Lionel Messi’s Argentina wrap up their Group J campaign against debutants Jordan at AT&T Dallas Stadium on Saturday night — and this time the captain starts on the bench. A dead rubber for the holders, it is the last chance for Jamal Sellami’s side to leave a mark on their maiden World Cup.
Group settled, but the stage is far from empty
There is no jeopardy left in the standings. Argentina have already sealed top spot in Group J with maximum points and a goal difference of plus five, after a 3-0 win over Algeria and a 2-0 victory against Austria.
Jordan, by contrast, arrive eliminated and pointless, having lost 3-1 to Austria and 2-1 to Algeria. They have found the net in both games and will be desperate to register a first World Cup point, or a famous scalp. It is the first meeting between the two nations at any level.
Confirmed: Messi will rest
Scaloni has settled this one: Messi starts on the bench. He has scored all five of his team’s goals at this World Cup, a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria. In doing so he moved past Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals. France’s Kylian Mbappé is just two behind.
He turned 39 on Wednesday and is managing the load after recovering from a muscle problem, so with a knockout tie ahead, fresh legs win out over extending his scoring streak.
This confirmation produced the press conference’s warmest moment: Scaloni only gave the news up when asked by Enrique Macaya Márquez, the 91-year-old journalist covering his 18th World Cup. Scaloni quipped that he’d have dodged answering it from anyone else, then gave the veteran journalist a big hug at the end.
Jordan’s brave but brittle bow
Sellami’s team have not disgraced themselves. Ali Olwan struck against Austria and Nizar Al-Rashdan gave them a second-half lead against Algeria before they were pegged back. The problem has been at the back, specifically from set-pieces: three of the five goals they’ve conceded came from corners. Winger Musa Al-Taamari of Rennes remains their most recognizable threat on the counter.
What Scaloni said
On rotation: “The idea is to give the opportunity to most of the players to play. I think they deserve it and, as long as the match situation allows it, we will do it.”
On Jordan’s shape: “Jordan tends to play with five defenders… you have to move differently if you play with a back four. We have worked on it and the team wouldn’t have any issues with modifying something.”
On pairing Lautaro and Álvarez: “If the others are running, Lautaro and Julian can play together. It’s about the team’s balance… we want balance.”
On Romero’s fitness: “Cuti is fine. He didn’t train with the group today, but he trained separately… The injury is not as serious as we thought.”
Possible starting XIs
Note: Messi confirmed on the bench. With Argentina rotating heavily, their XI is a best guess.
Argentina (4-3-3):
E. Martínez;
G. Montiel, N. Otamendi (c), M. Senesi, N. Tagliafico;
G. Lo Celso, E. Palacios, L. Paredes;
N. Paz, L. Martínez, J. Álvarez
Jordan (3-4-2-1):
Y. Abulaila;
Y. Al-Arab, E. Haddad, A. Nasib;
M. Abu Taha, R. Ayed (c), N. Al-Rawabdeh, N. Al-Rashdan;
A. Olwan, M. Al Mardi;
M. Al-Taamari
By the numbers
Opta supercomputer: Argentina win 78.1%, Draw 13.2%, Jordan win 8.7%. Argentina carry eight straight clean sheets into the game.
