With Messi on the pitch, Argentina’s likely XI to face Angola | OneFootball

The Argentine National Team is preparing to close their football year with a friendly match against Angola in Luanda, and Lionel Scaloni is finalizing the details of the team that will start the match. With several trials and the intention to give minutes to all the called-up players, the coach is likely to rely on a solid base with Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and Thiago Almada leading the attack.

Gerónimo Rulli will be in goal, while the initial defense will include Juan Foyth, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, and Nicolás Tagliafico. If Cuti is not in optimal physical condition, Marcos Senesi will take his place. In the second half, Kevin Mac Allister is expected to replace Foyth, while Colo Barco will also get minutes in the second half.

In the midfield, Scaloni will maintain his usual structure with Rodrigo De Paul and Alexis Mac Allister as regulars, accompanied by a third midfielder chosen between Giovani Lo Celso or Nicolás Paz, one of the options the coach is considering testing once again.

The attack will be led by Messi, accompanied by Lautaro and Almada. However, the coach plans to give everyone playing time: José Manuel López will have minutes, and Gianluca Prestianni, one of the great promises of Argentine football, could make his debut in the Senior National Team.

Scaloni's idea is for all the called-up players to participate in this year-end match, which will be the last friendly before the 2026 World Cup draw, with the aim of continuing to expand the squad rotation and keeping the competitiveness alive within the world champion team.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.