Without Messi or Scaloni and with surprises in the formation, Argentina visits Chile at Calama

Argentina, already qualified, will visit a Chile that seeks to fight for a ticket to the World Cup

The Argentine team visits Chile in the Desert Foxes Stadium (Calama) starting at 9:15 p.m. for the 15th date of the South American Qualifiers without its two main references: the captain and the coach, both affected in the latter by the coronavirus.

Lionel Messi, who recently returned to playing minutes with PSG, was able to recover after contracting the virus during his vacation, while Scaloni announced on Wednesday that he continues to test positive although he has already recovered from the disease. In his place, in Calama, his assistants, former soccer players Walter Samuel, Diego Placente and Roberto Ayala, will say present.

“I complied with the isolation several days ago, I continue to test positive and to enter Chile a negative PCR is necessary,” the coach declared at a press conference. The DT revealed that Messi was affected by the coronavirus “quite a bit” and anticipated that he appointed Ángel Di María as captain in his absence: “He has been in the national team for many years and transmits a lot to his teammates.”

Already qualified for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, the National Team is working more calmly towards the only remaining goal before the end of this championship: try to beat Brazil and be the leader. So far the Albiceleste he harvested 29 units and is six behind the pointer. “We now seek to consolidate not only an idea, but also that the players who have the opportunity to play show that they can be there,” added Scaloni.

With the absence of Messi, a possibility was opened for some footballers to be part of the starting eleven, such as Papu Gómez and Nicolás González, who are starting against Chile. “I’m not thinking about the start of the World Cup. There’s a long way to go for that. The only thing I ask is that everything continues as it has been until now, we cannot think much more about that when the road is long, ”said the DT.

In defense, the coaching staff also had to make changes because Cristian Holiday Romero is injured and Germán Pezzella suspended. So Scaloni, from the outside, and his assistants opted for Lisanrdo Martínez to accompany Nicolás Otamendi.

On the other side is a Chilean team that needs to win to continue in the fight for classification. The Red They must leave everything to add and climb positions since so far they are in sixth position with 16 units, outside the playoffs.

Those led by the Uruguayan Martín Lasarte still keep their options alive to reach Qatar, but for this they are forced to add three to Desert Foxes Stadium and then win against Bolivia in La Paz.

The stadium chosen by Chileans, located 2,260 meters above sea level, can hold just over 8,000 people as a result of the COVID-19 restrictions in that country. In that area linked to the desert there will also be another factor at play: the thermal amplitude.

“I am really looking forward to participating in these matches. There are six very important points. The first one here with Argentina is going to be hard, they are points that we want to continue in the fight on the way to the World Cup”, assured Alexis Sánchez, one of the main references of the team.

To do this, the coaching staff has worked formations without being able to count on key members of the cast: midfielder Arturo Vidal is suspended after receiving a red card against Ecuador and being suspended for two dates, while winger Mauricio Isla and winger Jean Meneses gave positive for Covid-19.

It should be noted that the following presentation for the Albiceleste It will be on Tuesday, February 1 from 8:30 p.m. in Córdoba against Colombia, another team that will arrive in need of points to be able to fight for a place in the Qatar World Cup.

Currently, Brazil (35) and Argentina (29) are the only two teams that have already qualified for the World Cup. Ecuador, which will be local to the Verdeamarelha, is third with 23 points and is well positioned to get the other ticket.

With this panorama, Colombia (17), Peru (17), Chile (16), Uruguay (16), Bolivia (15) and Paraguay (13) to a lesser extent are the six countries that will fight for the other direct pass to Qatar 2022 and the place in the Repechage that will be played in mid-June in a single match and in a neutral stadium. Whoever qualifies from the South American Qualifiers will meet the winner of the cross between the two third parties of the Asian Football Confederation.

FORMATIONS

Chile: Claudio Bravo; Guillermo Maripan, Gary Medel, Sebastian Vegas, Paulo Diaz; Marcelino Núñez, Charles Aránguiz, Erick Pulgar; Alexis Sánchez, Benjamin Brereton and Eduardo Vargas.

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina, Lisanrdo Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo DePaul, Leandro Paredes, Alejandro Gomez; Ángel Di María, Lautaro Martínez and Nicolás González.

Hora: 00:15 GMT (21:15 ARG-URU-CHI / 20:15 PAR-VEN-BOL / 19:15 COL-PER-ECU-MEX)

Television: TYC Sports / Public TV

Stadium: desert foxes, Calama, Antofagasta Region

Referee: Anderson Daronco (BRA)

POSITIONS

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