Scaloni’s World Cup dilemma: why Paz and Barco wait, despite fans | OneFootball

Argentina marched confidently into the 2026 World Cup, although it had to fight to the limit to get through its first two knockout matches. Both Cape Verde, which pushed the match into extra time, and Egypt, beaten thanks to a late scoring burst in the final 13 minutes, tested the Albiceleste to the fullest in back-to-back 3-2 wins. To unlock these high-pressure situations, Lionel Scaloni was forced to turn to his bench in search of answers. However, those changes did not include Nicolás Paz or Valentín Barco, two players who arrived at the World Cup in outstanding form and whose playing time is being passionately demanded by fans on social media.

Scaloni’s logic in win-or-go-home matches

The coach’s decision to rely on established names is not especially hard to understand. In rounds where even the smallest mistake can send the team home, the coaching staff prioritizes experience and the tactical understanding of the usual rotation players. That approach explains the substitutions against Cape Verde, when Nicolás González, Julián Álvarez, Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Gonzalo Montiel came on; a pattern that was repeated against Egypt with the introductions of González, Lautaro Martínez, Montiel, Nicolás Otamendi, and Facundo Medina. From midfield forward, the substitution structure remains unchanged.

The only real chance for widespread rotation came in the third group-stage match against Jordan. With qualification for the round of 32 and top spot in the group already secured, Scaloni fielded a completely alternate XI to give minutes to the less-used players, aware that opportunities would be scarce in the later rounds. That was when Paz started, while “Colo” Barco and even José López — the third center forward on the squad list — came off the bench for minutes.

A picture of limited playing time and the shadow of Qatar 2022

Unless Argentina manages to build a comfortable lead in the remainder of its World Cup run, it is highly likely that the younger players will continue to be left on the sidelines. The clearest precedent dates back to the semifinal against Croatia at Qatar 2022, when the comfortable 3-0 scoreline allowed the coach to hand tournament debuts to players who had seen no action, such as Juan Foyth, Paulo Dybala, and Ángel Correa. Otherwise, the trend is likely to hold firm for strictly positional reasons.

Individually, Nicolás Paz is regarded as Lionel Messi’s direct backup. Since the captain has played every minute on the field — with the only exceptions being the blowout against Algeria, when the young Como player came on after the “No. 10” completed his hat trick, and the aforementioned match against the Asians, when he entered in the second half — Paz’s chances depend on how much Scaloni chooses to manage Messi’s workload.

As for Valentín Barco, the coaching staff views him as a midfield option, but for now he is lower in the pecking order. The first alternative in that area is Giovani Lo Celso, who despite not coming on in the last two knockout matches, was actively involved in the warmups and had just delivered a standout performance against Jordan. Even behind the Betis midfielder, Exequiel Palacios also ranks ahead of the former Boca player.

Scaloni’s roadmap for attacking substitutions is fully defined: the first line of options belongs to Nico González — with an assist in every match except against Jordan — and whichever striker is waiting his turn between Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. Thiago Almada is also part of that group, although he lost his starting spot in his most recent appearance. Outside this established circle, the emergence of a surprise seems highly unlikely, even dampening the expectations of those who hoped for a bigger role for Giuliano Simeone in second halves. The picture is clear, and the Scaloneta is not planning any major changes to its formula.

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