Already qualified for the quarter-finals and group winners with just one point against Peru, Argentina head into their final match set to field an alternate squad.
By Jon Arnold
Lionel Messi will not start after saying he felt discomfort in Argentina’s 1-0 victory over Chile in the second group contest, and Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said after that victory that he’d like to give number of young players minutes on Saturday – and allow Messi and other veterans to rest up for a July 4 quarter-final in Houston, where Argentina will play, unless they lose and Canada beat Chile heavily enough to make up a goal difference that currently sits at four.
With that potential an impracticality and Scaloni having a fair amount of depth at his disposal against currently winless Peru, it’s a chance for players to get a taste of the Copa América before games become elimination contests. That means even goalkeeper Dibu Martínez may make way with Gerónimo “Gero” Rulli hoping to play in his first ever senior tournament match. Other players who have been in a reserve role including Gonzalo Montiel and teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Valentín Carboni may get an opportunity as well.
One figure who won’t be on the field or on the bench is Scaloni himself, with assistant coach Walter Samuel stepping in after Scaloni was served a one-match suspension for being late to the pitch for the second half in both the opening match against Canada and the contest against Chile.
Peru must get its first win in an official match since a March 2022 triumph over Paraguay in World Cup qualification if it has any chance to advance – and even that wouldn’t be enough to get into the last eight if Canada beat Chile. Still, with Peru now likely looking ahead to World Cup qualification, in which they haven’t won in six attempts so far, there is plenty to build on.
On the second matchday, a red card for Miguel Araujo put Peru down to 10 men, and Canada took full advantage for a 1-0 win.
Peru boss Jorge Fossati now must replace the suspended Araujo, choosing between veteran defenders Aldo Corzo or Anderson Santamaria. Bryan Reyna may also be given a chance in attack, with Peru still seeking its first goal of the tournament after 180 minutes played.
While many in the Miami crowd may have hoped to see Lionel Messi in the blue-and-white of the national team rather than the electric pink of his club in the same city, they may still get a good match in his absence with Argentina looking at the next generation, and Peru hoping to get a result to be proud of before likely heading home.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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