Argentina national team today, LIVE: Lionel Scaloni defines the team in the last training session before the match against Australia

Lionel Messi’s terrible statistics with the referee appointed for the match against Australia

FIFA has appointed Poland’s Szymon Marciniak as the main referee for this Saturday’s match between the Argentina national team and Australia at the Ahmad Bin Ali stadium, for the round of 16 of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. The 41-year-old referee stirs bitter memories for the Albiceleste and, above all, for Lionel Messi, who records terrible statistics with him on the pitch.

Marciniak led the Albiceleste for the only time at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was nothing more and nothing less than in the bad debut against Iceland, where the team led by Jorge Sampaoli narrowly drew 1-1 and Messi missed a penalty.

He also guided it in two tough defeats for Barcelona in the European Champions League. Read more here.

Scaloni defines the team with the doubt raised in the presence of Di María

Starting at 12, Argentine time, the selected team carries out its last training session in view of the match against Australia and Scaloni defines the starting line-up, which doubts the presence of Ángel Di María.

Rosario’s man was substituted in the win against Poland with a right leg problem, but studies have shown there have been no muscle injuries.

Scaloni and De Paul speak at the press conference

As usual by order of FIFA, the Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni will speak this Friday at a press conference, the day before the round of 16 match that the Albiceleste team will play against Australia.

Furthermore, as usual, a player from the squad will speak before Scaloni’s conference: it will be Rodrigo De Paul, one of the four players (with Emiliano Martínez, Nicolás Otamendi and Lionel Messi).

Menotti: “The only thing left is to play in the final”

The director of selections of the AFA, Cesare Luis Menottihe was strong about his expectations with the Argentina national team in Qatar World Cup 2022: “There is nothing more than playing in a final.”

“For us, it’s enough just to play one final. Everything else is not taken much into consideration. I am happy with the performance and all the development they are doing. The national team has become the most important thing in leading the powers and that’s good for me,” he said.

As for the performance against Polandcommented: “The team has reunited with Poland. The first matches of the World Cup are difficult, but as we get closer to the decisive stages we will gain confidence. It is not the same to lose a match in the first round as in a final. L “Argentina is competing with authority and now comes the most difficult part. Everything was done to be optimistic.”

Finally, he spoke Lionel Messi: “I see Messi well and calm. There is wear and tear on him. It is an intense life, because I feel it every time he plays he must be the 86′ Maradona, but answered with authority. Messi has to get used to the fact that he doesn’t always win matches and suffers twice as much. I see him calm and engaged and I would really like him to win the World Cup.”

The Argentine team received visits and celebrated the birthday of Paredes’ daughter

The players of the Argentina soccer team were once again visited by family, couples and friends during their concentration at Doha University, as was the custom the day after every World Cup match.

In this context, Victoria Paredes, daughter of the midfielder, celebrated her ninth birthday with several relatives. She received a pink and white cake with nine matching candles.