Four of the upcoming Argentina matches will serve as tune-ups for the Copa America 2024. In fact, Lionel Messi, the star of Inter Miami, will have four more opportunities to entertain fans.



The most exciting aspect is that all four matches will take place in the United States. The US will be both participating as a guest and hosting the Copa America for the second time. The previous time was in 2016 for the 100th anniversary.



In their first match of the tournament on June 20, Messi and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a> will face either Trinidad &amp; Tobago or Canada.



Due to the controversy surrounding Lionel Messi’s absence from a Miami match in Hong Kong, the Chinese refused to host Argentina for their pre-tournament-friendly games. They therefore declared that their friendly matches against Nigeria and Ivory Coast would <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/usa-could-host-cancelled-argentina-friendlies-20240211-WST-489005.html">not be taking place there</a>.



Nonetheless, the US <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/argentina-tickets-for-games-in-usa-schedule-dates-host-cities-20240227-WST-491879.html">welcomed Lionel Scaloni’s national team</a> with warm arms. Thus, La La Abiceleste have already set two days in March for a brief trip, from March 22 to March 26.



<h2>Four key players missing</h2>



Argentina take on El Salvador at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Field. This is followed by a match against Nigeria at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum four days later. For the two friendlies, Scaloni has named his squad, which includes a number of young players.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="799" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240302_WST_492703_imago1041599279h-1200x799_cc13c2d1.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=799" alt="" class="wp-image-492714" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/imago1041599279h-1200x799.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/imago1041599279h-300x200.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/imago1041599279h-768x511.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/imago1041599279h-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/03/imago1041599279h-2048x1364.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Valentin Barco has been named as part of the Argentina squad after starting life with Brighton confidently</figcaption></figure>



Valentín Barco, a 19-year-old midfielder and left defender, sprang as one of the greatest shocks on Friday for coach Lionel Scaloni’s side. This is because he made an immediate impression upon joining Brighton in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/watch-premier-league-on-us-tv-internet/">Premier League</a> less than two months ago.



The world champions included three more youngsters, all of whom play in attack: Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United, Facundo Buonanotte of Brighton, and Valentin Carboni of Monza.



Among the 26 players mentioned is Lionel Messi, who got off to a great start with Inter Miami in the new <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-mls-on-us-tv-and-internet/">MLS</a> season. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among the forwards.



The Argentina squad will be without four key players for its March fixtures. They left out Gonzalo Montiel, the man who scored the penalty that gave Argentina the World Cup. Lisandro Martinez will miss the call after suffering a knee injury.



Marcos Acuna is also not going as he hurt his hip. The squad does not feature Guido Rodriguez, with an ankle injury keeping him out since December.



<h2>Argentina team for March friendlies</h2>



Lionel Scaloni has selected the <a href="https://twitter.com/AFASeleccionEN/status/1763608534451724668" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following players</a>:



Goalkeepers: Franco Armani (River Plate) Walter Benítez (PSV) Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa)



Defenders: German Pezzella (Real Betis) Nehuen Perez (Udinese) Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica) Cristian Romero (Tottenham) Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon) Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid) Valentín Barco (Brighton)



Midfielders: Ezequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen) Rodrigo De Paul (Atletico Madrid) Leandro Paredes (Roma) Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool) Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea) Giovani Lo Celso (Tottenham)



Forwards: Nicolas Gonzalez (Fiorentina) Alejandro Garnacho (Manchester United) Facundo Buonanotte (Brighton) Valentín Carboni (Monza) Angel Di Maria (Benfica) Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) Lautaro Martinez (Inter) Paulo Dybala (Roma)



Photo credits: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire : IMAGO / PA Images

Argentina without 4 players for March games, but include Messi

Argentina will head into their upcoming international friendlies with Lionel Messi as part of Lionel Scaloni's squad

Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni has hinted that he may step down after five years at the helm. The World Cup-winning coach made the bizarre claims after a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/brazil-vs-argentina-live-how-to-watch-latest-scores-updates-20231122-WST-471687.html">contentious 1-0 victory</a> against rivals Brazil on Tuesday night. Brazilian police officers were seen attacking Argentine fans before the start of the match.



“<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentina</a> needs a coach who has all the energy possible and who is well,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/nov/22/argentina-manager-lionel-scaloni-may-quit-win-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stated</a> Scaloni following the win. “I need to stop the ball and start thinking. I have a lot of things to think about during this time.”



“These players have given a lot to the coaching staff, and I need to think a lot about what I’m going to do. It’s not goodbye or anything, but I need to think because the bar is very high and it’s complicated to keep going and it’s complicated to keep winning.”



“These guys are making it difficult, so I need to think about it for a while,” the coach continued while not taking any questions from the media. “I will talk to the FA president and the players afterwards.”



<h2>Lionel Scaloni led Argentina to two major trophies</h2>



Scaloni has been highly successful since he took over the role in 2018. He initially picked up his first major title with La Albiceleste three years later. Argentina collected the 2021 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/copa-america-tv-schedule/">Copa America</a> trophy in Brazil. It was their first South American championship since 1993. 



Argentina, led by Scaloni, then followed up the success by winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Despite shockingly losing their opening match of the tournament against Saudi Arabia, Argentina fought back to win the competition by not losing another game the rest of the way to the final.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20231122_WST_472070_Scaloni-sitting-1200x675.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-472132" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Scaloni-sitting-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Scaloni-sitting-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Scaloni-sitting-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/11/Scaloni-sitting.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>Tensions ran high in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday as fights broke out in the stands and there were rampant fouls on the pitch.</figcaption></figure>



Following Scaloni’s comments on Tuesday, Argentine defender Cristian Romero revealed that his coach did not make a speech in the dressing room. “We are sure and hope that Scaloni will continue,” <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/nov/22/argentina-manager-lionel-scaloni-may-quit-win-brazil" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">proclaimed</a> Romero. “Let’s see now he will have time to think. He didn’t say anything in the dressing room about it. We will try to convince him.”



<h2>Coach makes admission while team is atop CONMEBOL table</h2>



Argentina is currently atop the table of the CONMEBOL <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-qualifiers-tv-schedule/">2026 World Cup qualifying</a>. South America is widely considered as one of the toughest confederations to qualify for major tournaments. After all, other top teams such as <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/brazil-national-team-tv-schedule/">Brazil</a>, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/uruguay-national-team-tv-schedule/">Uruguay</a>, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/colombia-national-team-tv-schedule/">Colombia</a> are all fighting for spots in the upcoming World Cup as well.



While Scaloni’s group is in a solid position to advance to the World Cup in the United States, there are plenty of fixtures remaining on the schedule. Each South American team has played just six matches in the qualification phase so far. This means that these teams still have 12 more qualifiers to play before the final table is complete. The final round of qualifiers will not play out until September 2025.



Scaloni will also have ample time to think about his future with the team until Argentina’s next match. The South American giants do not have another game scheduled until March. They will play two friendlies in the spring, but their opponents have not yet been announced.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Argentina manager hints that he may resign from role

Lionel Scaloni has claimed that he might step down from his position of Argentina head coach following a recent victory against Brazil.

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Argentina manager hints that he may resign from role