It is reported that Lionel Scaloni is about to make changes to Lionel Messi’s Argentina XI with two important doubts in the England game.
In Argentina move on to 2026 World Cup semi-final after another disappointing performance, this time against Switzerland, Lionel Messi once again took the burden. With England next up and a place in the finals on the line, the head coach Lionel Scaloni is something it is reported that he is planning changes in his starting team, as there are still two positions left, especially in the air.
The result was 3-1 at Arrowhead Stadium. Argentina struggled for a long time playing eleven against eleven, and it took Breel Embolo’s red card and the return of extra time to seal the result. In Englandranked fourth in the FIFA Rankings, they represent the toughest opponent Argentina has faced throughout the 2026 World Cupand Scloni seems to realize that a fix is needed.
On Monday, Argentina held its final training session in Kansas City at the Compass Mineral Center before heading to Atlanta. The official AFA report stated that the team “focused on training, recovery after turnovers, and offensive progression,” closing the session with some small sided games.
Argentina holds the program
In accordance with Diario OleHernan Claus, close to the Argentine national team, Scaloni was operating between 4-3-3 and 4-4-2in accordance with the formation used throughout the tournament. However, with the current starting lineup struggling to find the right balance, the coach attempted a few personnel changes at key positions during Monday’s session.
Bayer Leverkusen team Exequiel Palacios included in the starting line-up for part of the training session, providing the ball-holding profile in midfield that Argentina lacked against Switzerland. Giuliano Simeone and get some minutes, providing a wide, direct option down the side as an alternative to the Mac Allister-Fernandez-Paredes-De Paul setup favored by Scaloni.
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The right rear area also saw a rotation, both Nahuel Molina and Gonzalo Montiel stepped into the role as they did throughout the tournament, no player did enough to make the place their own.
According to Argentina, nine players look set to start against England: Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico, Alexis Mac Allister, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez, Lionel Messiand Julian Alvarez. Of those who started against Switzerland, Rodrigo De Paul and Nahuel Molina seem to be in serious danger of losing their places.
Scloni considering a 5-3-2 system?
One of the most important opportunities reported by Diario Ole switched to 5-3-2 in England’s semi-final. In Monday’s session, Scaloni tested a back three of Nicolas Otamendi, Cristián Romero, and Lisandro Martinez, Molina and Simeone as right backs, Tagliafico and Nicolas Gonzalez on the left, a midfield trio of De Paul, Fernandez, and Mac Allister, and Messi and Alvarez as two strikers.
It wouldn’t be the first time Scaloni made such a change under pressure, as the same method is used in 2022 World Cup quarterfinal with the NetherlandsArgentina dominated the game for a long time even though it ended 2-2. The final decision is expected to come after training on Tuesday in Atlanta, but one thing is already clear: Scaloni will not send the same list that started against Egypt or Switzerland.
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