Argentina has dominated international football since the start of the decade, but with just one win in its last four matches, Lionel Scaloni has made it clear that squad changes are expected before 2025, with priority being given to players who are in form, and not to those who contributed past glories.

“We need our players to play (for their clubs),” Scaloni said ahead of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Peru.

“From now on we need all our players to play and from there we will make the decision (on selection) depending on the football level of each player. It is important that players have continuity with their clubs,” Scaloni added . .

Scaloni has certainly mentioned that Lionel Messi is in a different place. “The case of Leo (Messi) is very different. He plays all the time, sometimes it would be better if he rested more.”

Scaloni’s wishes will come true as Messi faces a long rest. The match against Peru will be his last until February 2025, when the new MLS season begins.

The 46-year-old manager said the lack of change in the squad lately is due to the fact that the last six games of the year were approaching the end of the 2024 Copa América, so he decided to stick with the basics of players who won Argentina a second. consecutive continental championship.

However, La Albiceleste have not been as dominant in the recent CONMEBOL qualifiers. After starting the qualifying process with six wins in seven matches, Scaloni’s side have since suffered two defeats, one win and one draw.

Argentina has had a core group of players since Scaloni’s first major tournament, the 2019 Copa America. That core group guided Argentina to the 2021 and 2024 Copa America championships and World Cup glory in 2022. However, players from that core are starting to see fewer and fewer minutes. club level.

Leandro Paredes has played nine minutes in all competitions for Roma since the October international break. Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty at the 2022 World Cup but has made just three appearances as a substitute in La Liga for Sevilla this season. Rodrigo De Paul and Enzo Fernández have lost their starting roles at their clubs in recent weeks.

There is no doubt that this is already a golden generation in Argentine football. But Scaloni seems aware that using the previous accolades of this core group as a reason for their selection would be a mistake, similar to that of Spain at the 2014 World Cup.

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