The Argentina national team resumed training at the Ezeiza complex on Monday, focusing on preparation for a triple FIFA friendly window that begins on September 30 against Bolivia. Head coach Lionel Scaloni's technical staff is already working with the called-up squad, which includes Lionel Messi, though the captain has not yet joined the sessions. Scaloni confirmed the captain will join the group in the coming days.
The Monday session started at 16:00 local time, with the first 30 minutes open to accredited press. On Tuesday, Scaloni held a press conference at 14:15 before another training session that began at 15:30. The manager outlined the focus of their work. The technical staff is working on different aspects to arrive in the best way for the series of friendlies, Scaloni said. He added that the goal is to "maintain the competitive dynamic" and evaluate players, especially the younger ones, within the senior squad environment.
The match schedule
The first fixture will be against Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba. The team will then travel to Buenos Aires to face Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6, both at the Estadio Monumental. The latter match has been designated as Lionel Messi's farewell appearance for Argentina. The forward arrives in fine individual form, having been the top scorer this cycle with 8 goals in 8 appearances this season.
Recent history heavily favors Argentina, who thrashed Bolivia 6-0 in their last meeting in October 2024. This block of friendlies serves as preparation for the team, which tops its World Cup qualifying group with a perfect 9 points from three games.
Scaloni's squad call-ups
In addition to established stars like Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, Scaloni has called up several younger players for this window. The extended list includes names such as Valentín Barco, Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni and Giuliano Simeone, who are looking to gain experience within the senior squad environment. The manager noted the call-ups were made without considering players with physical discomforts, though no significant absences are reported. The team will travel to Córdoba after training in Ezeiza to face the first friendly of an unusual triple date. Scaloni also mentioned these matches are a key opportunity to observe player performance for future call-ups.
The original report is at Radio Mitre
