Messi Plan: Argentina Eyes Rotation, New Targets Against Jordan

Argentina have already secured first place in their group and will face Cape Verde in the next round, but they still play Jordan tonight, Saturday into Sunday, in a match that is expected to matter little for the standings. Even so, coach Lionel Scaloni is planning to give minutes to some of his most important players, mainly to manage the schedule and avoid sending them into the round of 32 rusty and short of match fitness.

Argentina’s knockout match is set for July 3 at 23:00 Israel time, about a week away. That timetable is shaping Scaloni’s decisions, including the possibility of using the game to test different players, such as the promising Nico Paz. There is also talk that Argentina could line up with two strikers, which would allow Lautaro Martinez to start.

Lionel Messi is part of the load-management thinking as well. Although he does not cover much ground on the pitch, the same approach applies to him at Inter Miami, where he was rested after playing three matches in a short span and once was substituted while the score was 4-4 to protect him. Scaloni said, “I think playing time will not hurt Messi or the rest of the squad.” He added, “If the other players run, maybe there will be minutes for two strikers. They played well together against Bolivia, we drew conclusions from that.”

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa has recovered from a minor hand injury. Resting teams in the third group-stage match is not unusual, especially after already clinching first place, but if Argentina’s starters do not play at all it would leave them with 11 days without a competitive match. That is why some attackers, in particular, could still come off the bench. A projected lineup includes Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Gio Simeone, Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso; Nico Paz or Lautaro Martinez, and Julian Alvarez.