The call-up for the Argentine national team for the upcoming FIFA date has left out six players who participated in the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Scaloni did not include Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Senesi, Nahuel Molina, Nicolás Otamendi, Leandro Paredes, and Thiago Almada for the three friendlies scheduled between the end of September and early October.
Nicolás Otamendi, who announced his retirement from the national team, is the only one absent due to personal decision. The other absent players are mainly due to suspensions arising from incidents during the World Cup final. FIFA suspended Leandro Paredes for ten matches, Nahuel Molina for seven, and Thiago Almada for one. Scaloni’s assistant, Roberto Fabián Ayala, was also suspended for three matches.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that the suspensions will be served in A class friendlies or official matches, whichever comes first, so Almada and Ayala will serve their suspensions during this window. Despite not having any suspensions, the inclusion of Marcos Senesi in the list raises questions about whether Scaloni left him out for tactical decisions.
Gonzalo Montiel, despite not carrying any suspensions, is in a potentially changing situation. He currently plays for River Plate, whose call-ups have not yet been announced. AFA plans to unveil this list on Friday, which could open the door for the former Sevilla player to be called up.
The call-up also includes young talents looking for a spot in the future of the national team, including Agustín Giay, Franco Mastantuono, Matías Soulé, Gianluca Prestianni, and Santiago Castro. Román Vega, currently at Zenit, was also called up, representing a renewal in the right-back position, while Juan Foyth and Leonardo Balerdi, who missed the last World Cup due to injuries, have been included in the list.
The AFA statement also mentioned Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, who have only been called up for the friendly on October 6 against Benin, the same match in which Lionel Messi will bid farewell to the national team. AFA has not provided further details on the nature of this partial call-up.
Players without suspensions were called up without restrictions, including Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, and Lautaro Martínez. The Argentine national team will play three matches in this FIFA date, starting on September 30 against Bolivia in Córdoba, followed by two matches at River Plate’s Monumental stadium against Burkina Faso and Benin.
FIFA has implemented a 50% capacity restriction for the upcoming matches of the Albiceleste due to disciplinary sanctions. However, negotiations are ongoing for Messi’s farewell match against Benin to be held with full capacity.
The FIFA international calendar sets another window for friendlies between November 9 and 17, 2023, during which the Argentine national team can play up to two matches.
Source: www.infobae.com
