by Marcelo Bielsa, but highlighted that “they never stopped playing and competed until the end.” In this sense, the National Team coach clarified that The changes he will make against Brazil will not be for “performance” but “to hurt the Rival”. The options that are handled are the entry of Say Maria by Nicolas Gonzalez or the possibility of adding one more steering wheel (Leandro Paredes) and leave Lionel Messi on offense alongside Lautaro Martínez or Julián Álvarez.
Asked precisely about Lautaro Martínez and his lack of goals, Scaloni once again supported the Inter Italian center forward, who was the top scorer of the cycle before the World Cup. “In his club he scores and scores often, just like Julián. It’s not worrying, it’s obvious that he has a goal and it doesn’t worry me,” he claimed.
The Argentine National Team will return to the Maracaná stadium after the historic conquest of the 2021 Copa América but Scaloni put aside the memories and preferred to focus on the present. “We are one of those who think that we have to look at the present. It is a classic against Brazil and on their field. It already has a special flavor and it is not necessary to remember those moments. Time has passed and we have to focus on what is now,” he said .
Argentina will face a rival that He is in an unprecedented fifth place in the Qualifiers table, he has just lost against Colombia in Barranquilla and suffered important losses such as those of Neymar and Vinícius Junior. “They are two phenomena but these teams have a replacement. They have young, fast players with a track record. It is Brazil with everything it means,” Scaloni warned before praising Fernando Dinleft, interim coach and brand new champion of the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense.
“His coach has a way of playing that is not going to change. Good or bad timing is relative. Against Colombia they played a great game until the 75th minute and the result was a little misleading.”analyzed the Santa Fe coach.
