Scaloni confirms Messi to start v Zambia, World Cup list ‘nearly set’ | OneFootball

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni said he has the World Cup squad “pretty clear” in his mind and confirmed that Lionel Messi will start in Tuesday’s friendly against Zambia at La Bombonera, which will be the national team’s last match in this FIFA window.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the coach was quite clear: “We already submitted the list of 55 to the AFA, and they have to present it to FIFA. We’ll start trimming it based on performances. The final decision will be made at the end. We’ll think about what’s best for the team and make decisions from there. If performances aren’t up to standard, we’ll take action.”

In addition, the 47-year-old coach admitted that, beyond the new names included in the latest call-up, those who have been part of the entire cycle have an advantage: “We all know what it means to play in these final matches; those who have been with us for a long time have the edge because we know them.”

Regarding the friendly against Zambia, No. 91 in the FIFA rankings, Scaloni said Messi will be in the starting lineup and that the reason for so many changes in the previous friendly and this one was to “give other kids a chance.”

He was also very self-critical about the level shown by the Albiceleste in Friday’s 2-1 win over Mauritania, although he welcomed the fact that: “It’s a good sign that they (the players) realized the match wasn’t good. Hopefully the team can truly show again the face we all want to see.”

Another topic the Santa Fe native addressed at the press conference was the renewal of his contract, which expires at the end of 2026 and which Chiqui Tapia wants to extend until 2030, but he avoided giving details: “What appeals to me is that this place is possibly where every Argentine wants to be, and I’m here. Timing isn’t important; my mind is elsewhere. I know that one day, when I’m no longer here, I’ll regret it because it’s a unique place. Then we’ll see whether an agreement is reached or not, it’s not important, but how could it not appeal to me?”

Scaloni also added that the national team would play two more friendlies before the World Cup, one of them against Serbia, while the other opponent has yet to be confirmed, with the particularity that those matches will be played with the official 26-man squad already announced.

Finally, the coach was asked about the injury suffered by Joaquín Panichelli, who will miss the World Cup, and became emotional: “It’s very difficult. He came to talk to us, it was very emotional. He didn’t deserve it, no one does, but especially not him. We told him he’ll have another chance; he’s a kid who lifts the group, who was training really well. It’s something that really hurts.”

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