Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni faced an unexpected challenge just hours before Thursday’s match against Venezuela: defender Nicolás Tagliafico is out due to a muscle injury.
The Lyon fullback was hurt during training and will not play at Estadio Más Monumental. His status for the upcoming match against Ecuador in Guayaquil is still unclear. Scaloni has decided to replace him with Marcos Acuña in the left-back position, necessitating a change in the lineup.
Argentina plans to field Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, and Acuña; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Paz, and Thiago Almada; along with Messi and Julián Álvarez. With Messi playing his last qualifier in Buenos Aires, a packed stadium is anticipated to give him a fitting farewell.
Eyes are also on Paredes, who is just one yellow card away from suspension. If he gets booked against Venezuela, he will miss the match against Ecuador. In that scenario, the coaching staff might let him return to Boca Juniors early, providing a boost for his club.
Scaloni now has the task of quickly adjusting the defense as Argentina aims to finish qualifying strong while also gearing up for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
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