Messi Set for Limited Playtime: Benched in First Friendly
Argentina are completing their final home friendlies before the World Cup with matches against Mauritania and Zambia. Fans and media are focused on how Lionel Scaloni will manage Lionel Messi in those games.
Training shifts and tactical tests
Scaloni staged a final training session on Thursday. In that workout Messi trained with the substitutes rather than the starting group.
The coach plans to give Messi minutes in both fixtures. However, he is expected to start only in the second match next week.
Who filled the starting roles?
- Nicolás Paz took a spot with the presumed starters in the final drill.
- Julián Álvarez is set to lead the attack as centre forward.
- Nico González and Thiago Almada are vying for the third attacking slot.
- Giuliano Simeone was tested alongside Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández.
- That change left Leandro Paredes out of the starting lineup for the session.
Matchday plans and fan expectations
Friday’s game against Mauritania will be played at La Bombonera. Supporters in the stadium should still see Messi enter the match.
Scaloni appears to be managing minutes carefully. The approach gives Messi limited playtime in the home friendlies.
Countdown to the World Cup
Messi was effectively benched from the first friendly’s starting eleven during the last practice. He will almost certainly appear as a substitute Friday.
Against Zambia next week, the captain is expected to start. That match will likely be his farewell to Argentine fans before the squad departs for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Filmogaz.com has reported on the training developments and Scaloni’s selection experiments. The coach’s final lineups will reveal his full plan ahead of the tournament.
