Argentina have been dealt a blow ahead of their Group J clash against Austria on Monday after right back Gonzalo Montiel was ruled out with a muscle injury, leaving coach Lionel Scaloni to reorganise his defensive options at short notice.
The injury was confirmed by journalist Martin Arevalo following medical tests carried out on Montiel on Friday morning. The results ruled the former River Plate defender out of the match entirely, dealing a significant blow to Argentina’s defensive planning ahead of what promises to be a demanding fixture against the Europeans.
Montiel had started the opening 3-0 victory over Algeria before being replaced at half-time by Nahuel Molina, who is now expected to slot in as first choice on the right flank. Scaloni must decide in the coming training sessions whether to hand Molina an uncontested starting berth or consider alternative tactical arrangements within the squad to cover the absence.
The news adds to the selection considerations already facing Scaloni, who has been weighing up whether to start Lautaro Martinez or Julian Alvarez through the middle for the Austria match. With Montiel now unavailable, the defensive picture has become equally complex, and the Argentine coaching staff will be working through their options ahead of Monday’s kick-off.
