Argentina’s national team faces a do-or-die match for a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals this Tuesday against Egypt, and Lionel Scaloni has decided to shake up the lineup. After the lackluster collective performance against Cape Verde, the coach confirmed a major tactical change: Leandro Paredes returns to the starting midfield.
“Paredes is a fundamental player. With him on the pitch, the team rotates differently,” Scaloni said on the eve of the match. The coach made it clear that the Roma midfielder is his natural “number 5” and that his injury absence at the start of the tournament forced him to try other options. Now recovered, the former Boca player reclaims his spot.
The one sacrificed would be Alexis Mac Allister, who performed well as a central midfielder in previous matches. However, Scaloni emphasized that Paredes provides a different balance to ball circulation: “When the ball goes through him, it distributes well. We find players at other heights with a much more vertical pass.”
With this change, Argentina’s starting eleven would be: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cuti Romero, Lisandro Martínez, and Tagliafico; Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernández; Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez. A luxury midfield aiming to impose a possession style and clean buildup from the back.
The opponent, Egypt, arrives at this clash after eliminating Australia on penalties following a grueling 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. The African side also carries significant physical fatigue, but Scaloni is not taking them lightly: “They are a tough team that knows how to suffer. We have to stay focused for 90 minutes.”
The match will be played on Tuesday, July 7 at 1:00 PM (Argentina time) at the Atlanta stadium. It will be the first encounter between the two national teams in a World Cup, although they have faced each other twice in history: a 6-0 in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games and a 2-0 in a friendly in 2008, with goals from Sergio Agüero and Nicolás Burdisso.
The pressure is on the Albiceleste. Not only for the result, but for the need to improve performance going forward. Scaloni knows this and that’s why he moved the pieces. With Paredes back, Argentina seeks to regain solidity in midfield and make a statement in the World Cup.
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Para mí, al fin vuelve Paredes, el único que entiende la garra. Mac Allister es un muñeco, no da el peso. Esto huele a que los zurdos de Europa nos chorean el puesto. Yo creo que así pasamos por arriba a los egipcios. ¡Vamos Argentina carajo!
Che, para mí Paredes es un muerto que no corre ni para el bondi, y encima sacan a Mac Allister que transpira la camiseta. Esto huele a amiguismo de Scaloni, se pega un tiro en el pie. Vamos a perder contra Egipto por su culpa, me parece un desastre.