Argentina’s technical committee confirmed an important change in the lineup for the next game. Lionel Scaloni, coach of the national team, announced that Lionel Messi, the top scorer of the World Cup, will start the match against Jordan on the bench, this Saturday night.
“Leo will start on the bench,” Scaloni declared during a press conference this Friday. “I will wait to reveal the complete starting line-up, but it is certain that Leo will enter the field at some point in the match.”
The star, who turned 39 on Wednesday, could go eleven days without playing an official game if he did not take the field against Jordan, as Argentina’s duel for the round of 16 is scheduled for July 3. The decision to preserve the athlete aims to optimize his physical condition for the knockout phase.
The Argentine team has already secured first place in Group J, accumulating six points and five goals, all scored by Messi, ensuring its place in the knockout phase. Scaloni explained that the opportunity to rotate the squad is a recognition of players who have not yet played. Among them are: Valentín Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Flaco López, Exequiel Palacios, Marcos Senesi, Giuliano Simeone and Leonardo Balerdi, as well as reserve goalkeepers Juan Musso and Gerónimo Rulli.
“The great merit of all the work carried out belongs to the athletes who dedicate themselves to the maximum in training”, stated Scaloni. “I believe that, with the chance that arises, there are great talents who also deserve to play. And the expectation is that the team will maintain the same performance.”
Since scoring his first goal as a professional, shortly after the publication of his first video on YouTube, Lionel Messi has maintained an almost uninterrupted scoring trajectory.
The five goals scored by Messi in this tournament elevated him to the position of top scorer in the history of the World Cup, totaling 18 goals in his appearances.
“In Leo, we see the totality; he is exactly at the same level as in 2022, perhaps even higher”, commented left-back Nicolás Tagliafico at this Friday’s press conference. “He’s enjoying it, and so are we.”
The Jordan team arrives at the Dallas Stadium after two defeats in the group stage, to Austria and Algeria, and has already been eliminated from the competition. Argentina will face the second placed team in Group H in the round of 32 next weekend, in Miami. According to The Athletic’s real-time projections, Argentina’s most likely opponent is Cape Verde.
“I think the team continues to work with the same harmony as before, and let’s hope that the results continue to appear; we shouldn’t put pressure on ourselves,” said Tagliafico. He added that Argentina is committed to finishing the group stage without defeat, highlighting: “We cannot be careless, we cannot relax, even though we are already classified”. Scaloni was also asked if he would change the team’s rotation against a stronger opponent, and responded negatively. “It would be a completely disrespectful way to make this decision,” he concluded.
Messi’s previous statement about tiredness reinforces the technical committee’s success
Sports journalist Felipe Cárdenas’ analysis offers perspective on the decision.
The news should not come as a surprise. Argentina has already secured its place in the round of 32 with two consecutive victories. Preserving Messi is a smart strategic choice, taking into account his advanced age and the wear and tear shown after the first two matches.
In the mixed zone after the game in which he scored two goals against Austria – a match in which Messi set the all-time record for goals in a World Cup – the athlete mentioned being too exhausted to choose his favorite World Cup goal: “I can’t think right now. I’m very tired.”
Although innocent, the comment revealed the physical and mental state of the Argentine captain. If Argentina seeks a second world championship, Scaloni must rest Messi whenever the opportunity presents itself.
This clash against Jordan could represent the only occasion on which the coach can afford to leave Messi on the bench. Furthermore, the current configuration of the Argentine national team was planned to operate without him. There are several options in the squad, and the more playing time these athletes have, the better it will be for the group.