The summit in the South American World Cup qualifiers will take place without Neymar, as is well known. Now it is clear that Lionel Messi will also be missing.
For the last two stages to the World Cup ticket, Argentina must plan without its biggest star. Lionel Messi is missing from the squad of national coach Lionel Scaloni, which was published this Monday. According to media reports, the eight-time world footballer is unwell.
Right-back Gonzalo Montiel and forwards Paulo Dybala and Giovani Lo Celso will also sit out the first game, against Uruguay on Friday evening (local time), and the second, at home to Brazil next Tuesday evening (local time).
Castro and Dominguez in for the first time
Fans who bought tickets for the classic between the two best nations in South America in the hope of seeing Neymar against Messi are likely to be doubly disappointed. The latter had only just conjured up in the MLS on Sunday, helping his club Inter Miami to a 2-1 win at Atlanta United.
Santiago Castro and Benjamin Dominguez of Bologna FC are included in Argentina’s national team for the first time. Scaloni called up Exequiel Palacios of Leverkusen from the Bundesliga.
With two wins from the two games, Argentina could only theoretically be displaced from one of the first six places in the World Cup qualifiers in South America.
