The aura that is breathed once you cross the access gate to the AFA property in Ezeiza is different from anything else. Any ‘ordinary’ person says it and it is also reinforced by the Argentine National Team footballers themselves, who this Tuesday had their first training session with a full squad heading into the match against Chile, the first as two-time champions of the Copa América and the seventh in the South American Qualifiers. heading to the 2026 World Cup, where he will defend the Qatar 2022 title. During the 15 minutes open to the press, the coach Lionel Scaloni revealed a couple of teams that allowed us to think about how they will overcome the absence of Lionel Messi (injured) and Ángel Di María (retired from the Albiceleste).
It was a possession job, without shots on goal, but in which they stood 11 against 11. Walter Benítez, Juan Musso y Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martínez They rotated in the goal and added to the possession of the ball. Then, with pink shirts, they were Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Marcos Acuña; Rodrigo De Paul, Guido Rodríguez, Enzo Fernández, Giuliano Simeone; Julian Alvarez y Lautaro Martínez.
With Matías Soulé as a wild card – and Alexis Mac Allister in the gym but with no risk of being available for Thursday -, on the other side without a bib were Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Valentín Barco; Gio Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Valentín Carboni; Alejandro Garnacho, Paulo Dybala and Valentín Castellanos.
Once the practice was over, with a typical game already with activated arcs and subsequent shots with prior control, several players passed in front of the press microphones. There, one of those who is emerging as a starter, ‘Licha’ Martínez, chatted with Clarín about this new call, more established in the place that he beat Otamendi in the Copa América, as a forward projection in the generational change of the team .
And he spoke about the formula of a squad that is not satisfied, that continues to be hungry for victories and titles. “We are a team that never relaxes and that is what Scaloni always says. We are very connected and we talk every time we come here. It is the heart of giving everything, of playing for honor and that is seenthat’s why we keep winning. We have already won the Copa América and now a very important match is coming, which is Chile,” he remarked.
And the man from Entre Ríos completed: “We don’t need to tell ourselves ‘I fight for you’, because that is incorporated. It’s very nice to put on the jersey and be on this team. You look back and see important players, that makes you not relax, We have healthy competition, in which we want the best for everyone“.
“There are many kids who are just starting out, they have to adapt. I’m happy for them, because they show up and do it in the best way, they don’t hold anything back,” he added about this double date that also includes the trip to Barranquilla to face to Colombia, with several of the footballers who were in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and many others for the first time in the Major League.
“I don’t know if I feel more important, I think I feel more confident.one adds more games, I am here to contribute the best. If it’s my turn, do my best, and if not support from wherever I can,” explained the Manchester United defender, in the Premier League.
“With Chile it is always a game that is very frictional and we hope to find one similar to the Copa América. They proposed at times, but if we are good we will be able to do it,” he concluded.