Lionel Scaloni is weighing his options in attack as Argentina prepare for their second Group J fixture against Austria on 22 June, after the holders opened their World Cup campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria in Kansas City.
The question at the heart of Scaloni’s selection dilemma is a familiar one: Lautaro Martinez or Julian Alvarez? Martinez led the line from the start against Algeria before Alvarez replaced him in the 55th minute, yet Argentine media and journalists present at Thursday’s training session reported that the Atletico Madrid forward is unlikely to retain his place for the Austria match.
Alvarez had been considered the first-choice striker heading into the tournament, but Scaloni reverted to Martinez for the opener — a decision that mirrored their triumphant Qatar 2022 campaign, when the Inter Milan man began as first choice before Alvarez assumed the role from the third group game onwards.
Scaloni confirmed before the Algeria fixture that Martinez had recovered from an ankle problem and was available to play. After the match, he praised what he described as the forward’s “incredible physical work” across the 55 minutes.
“The coach is constantly making decisions — who plays, who doesn’t, who comes on, who comes off,” Scaloni told reporters. “Everyone would like to play, but building the team requires 11 players, and you look for the ideal functioning.”
Former Boca Juniors goalkeeper Carlos Navarro Montoya believes the difficulty of the selection reflects Argentina’s strength in depth.
“Blessed doubts and blessed competition,” Navarro Montoya told Reuters. “Martinez is a brilliant finisher, more of a penalty-area striker, while Julian gives you finishing and presence in the box but also contributes outside it and can be more involved. He may have greater physical intensity when pressing.”
The selection headache extends beyond the forward line. At right back, Gonzalo Montiel started against Algeria before Nahuel Molina, typically the first-choice option, was introduced at half-time. At left back, Nicolas Tagliafico remains a concern with a calf injury, having been replaced by Facundo Medina in the opener. The Argentine FA confirmed on Wednesday that Tagliafico was back working on the pitch and making positive progress.
