Argentina face Iceland in final World Cup warm-up: time, TV, line-ups | OneFootball

After the 2-0 win over Honduras with a team that mixed starters and substitutes, the idea of the Albiceleste coaching staff is now directly to give playing time to the core group of players they are planning to start the World Cup with on June 16.

The main news in the Argentina National Team is that Lionel Messi will get minutes against Iceland after recovering from the muscle injury he suffered at Inter Miami. In principle, the captain will be in the starting lineup and will join an eleven whose defense will largely remain the same, but which will see several changes in midfield.

Scaloni is planning a lineup with several changes compared to Saturday.

The idea is to field the core starting side that will play at the World Cup, including Lionel Messi, who has put the muscle issue behind him and will probably be in the lineup to regain rhythm. In addition, the midfield is expected to be revamped with the presence of untouchables Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister.

Exequiel Palacios has a chance to keep his place in the team and complete the middle, which would feature the usual starters: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister. As with Messi, Scaloni wants them to arrive with minutes under their belt and match rhythm ahead of the World Cup opener.

Emiliano Martínez, Leandro Paredes, and Julián Álvarez are still recovering from their respective injuries and will not be available to the coaching staff. The plan is not to take any risks so they can be in optimal condition against Algeria, a match for which Dibu and Álvarez are projected as starters. In addition, Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel would be rested, so Agustín Giay could keep his place or Nicolás Capaldo could come in, players who are not on the World Cup roster and are with the squad as reserves.

How Argentina and Iceland are coming into the friendly

Argentina heads into this match after beating Honduras 2-0 in Texas, in what was the delegation’s first friendly since arriving in the United States for the World Cup, a tournament that will begin this Thursday, June 11, and in which the Albiceleste will make its debut on Tuesday the 16th.

For their part, Iceland is coming off a 1-0 loss to Japan in its first friendly and will look to pull off an upset against the Argentina National Team in the lead-up to the World Cup, just as it did in Russia 2018, when it held the national side to a draw and surprised the world.

Argentina National Team probable lineup vs. Iceland

Gerónimo Rulli; Nicolás Capaldo or Agustín Giay, Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martínez or José Manuel López. Head coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Iceland probable lineup vs. Argentina National Team

Hakón Valdimarsson; Logi Tomasson, Hordur Magnússon, Daniel Grétarsson, Stefán Thordarson, Dagur Thórhallsson; Kristian Hlynsson, Andri Baldursson, Gísli Thórdarson, Mikael Ellertsson; Brynjólfur Willumsson. Head coach: Arnar Gunnlaugsson.

Argentina National Team vs. Iceland, friendly: where to watch live and match facts

What’s next for Argentina

After the final friendly, the Argentina National Team’s schedule will have its sights set on its debut at the 2026 World Cup. On June 16, one week later, it will open its campaign against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium.

After that opener, the calendar will offer no respite. The second group-stage match will take place on Monday, June 22 at 2 p.m., when the opponent will be Austria at the imposing Dallas Stadium.

This change in kickoff time and city will force a quick physical recovery for the players, as they will go from playing at night in Kansas to an afternoon match under the Texas sun.

Finally, the end of the first qualifying stage for Scaloni’s team will come on Saturday, June 27 at 11 p.m. against Jordan at the same stadium as the match against the Europeans.

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