Scaloni confirmed that he will be absent with the team that travels to Chile. Video: AFAselection/youtube
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Argentina’s national team, Lionel Scaloni, confirmed today that Chile will not travel today for Thursday’s match for the 15th. date of the South American Qualifiers because his PCR was positive.
#MajorSelection Lionel Scaloni ?️: “Both Aimar and I are not going to be able to be part of the delegation. Pablo has been in his house for several days due to close contact. I complied with the isolation several days ago, but I continue to test positive. To enter Chile a negative is missing.
– Argentina National Team ?? (@Argentina) January 26, 2022
In addition, soccer player Alexis Mac Allister also tested positive, he will not be able to travel, as will Emiliano Buendia due to close contact.
“One of the two was going to play tomorrow and that annoys us because they won’t have the chance to play and let them show,” said the Argentine coach.
On the other hand, when asked about the dialogue with Lionel Messi, absent from the call due to the double date, Scaloni stated that he would sing to them that he was with the squad.
“I spoke with him and he told me that COVID affected him a lot. It is important that he gets well, and that is why I decided that it was best for him to stay at his club,” he acknowledged.
About the possible replacement for Messi, Scaloni said the following: “There are many players who can do that role, they have played when Leo was not there and it could be, but I do not rule out that they could be other teammates and we have variants.”
The inclusion of Paulo Dybala instead of Messi is a possibility for Scaloni because he already did it against Uruguay, in Montevideo, during the South American Qualifiers.
Without Messi, Scaloni confirmed that Ángel Di María will be responsible for the captain’s belt: “He has been in the national team for many years and he is very loved, we have no doubts.”
The former Newell’s Old Boys defender said that he already has the formation to play against Chile, but he will wait until tomorrow: “With everything that we are going through, it is impossible to communicate it. Arriving in Chile they will do PCR and tomorrow we will have the results.”
#MajorSelection Lionel Scaloni ?️: “The team has decided but, with everything we are going through, it is impossible to communicate it. Arriving in Chile they will do PCR and tomorrow we will have the results.” pic.twitter.com/476VSfIVGG
– Argentina National Team ?? (@Argentina) January 26, 2022
The coach of the last Copa América champion pointed out that the match against Chile will be “very difficult” because it is a rival that “knows what it wants” in a setting located 2,300 meters above sea level.
“Calama has its difficulties due to the altitude and it will be a difficult game. Chile is an important rival beyond their position in the table. And they have one of their last options and they will want to win yes or yes. We have to play a good game and that the feeling is positive when the game is over”, Scaloni pointed out.
The Argentine coach understood that he has a base of footballers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, but he did not rule out new names in the future.
“As much as we have a fairly solid base, we are not ruling out players to join and others who can demonstrate. Nobody has a guaranteed place and it is important that they can assimilate it,” said the former defender of Zaragoza, from Spain.
