Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni don announce di 26-man squad for di 2026 World Cup, and e be like say di team nearly no change from di one wey win for Qatar. Di list get captain Lionel Messi, plus di same core players wey win di World Cup and Copa América.
Di biggest surprise na di omission of young Franco Mastantuono, wey no fit make di final cut. Veteran defender Marcos Acuña also no dey di squad, even though e be part of di 2022 winners. But overall, Scaloni don stick with continuity, only nine players from Qatar miss out, and only Juan Foyth under age 30 among dem.
Di midfield na area where Scaloni get plenty options. Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández don grow well since Qatar, and now Giovani Lo Celso wey miss di last World Cup due to injury don return. Di coach say di midfield na di easiest part to select.
But one big headache na how to replace Ángel Di María, wey retire from internationals after winning di 2024 Copa América. Di winger get special skills wey hard to find. Youngsters like Valentín Barco and Nico Paz dey hope to step up, but nobody fit exactly replace Di María.
For attack, Julián Álvarez don become even more important than Messi sometimes, according to some analysts. E fit run for Messi, play as striker, or drop into midfield. Lautaro Martínez and newcomer Juan Manuel “Flaco” Lopez also dey available.
Defence na di area wey dey worry di coach. No new defenders don emerge since Qatar, so di same unit wey almost collapse under pressure against Australia, Netherlands, and France for 2022 go still dey. Nahuel Molina, Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolás Tagliafico, Cristian Romero, and di eternal Nicolás Otamendi (now 38) go be di main men.
Scaloni don keep faith with di group wey finish nine points clear for South America qualification. Di team get plenty experience and know each other well. But di question be say whether dis continuity go bring success again or be problem.
