Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni don calm everybody down before di match against Algeria for Tuesday night for Kansas City. Di players wey dey injured don recover just in time to play for di 2026 World Cup.
Scaloni talk say, “Calm because it’s just a game of football. We have the experience of the last World Cup, the first game is not fundamental. It’s important, but it doesn’t end with the first game.” He add say, “We are good, we are calm. We are facing a good team with good players. But we are calm, we are arriving at a good moment.”
Scaloni confirm say Lionel Messi, Emiliano Martínez, and Julián Álvarez all dey available to feature for Tuesday despite injury concerns. Messi don dey manage mild hamstring strain, Álvarez get ankle injury, and goalkeeper Martínez expect to start even with fractured ring finger.
“Everyone wants to see [Leo] Messi inside the field, playing. He excited everyone, not just Argentines,” Scaloni yarn. “From my part, it’ll always be like that. I don’t see anything negative. He’s been in different conditions and has always been here. He’s always been monumental for us, and now he will be even more. I see him well.”
“Emiliano is okay, Emiliano is available for tomorrow, if he does the same thing he did yesterday and the day before I think he will play. Julian had an ankle problem but his recovery has been good and for tomorrow he is available and an option.”
Scaloni go reveal di starting lineup to di 26-player World Cup squad after Monday training session. Di Albiceleste manager mention say Nicolás Tagliafico na di only player to monitor before di match on Monday.
“I’ve always had difficulty [creating the starting 11] because of the quality of the players on the national team, beyond if we have an injured player which is not the case now,” Scaloni explain. “There are no injured players. We will just monitor the case of Nico Tagliafico, if he joins the team for training but in principle all players are available.”
“I never had an inconvenience making the team. The inconvenience I did have was leaving behind great players, but equilibrium is principle. We play with 11 and we try to find equilibrium, so someone is left out but we are good.”
Argentina go face Algeria on June 16 before facing Austria and Jordan for Group J of di 2026 World Cup.
Defending champions Argentina dey enter as clear favorite to top di group at -260 according to odds. La Albiceleste dey try become di third country to win back-to-back World Cup titles. Dis one likely go mark di final World Cup appearance for Lionel Messi, adding more significance to Argentina campaign as di legendary icon near di end of im international career.
Argentina qualify for di 2026 FIFA World Cup by finishing top of di 10-team qualifying table for CONMEBOL, losing only twice across di 18-match campaign. Dem enter di tournament after three recent friendly wins for di last few weeks, beating Zambia, Honduras and Iceland by combined score of 10-0.
On di other hand, Algeria dey return to World Cup for di first time since 2014, when di nation reach Round of 16, which na im best finish for tournament history. Di team also don win two Africa Cup of Nations titles for 1990 and 2019. Di squad get strong core of players wey dey compete for Ligue 1 and oda top European leagues, giving Algeria well-balanced and experienced group heading into di tournament.
Algeria earn im place at di 2026 World Cup by topping Group G for CAF qualifying, winning eight of im 10 matches and losing just once. Di match go take place for Geha Field at Arrowhead Stadium for Kansas City, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time.
