Beyond the debatable level of The Savior (3-0) y Costa Rica (3-1), Argentina’s rivals in the last FIFA friendly window, the tour of the United States served the coach Lionel Scaloni for expand the base of selectable footballers. Some –Alejandro Garnacho, Nehuen Perez, Facundo Goodnight– had already debuted, while others, like the archer Walter Benitezthe left side Valentine Boat and the attacking midfielder Valentin Carboni, They enjoyed their first minutes with the albiceleste shirt. The internal competition that Scaloni touts so much can catapult them towards a place on the final list of the America Cupalong with other better-known names who missed the World Cup, but are there in the DT’s consideration: Nicolas Gonzalez y Giovani Lo Celso. You can also join them Marcos Senesiwho was not in the United States due to injury.
The Garnacho factor
In the run-up to the World Cup in Qatar, many Argentine fans asked the AFA – and Scaloni – to shield the youth from Manchester United. The coach decided on other players, but he kept an eye on England. He was attentive to his progression and, as the left winger matured as a footballer, opportunities came to him. The first summons, in 2022; the first minutes, last year before Australia e Indonesia. The last milestone on that path is his first start, in the 3-1 against Costa Rica. Before the debut on the 2023 Asian tour, the young man born in Madrid said that he had a talk with Stairs y Roberto Ayalaone of his assistants: “The coach asked me if I was nervous and I told him that I don’t get nervous when I play.and he told me that he was going to try to give me the chance to play.”
The numbers in the Premier League endorse the step forward he took Grenache (19 years old, will turn 20 on July 1): he had never played as much as this season, in which He has been a starter for 20 games and six from the substitute bench, with 1774 minutes. For the Premier League he scored five goalsto which others join of domestic cups. And he distributed four assists. These are his best numbers as a professional.
Garnacho is vertigo, individual imbalance, one against one, diagonals and still unpolished talent. Could be fundamental to unlock games against tight defenses, which do not leave spaces. Garnacho is a specialist in self-management. “He is a player who needs to challenge himself and likes to do it. Our job is to take it to higher levels. It has great potential. It depends on him to stay focused and make an effort,” said his coach in England, the Dutchman. Erik ten Hag. As a catalyst for the band or from the beginning as against the Ticos, Garnacho is the future of the team.
Those from Brighton: Barco and Buonanotte
After being one of Boca’s best footballers last season, rejecting up to three offers from abroad and playing in the final of the Libertadores Cup in Rio de Janeiro, the evolution of Valentine Boat He asked for the jump to a top league. It occurred after paying the termination clause and its fate was Brighton, from England. This is the club of the Premier League that more and better molds talented young people. El Colo met there with Facundo Goodnighthis teammate in the Sub 20 who had already had minutes in the senior team.
Both had their share of prominence in the first friendly against The Savior -victory by 3 to 0- and they watched the game against Costa Rica on the substitute bench. They didn’t clash, so Scaloni knows that he can count on them if necessary. They both seem to have a assured place in the Olympic team who will look for gold in Paris, but they could also become alternatives for the Copa América. Especially in the case of Barco, whose multifunctionality -he can play as a winger, as a winger or even as a left-footed interior- gives him a plus.
Good nighton the other hand, is called to be the substitute for one of the so many good-footed midfielders that the selected one has. The overpopulation in that area of the field conspires against their chances in the continental tournament. Everything indicates that the former Rosario Central will become the spare wheel for Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Gio Lo Celso or even Exequiel Palacios in the near future.
Walter Benítez, Dibu’s bodyguard?
Although in the selection there doesn’t seem to be a casting for archers y Emiliano Martínez has the starting diver assured, Scaloni wanted to see another goalkeeper in the game with Costa Rica. He knows by heart what both Drawing and Franco Armani, at this point the third goalkeeper of the team. He was looking to see another goalkeeper in action and that’s why he opted to Walter Benitez, of sober campaigns in French football – first – and in the Netherlands, now. Formed in Quilmesreceived a goal against Costa Rica, scored by Manfred Ugaldebut he seemed confident throughout the entire match, ordered his teammates and came out correctly when they called him to intervene.
“You never know. Today he is here and he will surely have his big chance.”Scaloni responded when asked about the party Benitez in the Argentine arch. That “big chance” may well be the opportunity to play the America Cup. The moment is ideal: neither Juan Musso (Atalanta, Italy) no Geronimo Rulli (Ajax, from the Netherlands), other goalkeepers in the orbit of the national team’s coaching staff, are starters on their teams.
Nehuén Pérez, the multifunctional
“The technician can use me in four positionswhether as a right back in a line of four, in the middle in a line of three or even on the left,” said Nehuén Pérez (Udinese, from Italy), in a recent interview with THE NATION. That polyfunctionality, just as it once provided Juan Foyth (former Estudiantes de La Plata, today in Villarreal, Spain) can catapult him to the America Cup. Against El Salvador, in fact, Pérez started at right back. He provided projection with judgment, aerial play and his traditional fierceness to score. The ability to change into a central defender when the team requires it allows Argentina to defend with three men when they do not have the ball.
Formed in Argentinos Juniors and transferred to Europe when he was still very young, Pérez is facing the great opportunity of his career. He already knows what it is to lift a trophy with the Argentine team – the 2020 Pre-Olympic – and he dreams of being in the 2026 World Cup. He is a regular starter in his Italian team and in the last transfer market he was on the verge of being transferred to Napoli. “I have to continue working here at the club, do things well and then, God willing, it happens”was excited about the next World Cup.
Valentín Carboni, the left foot of the future
The last stages of the friendly against Costa Rica served so that the Argentines could delight in the left foot of Valentin Carboni (19 years old, footballer from Monza, Italy). Formed in Lanuswhere his father Ezequiel He was captain, emigrated with him in 2020 to wear the Catania. From there she jumped to Interwho lent it to Monza to finish his training. This season, carbon He became one of the best footballers of Calcio’s revelation (tenth march). It takes 837 minutes, distributed in Serie A (22 games) and the Italian Cup (one game). He has two goals and four assists.
The eight minutes with the senior team against Costa Rica They left a play that went viral due to the talent in his left foot, and motivated the praise of his father, Ezequiel. “It’s already surpassed me, it’s a pride. We are still not sleeping with my wife, because here in Italy the game was at four in the morning. We continue straight with the excitement of the debut and the joy we have,” said Carboni Sr., in statements to DSports. Talented as Good nightalthough more vertical than the former Central Rosaryhis first doodles with the Argentine shirt invite you to get excited.
Marcos Senesi, the central room?
A muscle injury suffered before Burnleyfor the Premier League, deprived Marcos Senesi to travel to the United States to join the national team. However, the former defender of Saint Lawrence He could well be considered the team’s fourth central defender. He is behind the starting duo, who make up Nicolas Otamendi y Cristian “Holiday” Romero. The wild card is Lisandro Martínezwhile year (26 years old, just 28 minutes with the senior team in the 5-0 against Estonia in June 2022) competes for a place with Nehuén Pérez.
The usual acquaintances
Added to the list of emerging footballers is the list of those who were left on the sidelines of Qatar 2022 due to injury, and who had few minutes at the ecumenical event. Here they carve names like Giovani Lo Celso (he rounded off two good games and scored a goal against El Salvador), Nicolas Gonzalez (his versatility on the left wing, where he can play from wing to wing, is praised by Scaloni) and Thiago Almada (He was with Javier Mascherano’s Sub 23, but he is highly taken into account by the coach of the senior team).
Beyond the official results, Scaloni returns from the United States with a expanded base of callable footballers. A great challenge is coming up, which is adjust that payroll until reaching the 23 that Conmebol requires for the Copa América. There will be three fewer footballers than in the World Cup, and just at a time when Argentina seems to have an overabundance of talent, especially in the midfield. The DT has a job.