Argentina is finally back on the pitch tonight for their first international match since that heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final. Yeah, they were world champions heading into that tournament, and had a commanding run through the knockout phase , beating England 2-1, Switzerland 3-1, and Egypt 3-2. But that final loss stung, and now they are kicking off a trio of home friendlies against Bolivia with some serious changes. This isn’t just a friendly, folks; it’s the start of Argentina’s post-Lionel Messi chapter.
Bouncing Back From Heartbreak With A New Leader
The Albiceleste have been on a tear, winning eight of their last nine games, which totally underlines their structural strength and that crazy attacking firepower. But now, it’s a new era. Messi officially announced his international retirement after the World Cup, and he’s being held back for a special farewell match on October 6 against Benin. That means his iconic No. 10 shirt isn’t even assigned for this Bolivia friendly. Talk about a void. In his place, defender Cristian Romero has been confirmed as the new captain. He was already third in the leadership pecking order behind Messi and Nicolás Otamendi, so this isn’t totally out of left field, but it’s still a massive shift for the squad.
Scaloni’s Bold Experiment And New Blood
Manager Lionel Scaloni isn’t playing it safe either; he’s working with a totally reshaped group for this first friendly. Juan Foyth and Thiago Almada are out for the whole three-match set due to injuries. Plus, Nicolás Tagliafico is questionable with a muscle strain. On top of that, experienced midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are getting some rest for the first two games as part of a squad rotation. These absences are huge, but they give Scaloni some serious room to test out new ideas. We’re talking about deploying Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez together from the outset, a forward pairing he had mostly avoided before. How wild is that? Younger options like Nicolás Paz and Agustín Giay are also expected to feature prominently as Scaloni evaluates the next wave of talent for La Albiceleste.
The XI We’re Expecting to See
So, what are we looking at tonight? The possible Argentina starting XI shaping up is: Rulli in goal; a backline of Giay, Romero, Medina, and Tagliafico (if he’s good to go); a midfield with Mac Allister, Palacios, Barco, and Paz; and up front, the new dual threat of Alvarez and Martinez. This match is set for Wednesday night at Córdoba’s Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, kicking off at 12 am on Thursday, October 1st. For those in the UK and Ireland, you can catch it live on Premier Sports 2. This isn’t just about getting a win; it’s about seeing what this squad is really made of without its biggest legend. What a game to kick off a new chapter, right?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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