27/06/2026 21:23 - Deportes
Lionel Scaloni will make a decision that connects the present with the birth of the golden era of Argentine football. The manager will repeat the midfield trio of Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, and Giovani Lo Celso—the same three midfielders he used in his debut as Argentina's head coach nearly eight years ago.
On September 8, 2018, Argentina defeated Guatemala 3-0 in Los Angeles. That night, Scaloni was managing his first match as interim coach following the tumultuous Russia 2018 World Cup and Jorge Sampaoli's departure. Lo Celso even scored one of the goals that evening. None of the three was an established star at the time; over the years, they became pillars of a cycle that amassed the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Gerónimo Rulli; Renzo Saravia, Germán Pezzella, Ramiro Funes Mori, Nicolás Tagliafico; Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Cristian Pavón; Gonzalo Martínez and Giovanni Simeone.
Emiliano Martínez; Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Exequiel Palacios, Leandro Paredes, Giovani Lo Celso; Nico Paz; Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
For Giovani Lo Celso, this match carries a personal dimension beyond tactics. The Rosario-born midfielder will play his first World Cup match after two consecutive frustrations that marked his career.
He was included in the squad but played zero minutes under manager Jorge Sampaoli.
A right biceps femoris tear ruled him out of the squad when he was an undisputed starter.
"The saddest day as a player was when they told me I couldn't go to the Qatar World Cup," Lo Celso previously stated. He even traveled to Doha to support the team from the stands and came down to the Lusail Stadium pitch to celebrate qualification for the final. This Saturday, he will finally live his own World Cup dream.
Lionel Messi will not start for the first time in a World Cup since the quarterfinals of Germany 2006, when Argentina fell to the hosts in a penalty shootout. This tactical decision interrupts the longest streak of consecutive starts by a player in World Cup history.
The captain had reached 24 consecutive starts in the opener against Algeria, surpassing the record of 23 matches held by Paolo Maldini (Italy, between 1990 and 2002). Messi equaled that mark in the 2022 Qatar final against France and surpassed it in this tournament's first match.
Scaloni explained the decision in the press conference: "Most likely he'll come on in the second half. We talked and agreed it was best this way, but obviously it's also good for him to stay in competitive rhythm." Messi turned 39 years old on June 24 and is the all-time World Cup top scorer with 18 goals.
Argentina arrives with qualification to the Round of 16 already secured, following victories against Algeria and Austria, with first place in the group guaranteed with 6 points and a +5 goal difference. Their opponent in the Round of 16 will be Cape Verde, second in Group H, on Friday, July 3 at 7:00 PM at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Jordan, meanwhile, is already eliminated after losing their first two Group J matches with zero points. This marks their first and only World Cup appearance in the Arab nation's history.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date and Time | Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 11:00 PM (Argentina time) |
| Stadium | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas (Dallas) |
| Referee | István Kovács (Romania) |
| Broadcast | DGO, Disney+, Telefe, TV Pública, TyC Sports |
Beyond the historical component, the midfield selection responds to an idea Scaloni never abandoned: the pursuit of technical quality, ball circulation, and protagonism through associative play. Palacios, Paredes, and Lo Celso represent that conception, regardless of whether none currently holds an undisputed starting role in the lineup.
The three midfielders enjoy the manager's full confidence, and each, in different roles, remained relevant throughout a cycle that has already accumulated three international titles. This Saturday, the debut midfield will take the pitch again, eight years later, in a match that marks the closure of a perfect group stage for Argentina.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
