The 2-1 victory against Chile in the desert and the height of Calama, without Lionel Messi, generated tranquility and pride. The casualties forced by Covid-19 and a rarefied climate in the previous one and during the match against the trans-Andean team were some of the setbacks.
“These are very stressful days”, Scaloni said the day before the clash against Chile. In that virtual press conference, he announced that he could not travel to Calama because his PCR was positive, and he was joined by Alexis MacAllister (positive for coronavirus), Emiliano Buendía (close contact) and Pablo Aimar (close contact), a person of first consultation in his coaching staff.
Scaloni, who decided not to summon Messi due to his extensive recovery after being infected with Covid-19, would return to the team against Colombia and take over from Walter Samuel, Roberto Ayala and Diego Placente at Calama, although with fewer players available. , especially in midfield.
Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul received a yellow card and were suspended. Due to this situation, the DT decided to summon Guido Rodríguez, who had stayed in Spain due to a positive for Covid-19.
The possible substitute for the former Boca points to Lisandro Martínez. The central defender of Ajax from the Netherlands played a great game in place of the injured Cristian Romero and knows how to perform in midfield. In fact, he did it for a few minutes in the draw against Brazil in San Juan.
Alejandro “Papu” Gómez finished the game with a swollen right ankle and will depend on his evolution to ensure his presence against the Colombians.
The Cordovan Paulo Dybala did not add minutes in Calama and could be from the start for “Papu”. The Juventus striker from Italy awaits his great opportunity for Qatar 2022 and against Colombia, with other characteristics than Gómez, he could take charge of it.
Scaloni will also analyze the situation of MacAllister, who is asymptomatic and will be discharged in the next few days.
The defense is also decimated because Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico joined the club of those suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
In turn, striker Maximiliano Meza, replacement for the injured Joaquín Correa, suffers from gastrointestinal discomfort; and midfielder Lucas Ocampos feels pain in his left ankle. During this Friday, the information circulated that they had been swabbed again for alleged symptoms of coronavirus.
In this context, the coach of the Argentine National Team will evaluate whether to settle with what he has or add a new player, in addition to Rodríguez.
River Plate midfielder Enzo Fernández appears as a possible alternative, while he continues pre-season work with his club.
Germán Pezzella, who served a suspension date, and Lucas Martínez Quarta (his PCR was positive before the trip to Chile) would be the first changes in the line-up.
Although he does not have much at his disposal, Scaloni will focus on the performance of Nahuel Molina, who suffered against striker Ben Brereton against Chile. In that case, Gonzalo Montiel would have another chance.
A probable formation against Colombia would be with: Martinez; Molina or Montiel, Pezzella, Martínez Quarta and Marcos Acuña; Giovani Lo Celso, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás González; Gómez or Dybala, Di María and Lautaro Martínez.
The Argentine campus, installed on the AFA premises, underwent rapid tests with a negative balance. In the next few hours they will have the PCR results.
Argentina, which accumulates an undefeated record of 28 games between different competitions, is second in the South American Qualifiers with 32 points and next Tuesday will host Colombia in Córdoba on date 16.
Source From: Ambito
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