Argentina and Paraguay are looking for their first victory

2019-06-18

Share:

Argentina and Paraguay will play most of the quarter-final qualifiers on Wednesday when they meet at the Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte on the second day of Group B.

Lionel Messi’s team lost 2-0 to Colombia on Saturday and La Albirroja were held to a 2-2 draw by Qatar on Sunday after going 2-0 up.

This will be the second presentation for both teams, who will seek their first victory at the Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte. The initial whistle will be at 21:30 local time (00:30 GMT on Thursday).

– Confidence in recovery –

It is expected some changes in the line-up of coach Lionel Scaloni, although the 41-year-old has expressed confidence in his players.

«They’re experienced players, they know very well that this is long and there are two games left» he said at the post-match press conference on Saturday, demanding peace of mind. There is still time  to correct whats wrong.

A key man for Argentina to rise from the ground may be Giovani Lo Celso.

Although his connection failed in the Albiceleste premiere, Lo Celso remains a hope if you find partners to Messi is concerned. Strengthen its entry into play perhaps would activate the star of Barcelona.

– Being more –

Paraguay, with Berizzo, missed a perfect opportunity to score three points against Qatar.

Oscar ‘Tacuara’ Cardozo of penalty and Derlis Gonzalez had overtaken the Guaraníes, who won 2-0 on the hour of the game, but the champions of Asia stole the triumph from their hands.

«We must face our rivals wanting to be more» said a self-critical ‘Toto’ Berizzo, who took charge last February with the objective of bringing back a team absent in the last two editions of the World Cup: Brazil-2014 and Russia-2018.

«We didn’t have enough time to calm down and manage the ball» said the coach.

The central defender Gustavo Gómez will be a novelty, after having fulfilled a suspension he had been dragging since the end of the previous World Cup qualifying. It is crucial to reorganize the defense.

Derlis Gonzalez, meanwhile, is presented as an offensive alternative.

Possible line-ups

Argentina: Franco Armani – Renzo Saravia, Germán Pezzela, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico – Giovani Lo Celso, Guido Rodríguez, Leandro Paredes – Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Matís Suárez. Coach: Lionel Scaloni.

Paraguay: Roberto Fernández – Bruno Valdez, Fabián Balbuena, Gustavo Gómez, Junior Alonso – Celso Ortiz, Rodrigo Rojas – Derlis González, Miguel Almirón, Cecilio Domínguez – Oscar Cardozo. Coach: Eduardo Berizzo.

Referee: Wilton Sampaio (Brasil).

Share: