On March 29, 2022, 238 days after the debut in the World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Scaloni I had everything practically defined. That day Argentina closed the qualifiers with a 1-1 draw against Ecuador, in Guayaquil. The lockers seemed covered, beyond some last minute adjustment, because that afternoon, for example, two players added minutes who were not later in Doha: Lucas Martínez Quarta was a starter and Lucas Ocampos entered. That is, there is always room for unforeseen events and script changes. Yes, Enzo Fernández had not yet debuted in the National Team! And could anyone imagine Gio Lo Celso’s injury?
Now 273 days are missing for the 2026 World Cup And again it could be ventured that there will be no surprises. That Scaloni has almost everything defined. If tomorrow the World Cup began, the formation would be with ‘Draw’ Martínez; Molina, ‘Cuti’ Romero, Otamendi and Tagliafico; Of Paul, Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández; Messi, Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada. Nothing throws more certainties than having solved the equipment. Does it guarantee everything? Of course not. Argentina reacted in Qatar from the Second Line: When the shadows dyed the horizon Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Enzo to the rescue appeared. Three substitutes redefined the team. Soccer usually laughs at sentences. Better, distrust.
These qualifiers were a pleasant transit for Argentina, a period to harvest trust. Solid, comfortable, he took nine points to Ecuador’s escort. Although the statistical campaign retreated with respect to the qualifying cut for Qatar (then he won 11 matches, he tied 6 and ended undefeated since a classic with Brazil was pending) because now he even lost four meetings, His football authority in the region was absolute. Defeated twice to Scratchfor example, that with the old system I would have barely scratch the fifth place to dispute the repechage because he added 17 points less! that on the way to Qatar 2022.
The continental route served to confirm the validity of the world champions (Otamendi crossed some treasurer), to regret the injuries of Lisandro Martínez, to assimilate the post-di Maria, to find answers without Messi, to diploma from headline to Almada, to welcome Simeone, Paz, Mastantuono … without rubbing with the Europeans from the final before France, South America has been the big test tube. And Argentina, Today, it is better than in the prelude to Qatar. Mature, with several players in more competitive clubs and a deeper bank on almost the entire court … except for defense.
The absences, due to injuries and suspension, which surely influenced the defensive disruptions to Ecuador They gave visibility to a negative aspect: the rear has no replacement. And it is easy to observe it by reviewing the 18 dates of the qualifiers. On the right side, Molina (15) and Montiel (3) parties were distributed; As the first central marker, ‘Cuti’ Romero (15), Balerdi (2) and Pezzella (1); As a second defender, Otamendi (17) and Balerdi (1), and as a left side, Taglifico (14), Lisandro Martínez (2), Acuña (1) and Medina (1). The usual, the champions, and a couple of Fogonazos from Balerdi and Medina. The factoryin almost four years from one World Cup to the other, he found no options.
But the selection is at peace and that is a scenario that sweetifies the wait for June 2026. And point, without further abuses, because The cows are only counted when they enter the pen. Five or six parties separate Argentina from the Defense of the Title. Of the search for the two -championship world. Unless FIFA approves the mess To extend the list of good faith of 26 to 30 names – each time more advantage for the powerful -, Scaloni is clear that He must renew the five quotas left by Ángel Di María, Guido Rodríguez, ‘Papu’ Gómez, Germán Pezzella and Franco Armani. Three other champions look like an unknown: Ángel Correa, Dybala and even Acuña. And apart, as always, is The Messi dimension. Captain’s decision will be exclusively yours. He will do what he wants and intuits that without whims. He won’t lie.
Three players bite in tip to occupy those squares: those who frustrated on the shore of Qatar, Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolás González, and Walter Benítez as third goalkeeper. Maybe four or five more seats remain … there will be no place for everyone in the renovating wing that with so much poise and hierarchy it was integrated into each call. Today Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Paz and Franco Mastantuono appear with advantage; Leonardo Balerdi and Facundo Medina pursue a place in defense (or both?) … and with the whole European season ahead, Valentín Carboni, the ‘devil’ Echeverri, Valentín Barco, Barco … and something further behind Alan Varela, Garnacho, Emiliano Buendía, Facundo Buonanotte, Matías Soulé, Valentín Castellanos …
When Scaloni cut the list in 2022 there were no controversies or marginalized or claims. Angel Correa stayed at the door … But the last minute injuries of the ‘Tucu’ Correa and Nicolás González opened the door to former Lorenzo and Thiago Almada. Now they are not intuited either noises for some absent of renowned, But this time there will be several disappointed. The thing is There are plenty of applicants half of the court forward, so Lionel Scaloni must overcome the challenge of abundance. Another symptom of world champion progress.
