People are joining the dance. This Sunday the Atlético de Madrid players arrived in Buenos Aires, Julian Alvarez, Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo DePaul and the goalkeeper who recently joined Diego Simeone’s team Juan Musso, to join the Argentine National Team that will play against Chile and Colombia in the double date of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. After suffering some losses, Lionel Scaloni had left the door open to add new faces to the list and, after the tie between Independiente and River, the official account of the national team announced that Marcos Acuña joins the payroll.
“In principle we are like this, but since there will be games this weekend, if something were to happen we are open to some options and it is possible that we will call up some more players,” Scaloni had said after the absences due to injury of Nicolás Tagliafico and Emiliano Balerdi. And, given the new situation of Acuña who does not stop adding minutes after his arrival at River de Gallardo, Huevo was called up as a natural replacement for the number 3 who plays for Olympique Lyon.
Argentina will also not have the captain, historic scorer and emblem of the world champion and two-time American champion team, Lionel Messiwho only returned to training this week with Inter Miami after the injury to the ligaments in his right ankle that he suffered in the final of the Copa América in the United States against Colombia.
“He is always missed when he is not there, but the important thing is that he recovers well and that we can count on him in the next qualifying rounds,” highlighted the coach regarding the possibility of having the star again against Venezuela and Bolivia, in October.
This Monday, the team starts training ahead of the match against Chile next Thursday night, at the Monumental stadium.
The match against La Roja, which will take place at the Estadio Más Monumental, will serve as a tribute so that Ángel di María, who said goodbye to the Albiceleste after winning the Copa América in the United States, can have a well-deserved farewell in front of his people.
After the match against the Trans-Andeans, the Albiceleste will train again on Friday behind closed doors, before traveling to Colombia to face their rival in the final of the last Copa América there on the 10th.
After six rounds played, Argentina is at the top of the qualifying classification, after registering five victories and one defeat.
🤔©️CAN PAUL BE THE CAPTAIN OF THE SELECTION IN THE NEXT TWO GAMES? Upon his arrival to the country, this is what Rodrigo himself said about it. pic.twitter.com/ya4SFyI5h2
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) September 1, 2024
Thus, the Argentine National Team faces this double date without its sword and club widths. The team will have to play without Messi or Di María, in addition to Nicolás Tagliafico, part of the stable cast that won the last four titles. Leonardo Balerdi was also left out for physical reasons.
The good news was the incorporation of Paulo Dybala who, after rejecting an incredible offer from Arab football, is still in the race to be part of the National Team despite not having been part of the team that won the last Copa América.
– List of those summoned by Scaloni –
Archers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, ENG), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Walter Benítez (PSV Eindhoven, NED) and Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid, ESP).
Defenders: Gonzalo Montiel (Sevilla, ESP), Nahuel Molina (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Cristian Romero (Tottenham, ENG), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United, ENG), Germán Pezzella (River Plate), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, POR) and Valentín Barco (Seville, ESP).
Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool, ENG), Leandro Paredes (Roma, ITA), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, ENG), Giovani Lo Celso (Betis, ESP), Guido Rodríguez (West Ham , ENG) y Ezequiel Fernández (Al-Qadisiyah, KSA).
Fronts: Nicolás González (Juventus, ITA), Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan, ITA), Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United, ENG), Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Matías Soulé (Roma, ITA), Valentín Carboni (Olympique Marseille, FRA), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid, ESP), Valentín Castellanos (Lazio, ITA) and Paulo Dybala (Roma, ITA).