BUENOS AIRES.- “(Lionel) Messi is going to start tomorrow,” he announced Lionel Scalonithe coach of the Argentine national team, had just begun his press conference on Monday prior to the World Cup preparation friendly against Zambiain Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The coach of the albiceleste assumed that the historic “10” will start the duel against the African team, the last home game that the world champion will play before the North America World Cup 2026where he will seek to retain the crown.
“The important thing is that you come and enjoy being in a World Cup, which theoretically is going to be your last. We want you to enjoy it, because afterwards you miss playing all these things,” considered the Argentina coach.
“Most of the players we know are going to play. This is going to be the last test. Then we will make changes to see some guys, but the idea is for the best-known team to play,” said Scaloni, who was clear in his search for improvement after a pale 2-1 victory over Mauritania on Friday.
“I am convinced that the team’s level is not what it was the other day. If we see that the team is not there, we will look for options. But it deserves a vote of confidence,” the driver insisted.
Scaloni raised the AFA the first list of 55 players called up for the World Cup. The final one, with the cutting of 26 footballers, will take place at the end of May.
“The list is quite clear to me, but if the returns are not adequate we will take measures to achieve the best possible, we look for the closest to perfection,” he insisted.
“The players who have been with us for a long time have a bit of an advantage because we know them, but they have to maintain that advantage, and everyone knows that what happened the other day (against Mauritania) cannot be repeated,” Scaloni evaluated.
A third cycle in charge?
The coach spoke about the possibility of renewing his contract for a third cycle with the national team, and said that “this is the place where every Argentine wants to be.”
“How can I not be seduced by being here! But now it’s not important to talk about it. We’ll see later,” he said.
Scaloni closed the conference by remembering Joaquin Panichelliwho left the concentration after suffering a serious injury in training last week. “It was difficult… He didn’t deserve that injury.”
