Messi’s Argentina reportedly with out two first group gamers for Peru conflict after shedding to Paraguay

Argentina‘s 2-1 loss to Paraguay within the 2026 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers on Thursday delivered a double blow to Lionel Messi‘s group. Past their struggles in entrance of purpose, Lionel Scaloni’s squad may reportedly lose two first group gamers forward of the subsequent sport in opposition to Peru on Tuesday.

After the sport at Defensores del Chaco, Asuncion, each Argentina defenders Cristian Romero and Nicolas Tagliafico are reportedly to be sidelined because of harm issues. The Tottenham Hotspur participant was subbed off within the halftime because of an inconvenience in his proper foot, and the Olympique Lyon participant twisted his shoulder after a conflict within the second half.

Romero was already doubtful to be a starter in Argentina’s squad. Within the final Premier League sport in opposition to Aston Villa, the defender needed to be subbed off after a conflict with rival Morgan Rogers. Regardless of the ache in his proper foot, Scaloni determined to play Romero as a starter, however the defender struggled to deal with the tempo of the sport and was changed after 45 minutes.

In the meantime, Nicolas Tagliafico sustained a shoulder harm throughout a second-half collision. The Olympique Lyon left-back required on-field therapy however managed to complete the sport regardless of seen discomfort. Whereas the harm is suspected to be a sprained shoulder fairly than a dislocation, Tagliafico will endure additional medical exams upon the group’s return to Argentina to substantiate the extent of the harm.

Romero and Tagliafico’s potential absences add to Argentina’s mounting harm issues in protection. Forward of this worldwide window, Scaloni had already been compelled to go away out Manchester United Lisandro Martínez, and River plate German Pezzella and Marcos Acuña because of health points. With Messi main Argentina’s assault, Scaloni faces the problem of reconfiguring a depleted backline to maintain their qualification marketing campaign on observe.

Who may exchange the defenders?

If Romero and Tagliafico are dominated out, Scaloni might want to make crucial changes to his defensive setup. Leonardo Balerdi of Olympique Marseille, who changed Romero within the second half in opposition to Paraguay, is the probably candidate to begin in central protection.

The left-back place, nevertheless, presents a better dilemma. With each Tagliafico and Acuña unavailable, Argentina lacks a pure choice for the function. Scaloni could need to improvise, with Facundo Medina of RC Lens rising as a powerful candidate. The left-footed center-back booked his personal flight from France to Paraguay after studying he had been known as up because of the earlier defensive absences.

Alternatively, Scaloni may go for a three-center-back formation and deploy Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho as a left wing-back. Garnacho has expertise within the function beneath Erik ten Hag, providing a extra attacking method down the left flank.

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