Lionel Scaloni and the last puzzle before the Copa América: full support for Di María and the players he would like to see against Costa Rica

Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that it will make several changes to the starting team of Argentina national team for Tuesday’s match against Costa Rica, which will be played in Los Angeles starting at 11.45pm (Argentine time). The coach assured him Angelo Di Maria He will go first and would like to give the goalkeeper a chance Walter Benitez. Also, laughing, he said it’s a possibility Alessandro Garnacho be there from the beginning too.

In the press conference held before the match with the Ticos, the second of the FIFA meeting after the 3-0 victory against El Salvador on Friday, Scaloni did not confirm the starting lineup but assured: “The idea is to make several changes, but I still haven’t given the team to the players.” Regarding the goalkeeper he declared: “I haven’t decided whether to save on entry or to enter later.” With these clues Argentina would be formed with Dibu Martínez or Walter Benitez; Nahuel Molina, Cuti Romero o Pezzella, Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Angel Di María, Julián Alvarez and Alejandro Garnacho.

Regarding Fideo Di María, who in the early hours of this Monday received an intimidating message in the town where he usually stays when he returns to the country, Scaloni assured: “Tomorrow Di María will be the starter. “He’s calm, I saw him well and he has all our support, we chatted with him about everything.”

One of the first questions they asked him was what he liked least in these six years and the coach replied: “Excluding players from the list of players called up for a Copa América or a World Cup and who have been out for a long time. We have to make decisions, that’s why we’re here.” He then explained what he looks for in these matches and their variations. “We always look at the collective, it’s obvious, beyond the individual conditions of each one, we look at the connection, how they go together. agreement with their “My companion, how do you understand it in training sessions, in matches, which are friendly but important”

Regarding the opponent and the team’s commitment, Scaloni was strong: “We faced it with great professionalism. You have to play the games as best you can and, regardless of the opponent, you have to play that way. From then on, Costa Rica is a good team, they have a World Cup tradition, they have interesting players and they just won the last match with renewed spirit because they qualified for the Copa América.”

Like their next rival, they have the Argentine as their coach Gustavo Alfaro and as sports director Nelson Vivas, several questions from Costa Rican journalists revolved around them. “He is a coach who has done very well where he has been, he has always achieved results with his teams. With Ecuador he did an excellent job, raising the bar with a group of very young players who he gave the chance to play. With time and the good players he has at his disposal, the football culture will certainly produce results. This is what every coach wishes and I wish for him and for Costa Rica. And regarding Vivas’ contribution, he added: “First of all, I think that the passion that the Argentine has for football, I think he transmits it very well to his team, regardless of the country, and this is important to underline.”

Regarding the finale, his colleague Diego Monroig of ESPN asked him what the Copa América list is, if everyone is there or if someone can sign up: “In the end we are open to everything. If new players come out and need to be added to the roster, we will do so. Now there are 25 players called up and the same number due to injury. So the quota is over but whoever is having a good season will be there.”