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 plan to use from the start of the World Cup on June 16.

The main piece of news for 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 an eleven with several changes compared to Saturday.

The idea is to field the starting core that will play at the World Cup, including Lionel Messi, who has put the muscle issue behind him and will probably start in order to regain rhythm. In addition, the midfield would be refreshed with the presence of the 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 midfield, which would feature the usual starters: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, and Alexis Mac Allister. As with Messi, Scaloni wants them to arrive at the World Cup opener with match fitness and rhythm.

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 risk them 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 squad and are with the team as reserves.

How Argentina and Iceland are coming into the friendly

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

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

Argentina’s 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. Coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Iceland’s probable lineup vs. Argentina

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

Argentina vs. Iceland, friendly match: where to watch live and match info

What’s next for Argentina

After the final friendly, the Argentina national team’s schedule will turn toward 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 the opener, the schedule will offer no respite. The second group-stage match will take place on Monday, June 22 at 2:00 PM, with Austria as the opponent at the imposing Dallas Stadium.

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

Finally, Scaloni’s team will close out the first stage of qualifying on Saturday, June 27 at 11:00 PM against Jordan at the same stadium where it will face the Europeans.

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