The selection of Argentina, in the decisive straight towards the World Cup in Qatar-2022, will face Jamaica on Tuesday with the aim of stretching a long unbeaten 34 matches in the penultimate friendly before the World Cup.
La Albiceleste comes from beating Honduras 3-0, in another chapter of the extensive undefeated that threads since mid-2019 in its best historical streak and only three to match the 37 matches without falls of Italy between 2018 and 2021.
In these last friendlies, coach Lionel Scaloni will give some tweaks in the operation, since he seems to have defined much of the squad for Qatar.
“The changes can be two or three, but the basis is always the same. This team showed that, whoever plays, it is always played the same. The team knows what it plays beyond the names, even if we make some variants to give possibilities to other guys, the bulk of the team will be, “said the coach before the match against Honduras.
As usual, star Lionel Messi will also start.” We want to continue oiling what we have been working on. There is less and less time left for the World Cup. We feel good, with the idea getting clearer and a positive result that always helps,” said the Argentina captain after the win against Honduras.
“We live it with a lot of desire, with a lot of enthusiasm, with a lot of anxiety, but also with tranquility, and you have to be well in the clubs to arrive in the best way. This is the last (window) we are together before the World Cup, so we are taking the opportunity to continue improving and strengthening what we know,” he said.
New DT for the ‘Reggae Boyz’
In this penultimate friendly of preparation – the last one will be against the Arab Emirates in the week before the World Cup – Argentina will cross paths with the ‘Reggae Boyz’, who did not qualify for the World Cup.
In their last friendlies, the Caribbeans lost to Morocco (3-0) and drew with World Cup hosts Qatar (1-1). On this occasion, they will debut as new coach the Icelandic Heimir Hallgrimsson.
For this debut, Hallgrisson summoned several players who act in the rise of English football and in the United States.
Argentina vs Jamaica: possible lineups
Argentina: Emiliano Martínez – Nahuel Molina or Gonzalo Montiel, Lisandro Martínez, Cristian Romero and Nicolás Tagliafico or Marcos Acuña – Rodrigo de Paul, Leandro Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso – Lionel Messi, Lautaro Martínez and Ángel Di María. DT: Lionel Scaloni.
Jamaica: Andre Blake – Javain Brown, Adrian Mariappa, Damion Lowe and Amari’i Bell or Allan Arigoni – Bobby Reid, Ravel Morrison, Daniel Johnson and Leon Bailey – Michail Antonio and Shamar Nicholson or Jamal Lowe. DT: Heimir Hallgrímsson.