The Argentine National Team Concludes Tour in Asia with Friendly Against Indonesia
The tour of the Argentine National Team in Asia will conclude this Monday in Jakarta, where La Scaloneta will face Indonesia in the second and last friendly of this FIFA date for the world champions.
In a press conference, Lionel Scaloni, the coach of the Argentine National Team, provided some insights into the team formation, stating that there will be “seven or eight changes.” Three players who are already confirmed to be rested are Lionel Messi, Ángel Di María, and Nicolás Otamendi, following their participation in the game against Australia.
When asked about Messi’s replacement, Scaloni emphasized that no one can truly replace Messi, but the team will strive to maintain the same level of play. He stated, “None can play Messi. But we will try to get the team to play in the same way, knowing that he is a player that is impossible to change, but the team is capable of performing just as well with different attitudes, and we will try to do that.”
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“No one is going to play at Messi’s place, but some player will do something similar. Do you want to know who he is? I can’t tell you. I haven’t informed the Argentine press yet. I can’t reveal who will be in Messi’s place,” Scaloni added, highlighting the immense pressure that comes with filling the shoes of the world’s best player.
“Messi, Di María, and Otamendi are resting. I had already decided that before,” Scaloni concluded.
Messi, Di María, and Otamendi on vacation. (Instagram: Notamendi30)
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Regarding the “seven or eight changes,” Scaloni clarified that the rotation is not influenced by the opponent but rather to provide opportunities for other players. He stated, “The rotation is not for the rival, under any point of view. The rotation is because we want to see other players and because we believe that the level of the National Team will not change by making these changes. Basically, that’s the reason.”
Despite the absence of key players, Scaloni emphasized the importance of the match for the rest of the squad and the coaching staff’s continuous evaluation. He insisted, “Argentina is well above any player. In this case, Leo is not there, but the others are. We hope you enjoy it.”
There Will Be Changes: How Will Argentina Line Up?
During the press conference, Scaloni announced that he already has the team in mind but prefers to wait for training to conclude to finalize some details. He mentioned, “There is a player who ended up tired after the last game, and if he is available, it might affect the lineup.”
Messi’s Long-Term Future: The Big Unknown
Scaloni expressed that, for now, Messi remains a part of the national team, and it is not worth speculating about the future. He stated, “In principle, Messi keeps on being in the Selection, and it is not worth thinking beyond what is going to happen in the future. For the world of football, we would like him to play forever. At some point, there will be a very sad day for everyone when he stops playing, not only in the Argentine National Team but in soccer overall. It’s not worth thinking further.”
Scaloni in Jakarta with the National Team.
The New Faces of the Selection
Scaloni expressed satisfaction with the new additions to the team and emphasized that his opinion will not change based solely on minutes played. He stated, “We are happy with everyone. We are happy with the new people who have joined, and hopefully, they will get a chance to play. We also give importance to training and how they interact with their teammates, not just their performance in matches.”
How Does Indonesia Play?
When asked about the upcoming opponent, Scaloni acknowledged that Indonesia is a good team with talented players. He mentioned that their game system can vary from match to match and emphasized that there are no easy opponents. He concluded, “All games are difficult, and we will try to play our game. Let’s hope we rise to the occasion, considering the significance of representing this team.”
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Lionel Scaloni – 6-18-2023
