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Argentina midfielders
Rodrigo De Paul and Guido Rodriguez were deployed in a double pivot at the heart of midfield in Argentina's latest game against Venezuela. The pair did a good job and Scaloni has no reason to tamper with it.
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De Paul is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the game right now and Rodriguez works well as a sweeper in front of defence. Rodriguez dispatches his duties rather silently and often slips under the radar.
Meanwhile, Rodrigo De Paul's driving runs and ability to orchestrate play will help Argentina against a depleted Brazilian midfield. Giovanni Lo Celso is expected to roam in the space ahead of the double pivot and provide service to the front three.
It was Lo Celso who set up Lautaro Martinez for Argentina's first of three goals against Venezuela in midweek. The midfield of De Paul, Rodriguez and Lo Celso seems to give Argentina some balance in the center of the pitch. Scaloni is likely to retain all three for the crucial encounter against Brazil.
Argentina forwards
Angel Di Maria has been in good form of late. The 33-year-old is an elite presence in the final third. His eye for a pass and ability to thread intricate through balls to his forwards make him a huge threat.
In his two appearances for Paris Saint-Germain in the 2021-22 season, Di Maria has a goal and an assist. It was also Di Maria who scored the winner for Argentina against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final.
Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez will lead the line for Argentina. Lautaro Martinez had a pretty good outing against Venezuela. The Inter Milan striker scored the first goal of the game for La Albiceleste and was involved in both the other goals as well.
He ran onto a brilliant pass from Lo Celso to open the scoring for Argentina. He did some good work alongside Messi to set up Argentina's second. Joaquin Correa's goal came from a rebound off Martinez's strike as well.
Messi had a rather dull outing against Venezuela by his own lofty standards. He was still involved in most of the good things that Argentina created in the attacking half. He struggled to stamp his authority on the game but it didn't matter against 10-men Venezuela.
Messi will need to be sharper and this is a great occasion for the Paris Saint-Germain forward to truly get his season underway.
