If the Argentina team, as some of the more hysterical sectors of the sporting press have begun to hint, is entering a crisis, it is an extremely curious kind of crisis. A crisis where the Albiceleste is fresh off retaining the Copa America and sits absolutely unchallenged at the top of CONMEBOL’s World Cup qualifying competition, having won more games and scored more goals than anyone else in the famously fierce tournament.
So dire is the situation, in fact, that Lionel Scaloni’s men can clinch their place at the 2026 finals with five games to spare next March should they beat Uruguay and other results fall their way. A crisis indeed that almost every nation on earth would dearly love to suffer, not least Argentina’s sputtering eternal rival Brazil down in fifth place (and who in a normal World Cup would be fighting for their lives) after two vapid draws in November.
It is nevertheless fair to point out that post-Copa, the Scaloneta has looked like it is running on fumes. In this most recent round of qualifiers Scaloni and Argentina were bullied out of the game by Paraguay’s new coach/warrior-philosopher Gustavo Alfaro, and then needed a moment of inspiration from Lautaro Martínez whose scissor kick in La Bombonera proved the difference between the World Cup holders and lowly Peru. The absence of Ángel Di María has taken some of the thrust out of the normally dynamic Albiceleste, but as Scaloni himself alluded to during the international window, a more complete overhaul may be needed of a team still largely made up of the heroes of 2022.
“These six games came really quickly after the Copa America and we chose to stick with the base that gave us the cup because there was no time to bring in other players,” he explained prior to the Peru win. “From now on we need everyone playing and to decide based on the level of football each is showing.”
While it is again tough to pick apart by far the most successful international team on the planet over the past five years, there are a few holes to plug, Di María’s long-term successor the most urgent. Both full-back positions outside Lisandro Martínez and Cristian Romero could be up for grabs, while the puzzle of how to accommodate so many talented midfielders – Enzo Fernández, Alexis MacAllister, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso to name only the most obvious – needs further studying.
Can Lautaro and Julián play together or is one destined for the bench? And how much longer can Lionel Messi (the only untouchable in the XI, in his coach’s words) keep turning on the magic?
These questions and others will be on Argentina’s mind as they continue the journey to defend their World Cup title, something no team has managed since Pelé’s legendary Brazil side in 1962.
Racing-mania heading to Paraguay
Fresh from keeping out Messi and Co, Paraguay is bracing for another Argentine invasion this weekend as Racing come to town to dispute the Copa Sudamericana final.
Early estimates suggested that up to 50,000 supporters will make the trip up to Asunción – including one hardy fan who walked and hitch-hiked the 1,300 kilometres that separate Argentina and Paraguay’s capitals, earning a free ticket for his troubles – and that for the game itself opponents Cruzeiro will be dwarfed by a ratio of 8:2 in the Nueva Olla stadium. All of which promises to be a logistical headache to keep the two sides separates, especially since Cruzeiro’s decision to open up ticket sales to non-members prompted hundreds of Argentines to take advantage.
La Academia are on a roll, winning their last five games starting with the semi-final against Corinthians to close within four points of the Liga Profesional de Fútbol summit too. With idol Gustavo Costas a constant, hyperactive presence on the touchline, Juanfer Quintero doling out regular bursts of his trademark wizardry and a sea of sky-blue and white in the stands, the Sudamericana decider is set up to be a showcase for this football-mad continent and the perfect warm-up for November 30’s all-Brazil Libertadores final in the Monumental – perhaps an even bigger spectacle!
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