The steps of the Argentine team through the United States are a test bed for the alternatives that Lionel Scaloni drives to give the team a break-in in 2024. The experience in Philadelphia, with the victory against The Savior 3-0, it was the first stop on this tour in which he gave minutes to some players who are not usually in the main team. But when he disembarked in Los Angeles for next Tuesday’s match against Costa Ricathe Argentine coach could modify the structure again, since the rival’s demands will be a little higher, which would take advantage of to give dynamism to the world champions.
“We always seek to give the opportunity to play to boys who have not been playing often and thus offer other variants. We are happy, beyond the result (for the match against El Salvador), for how they approached the game. In general terms, I think it was a good game and the guys we wanted to see delivered. They give us more options. Now we have another game (Costa Rica) and we will do the same if we can, because that is what these games are for. We will make some changes for the next one and then evaluate how the tour went”. With this phrase the coach reflected the idea of his technical staff to always look for variants in each commitment.
Although the arrival in Los Angeles took more time than expected (there were some delays in the flight), the Argentine team has already begun its work at the Memorial Coliseum, the stadium where the match against Costa Rica will be played. Beyond some physical burdens, Scaloni already planned this match, even before he landed in the United States. The coach was always clear that for this second match he was going to give priority to the most experienced, therefore, they could be there from the start Nicolas Otamendi, Julián Álvarez, Nahuel Molina and Alexis Mac Allisterfour footballers from the base of the champions in Qatar 2022 who were substitutes against El Salvador, since the coach took advantage of that first match to test new systems and give minutes to players who are not usually starters.
Lionel Scaloni gave certainty about this type of movements, however, due to how he usually rotates players in this type of friendlies, the match against Costa Rica (on Tuesday at 11:50 p.m., Argentina time), could also allow him to rest Emiliano Martínez, Christian Romero y Angel Di Maria. In the event that it is determined that Dibu is not there from the start, the coach has Franco Armani as an alternative and also with Walter Benitezwho according to some tests in recent days, could debut this Tuesday in the senior team.
The only players who could repeat themselves with respect to the formation they presented against El Salvador are Rodrigo DePaul y Enzo Fernández. Therefore, with the possible entry of Mac Allister, the Argentine coach could make up the half that played the world final in Qatar 2022. The coach wants them to add minutes together again, since it is one of the last preparation matches before of the Copa América that will be played from next June 20. The test against Costa Rica will not be the most demanding, since the team led by Gustavo Alfaro had a tough match this Saturday against Honduras, won 3-1, qualified for the Copa América and made enormous physical expenditure.
The selection is going for a new record
Although the protagonists have already stated on several occasions that they are not attentive to records, the Argentine team will have the chance to leave a new mark this Tuesday. The world champions, if they beat Costa Rica, will have the record for the longest period at the top of the FIFA rankings. The team led by Lionel Scaloni could surpass its own mark of 11 months as global leader.
He needs to surpass the team led by Gustavo Alfaro and in this way he would reach the highest level for a year, since since April 2023 the Argentine team has been the best team that occupies first place on the list of teams made by FIFA .