Argentina v Algeria: Predicted XI, Scoreline & The Shirt
June 15, Kansas City, defending champions vs the desert foxes. Our Argentina XI, our predicted score, the shirt to wear at the watch party.
The defending champions arrive in Kansas City on June 15 with a target on their back the size of a billboard and a squad that doesn't seem to care.
Argentina v Algeria. Group J opener. 9pm ET. This is what defending the world title looks like.
Our score: Argentina 3-1 Algeria. Comfortable. Mastantuono gets on the scoresheet. Messi is rested if the game is done by 70 minutes.
Champions Come to Kansas City
No team has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Argentina are chasing history. Scaloni has had four more years to refine a squad that already won the tournament, won Copa America twice, and won the Finalissima. They are ranked second in the world. They are among the tournament favourites at +600.
And in their first game, they get Algeria.
This is not a gift in the way Panama would be a gift for England. Algeria are not a heavy metal side that crumbles under pressure. They have been here before. They beat West Germany at the 1982 World Cup in Spain — one of the great shocks in tournament history. They have counter-attacking quality and nothing to lose.
But Argentina are Argentina.
Argentina's XI
Scaloni runs a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 depending on the opposition. Against Algeria, expect a front three of Messi, Lautaro Martínez, and Julián Álvarez — or one of those dropping into a ten role.
The midfield is the engine. Enzo Fernández. Mac Allister. De Paul. These three have played together enough times to run in their sleep.
At the back, Lisandro Martínez — if fit — partners one of Romero or Pezzella. Molina at right back. Tagliafico or Acuña left.
Dibu Martínez in goal. The most theatrical goalkeeper in world football. Kansas City will find out.
And then there is Franco Mastantuono. Seventeen years old. Real Madrid. The next one. Scaloni has been careful about overloading him with pressure, but if there is a game to give him minutes and confidence, a group opener where Argentina should control the tempo is the one.
**Bold take: M