The countdown has begun for Lionel Scaloni. The national team coach has three training sessions left to make four decisions ahead of the Round of 16 match on Friday, July 3 against Cape Verde, at the Hard Rock Stadium. After a Sunday spent working in the hotel gym and a not very intense practice (due to the tremendous heat), and after a slightly heavier training session on Monday evening, this Tuesday will be a key session to see how he assembles the starting eleven for the first knockout of this World Cup.
It is clear that rotation took place in the match against Jordan and that the plan there was for all outfield players to already get minutes in this World Cup. Moreover, if the match had allowed it, perhaps Juan Musso or Gerónimo Rulli would have had their chance, but Jordan's goal and the need to give more mobility to the midfield sent onto the field two who have been starters: Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada.
Now it's time to think about the first-choice team because no one is projecting beyond Friday. Dibu Martínez will remain in goal, and he will take advantage of this window to get himself fully fit. Nahuel Molina and Lisandro Martínez will return. The midfield that became world champions in Qatar will be back (De Paul, Alexis and Enzo), as will Leo Messi, who will wear the captain's armband. Those seven players are clear, but after that there are four positions or names that will be part of the debate.
Cristian Romero continues stepping up his training after the knock he suffered against Austria, which again caused discomfort in his right knee—the same one that had him in recovery since early April after an unfortunate incident at Tottenham.
"In three or four days I'll be fine,"the Córdoba native said a week ago. On Monday he trained alongside his teammates for the first time since the injury and would arrive in ideal condition. And what happens if they don't see him at 100%? Nicolás Otamendi will play.
Nicolás Tagliafico shows no signs of the injury he suffered against Honduras on June 5. In fact, he came on with eight minutes to go against Austria and played the entire match versus Jordan, with no signs of discomfort. Nico is the starter, but Facundo Medina's performance in the first two games was more than satisfactory. So, the dilemma will be decided in the coming days, although the left-footed player who came through Banfield has an advantage.
It is clear that there are three players the coach won't touch in this area of the pitch and they are the three who lifted the trophy in Lusail: Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández. And the fourth member?
So far, when he has had to set the starting lineup, the coach has always leaned toward Thiago Almada. But depending on the formation and observing the performances against Jordan, there are two players on the sidelines ready to go: one is Giovani Lo Celso, the standout of the third match, and the other is Leandro Paredes, someone the coaching staff values highly.
With Leo Messi's return to the eleven, after the short rest against Jordan, the big question is who will be the striker. Based on the level he showed in the three games, Lautaro Martínez—who has already broken his drought and scored in the World Cup—is better positioned. But the coaching staff plans to finish getting Julián Álvarez to optimal condition, who is the starter in similar situations, to see which of the two starts. Today Lautaro is a step ahead.