The Argentina national team is lining up its program for the pre-Olympic championships in Venezuela as Javier Mascherano, widely known as Masche, finalizes the roster that will travel to the Far East. This period marks a strategic phase for a squad eager to secure one of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games spots, while the head coach Lionel Scaloni continues to oversee a broader pool of talent across the senior and young teams.
During the most recent FIFA window of the year, the Under 23 side will not train in Ezeiza. Instead, the team is scheduled to conduct a long-distance tour through Japan beginning on November 13. Mascherano has therefore released a list of players called up for this important campaign, with Thiago Almada among those retained despite being under 23 and having previously featured for the senior side in Qatar. This decision underscores the coaching staff’s intent to blend experience with youth as the continent gears up for Olympic contention.
THOSE CALLED UP FOR THE SUB 23
The squad comprises 20 players, with six plying their trade in Europe. Among them are Facundo Buonanotte, Carlos Alcaraz, Gastón Ávila, Nicolás Paz, Luis Vázquez, and Bruno Amione. In addition, the call includes compatriots Bruno Zapelli and Lucas Esquivel who are plying their trade in Brazilian football, as well as Facundo Farias and Almada, who currently shine in Major League Soccer. The mix of clubs highlights a deliberate strategy to pull in diverse experiences and playing styles fronted by Mascherano and his staff.
On the domestic front, the call includes representatives from Boca Juniors and River Plate, with Leandro Brey from Boca and Santiago Simon and Pablo Solari from River added to the roster. These inclusions reflect a preference for young talents who have already shown promise in Argentina’s elite club environment and who can translate their domestic form to international competition on the road ahead.
Officials from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) released a formal statement confirming that Alan Varela was also summoned. However, Varela is expected to remain in Portugal to complete the administrative procedures required for his stay, ensuring a smooth transition for his potential involvement with the squad at the appropriate stage. This nuance emphasizes the careful planning surrounding player eligibility and travel logistics as the team prepares for the demands of the pre-Olympic schedule.
As the team maps its path toward Paris 2024, the focus remains on balancing competitive readiness with the development of rising talents who can contribute both on the field and within the broader national program. The Japan tour will serve as a critical testing ground for tactical integration, conditioning, and the ability to perform against varied international opposition. In this context, the Mascherano-led unit seeks to demonstrate depth, versatility, and an expanding pool of players who can compete at the highest levels of youth and senior football.
Source: Goal