With the majority of the squad in good physical condition to face Ecuador this Sunday at 8 p.m. at Soldier Field in Chicago, The unknowns of the Argentine National Team go through two of the substitutes: Germán Pezzella who has not yet been able to work alongside his colleagues in Miami and Guido Rodriguez who did not train due to a feverish state. Players They returned to work this Thursday at the Inter Miami complex, an hour and a half before the usual schedule and did their second eleven-on-eleven soccer practice. The first was on Wednesday for twenty minutes with starters and substitutes intermingled on a reduced 85 meter long field,
Nahuel Molinarecovered from a tear, and Enzo Fernandez, underwent surgery for an inguinal hernia, continue to move alongside their peers and They will have minutes against Ecuador. But it is possible that Scaloni does not include them from the beginning and makes them enter in the second half, in which case, they would play Gonzalo Montiel and Leandro Paredes. Footballers who at the moment are not in the first line of Scaloni’s consideration could also appear in some positions. Before closing the list for the Copa América, the coach would like to give one last opportunity to those who have not been playing so much with their clubs and in the National Team.
For his part, Pezzella is recovering from a mini-fracture in the little toe of his right foot and has not completed a single practice on the field since Monday, only working in the gym. The coaching staff led by Lionel Scaloni pays attention to his discomfort and the idea is to wait for him until the last minute: The deadline to close the final list for the Copa América is Saturday, June 15 and Scaloni especially values the presence of Pezzella who has been part of his entire cycle since the beginning in 2018 and considers it a very important piece for the group.
If Pezzella does not arrive in condition for his debut in the Cup, on Thursday the 20th against Canada in the city of Atlanta, Lucas Martínez Quarta and Ezequiel Balerdi They will remain in the squad and will not compete as before for the seventh defender spot. As for Guido Rodríguez, his fever is temporary and as soon as he overcomes it, he will return to training. The former River and Defensa y Justicia midfielder is also fighting for a place as a central midfielder.
As to Marcos Acuña, who suffered several muscle injuries and pubalgia throughout the season in Seville, continues to respond well to the demands of training and everything indicates that, If there are no unforeseen events, he will have his place guaranteed in the Copa América. If so, Valentín Barco will be discharged and will join the squad of the Under 23 team that will go to the Paris Olympic Games. The full-back has already been approved by Brighton, his club in England.
After a very light practice on Saturday morning, the Argentine delegation will fly three hours from Miami to Chicago and will remain focused waiting for Sunday’s game. Around 8 p.m. (our country time), Scaloni will give a press conference in which he will possibly make the formation of the team official.. After playing with Ecuador, the National Team will immediately return to Miami and will have Monday off to begin preparation on Tuesday for the last friendly with Guatemala before the start of the Copa América.
