Julián Álvarez, wey dem dey call ‘Araña’, don join im teammates for training again after e miss Wednesday session because of ankle problem. Di 26-man squad for Argentina national team bin dey do dia work for Compass Minerals complex for Kansas City, but Álvarez no come out for field. Instead, e dey inside kinesiology room dey treat im left ankle wey e sprain.
But today, before di team go travel to Texas tomorrow afternoon, di ‘Araña’—wey Barcelona dey find—come back to do at least half of di work wey coach Lionel Scaloni set. While Scaloni dey prepare di team wey go face Honduras on Saturday for Kyle Field-College Stadium, Texas, by 9 PM Argentina time, about six players still dey do separate work. But unlike Wednesday, Álvarez join dem for field for Compass Minerals complex.
Di hope be say di treatment go reduce swelling for im left ankle. Álvarez come from Spain with di injury, and e worsen when e participate for Monday practice—di first one for Kansas City. Oda players wey still dey do separate work with captain Lionel Messi include goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, wey dey use only left hand now, right backs Gonzalo Montiel and Nahuel Molina, central midfielder Leandro Paredes, and offensive player Nicolás Paz, wey go continue dis condition until Sunday.
For di team preparation wey start from Monday, di only two doubts bin be right back between Nicolás Capaldo and Agustín Giay, and di partner for Lautaro Martínez for attack between Giuliano Simeone and José López. But today, new news come out say Juan Musso go be di starting goalkeeper instead of Gerónimo Rulli. And Messi join practice for first time, which make hope say e fit play some minutes for di second friendly.
So based on wetin we see, di probable lineup against Honduras be: Juan Musso for goal; Nicolás Capaldo or Agustín Giay for right back; Nicolás Otamendi, Lisandro Martínez, and Nicolás Tagliafico for defense; Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, and Thiago Almada for midfield; and Giuliano Simeone or José López plus Lautaro Martínez for attack.
Di team go travel to Texas on Friday at 12 PM Argentina time (10 AM local), and di flight go take about two hours. All 26 players go dey di trip because after di Honduras match, di delegation no go return to Kansas City. Instead, dem go go Alabama to play di second and last friendly before World Cup against Iceland on Tuesday, 9th, at 10 PM Argentina time (8 PM local) for Jordan Hare Stadium, Texas.
Before di match against Honduras, coach Scaloni go hold pre-match press conference for di stadium, and half hour later, di last practice for dat match go take place. One tinfoil hat worry be say weather forecast mention ‘thunderstorms’ for Texas night, wey be normal for dis time of year near summer for dis US southwest region.
Dis World Cup remind us of di second title wey Argentina win for Mexico 1986, and di one for Italy 1990. For dat time, Oscar Ruggeri, Ricardo Giusti, and Jorge Burruchaga bin dey with injuries for Trigoria camp, and Diego Maradona come with swollen right big toe (later ankle swell). Plus goalkeeper Nery Pumpido break im right leg tibia and fibula for second match against Soviet Union. Coach Carlos Salvador Bilardo talk say ‘We be 30 percent less than for Mexico, partly because of continuous injuries and tactical time no enough to find variations.’ E also choose many players with high average age from previous World Cup. Any similarity with present fit be coincidence, but e important to note say dat process result in playing second consecutive World Cup final for just four years, when Sergio Goycochea become ‘Dibu’ Martínez wey shine for penalty shootouts.
