With the historical basis and many new faces, the world champion starts his way to the World Cup in North America.
The world champion will formally begin his title defense, with his first match on his way to the 2026 North American World Cup: the Argentina national team will receive Ecuador at the Monumental, where both teams will debut in the South American qualifiers.
The match of the South American qualifiers
The game will be played on Thursday, September 7 from 9 p.m. in a completely packed River stadium.
Faced with the first window of the World Cup qualifying tournament, which will also include the game next Tuesday the 12th against Bolivia at La Paz, Lionel Scaloni formed a call that forms the basis of the squad crowned in Qatar 2022 , but also a number of young football players who are looking forward to innovation in the future.
Of the 28 world champions, only four are not on payroll among the victims: the injured Geronimo Rulli, Marcos Acuña and Paulo Dybala and it erased? Alejandro Gomez. The goalkeeper had to undergo surgery for a shoulder injury in the middle of last month, the Egg ruptured on Monday August 21 and the Jewel suffered the 26th adductor strain on Saturday.
The other who suffered a muscle problem in the preview of the FIFA date was Lisandro Martinez, who should have been replaced in Manchester United’s loss to Arsenal on September 3, but he also traveled to participate and his situation will be assessed at the venue. From this situation and waiting for a definition, the coach decided to add to the payroll Facundo Medina.
As for the new faces, the DT surprised with the first call for four players: Lucas Beltrán, Alan Velasco, Lucas Esquivel and Bruno Zapelliwho was called up by the Italian Under-21 and will now be armored by the Albiceleste.
The squad list
Archers: Emiliano Martinez, Franco Armani, Juan Musso, Walter Benitez
Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Juan Foyth, Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi, Facundo Medina, Lisandro Martínez, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico, Lucas Esquivel.
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodríguez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Exequiel Palacios, Facundo Buonanotte, Bruno Zapelli
Forward: Nicolás González, Alejandro Garnacho, Ángel Di María, Ángel Correa, Lucas Beltrán, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Thiago Almada, Alan Velasco, Lionel Messi
THE TRAINING OF ARGENTINA VS. ECUADOR
After the activity in the various divisions of the planet, on Monday the 4th, the conscripts began to arrive at the Ezeiza estate: the first to arrive were those who traveled from England, Spain and Italy, while the rest will arrive in the next few hours . . One of the last to join is the captain Lionel Messi, who is expected between tonight and Tuesday morning.
For example, the DT can only carry out its first training with the entire group just over 48 hours before the match against El Tri. Therefore, logic suggests that without much time for testing, the coach will use a lineup very similar to the one that started on the unforgettable December 18 last year in Lusail.
Source: Goal