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Paraguay national football team
World Cup Qualifying - South America | Group Stage
Nov 14, 2024 at 11.30pm UK
Estadio Defensores del Chaco
Argentina national football team

Paraguay
vs.
Argentina

Argentina lineup vs. Paraguay: Predicted XI for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier

Martinez in, Martinez out: Argentina predicted lineup vs. Paraguay
© Imago
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Argentina could line up for their World Cup qualifying clash away to Paraguay on Thursday.

Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will have goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez available for selection again when they face Paraguay in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

The Aston Villa stopper and recent Yashin Trophy winner was suspended for the Albiceleste's matches against Venezuela and Bolivia last month after FIFA handed him a ban for inappropriate conduct.

That will see Geronimo Rulli drop to the bench, but the rest of Argentina's backline is set to remain unchanged, despite Nehuen Perez being handed a call up following fine form at Porto.

After pulling out of the previous squad, wide men Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Gonzalez are back, and Giovani Lo Celso has also recovered from the injury he suffered against Venezuela to be part of the setup here.

Lo Celso is in contention to start too, despite playing just 35 minutes of football since the injury, and Scaloni may opt to go with a more cautious approach given how tricky this away trip could be, so Lautaro Martinez may be sacrificed in attack to make way for an additional midfielder.

That would be a shame for the Inter Milan attacker, who is now finding his feet this season following something of a slow start, because after netting in the win over Bolivia, Martinez has scored three in six games for the Nerazzurri, as well as performing excellently in their recent Champions League win over Arsenal.

Despite limited game time at Chelsea, Enzo Fernandez is set to feature again in the heart of midfield, while namesake Enzo Barrenechea will hope to be handed his debut on his first call up to the senior side, most likely from the bench.

At the other end of the spectrum, Lionel Messi is set to make his 190th cap for Argentina, on the back of one his best performances for the national team last month, when the captain scored a hat trick and set up a further two in the 6-0 demolition of Bolivia.

It was a special moment for youngster Nico Paz in that success, as he set up Messi's third goal on his international debut, and the Como attacker has been rewarded with another call up following that promising cameo.

On the injury front, Paulo Dybala and Marcos Acuna remain sidelined, while Marseille winger Valentin Carboni is out for the season with an ACL tear.

Guido Rodriguez was often a regular in the Argentina squad, despite not breaking into the team much, but his slow start to life at West Ham United has seen him snubbed by Scaloni for the second consecutive month.

Argentina possible starting lineup:
E Martinez; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enzo, Lo Celso, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez

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Who will win Thursday's World Cup Qualifying - South America clash between Paraguay and Argentina?

Paraguay
Draw
Argentina
Paraguay
14.1%
Draw
9.9%
Argentina
76.1%
71
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Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez on September 5, 2024
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CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1071222
2 Colombia Colombia1054119
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay1044216
4 Ecuador flag Ecuador1044216
5 Brazil Brazil1051416
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1034313
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1040612
8 Venezuela Venezuela1025311
9 Peru flag Peru101366
10 Chile Chile101275

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1071222
2 Colombia Colombia1054119
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay1044216
4 Ecuador flag Ecuador1044216
5 Brazil Brazil1051416
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1034313
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1040612
8 Venezuela Venezuela1025311
9 Peru flag Peru101366
10 Chile Chile101275


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