Argentina may rest Messi against Jordan, focus on knockout stage clash

Argentina may rest Messi against Jordan, focus on knockout stage clash


Argentina have already secured top spot in Group J with six points from two matches. They will face Jordan in their final group match at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on Sunday, June 27, at 8:00 am Bangladesh time.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that captain Lionel Messi will start the match on the bench, with Nico Paz or Julian Alvarez likely to replace him . The match is a formality for Argentina, who will use it to test their squad depth.

The defending champions have been in imperious form, winning both their group matches convincingly. They opened their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Algeria, where Messi scored a hat-trick to break Miroslav Klose's World Cup goal record . They followed that with a 2-0 win over Austria, with Messi scoring twice to take his tournament tally to five goals .

Argentina are currently on a national-best run of eight World Cup games unbeaten under Scaloni . They have won nine consecutive matches across all competitions, keeping clean sheets in eight of them and conceding just one goal in that period .

Jordan, already been eliminated from the tournament, making their World Cup debut, have shown spirit but have been unable to secure any points. They lost 3-1 to Austria in their opener, with Ali Olwan scoring Jordan's first ever World Cup goal . They then fell 2-1 to Algeria, despite taking the lead .

Jordan are winless in their last six matches across all competitions (two draws, four losses), conceding 14 goals during that period.

Argentina will be without centre-back Cristian Romero, who picked up a knee injury in the second half against Austria . The 38-year-old Nicolas Otamendi or newcomer Marcos Senesi could partner Lisandro Martinez . Left-back Facundo Medina is also expected to be rested due to yellow card accumulation .

Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Gonzalo Montiel, Nicolas Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Nicolas Tagliafico; Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios; Thiago Almada, Nico Paz, Julian Alvarez .

Jordan: Yazeed Abulaila; Yazan Al-Arab, Abdallah Nasib, Husam Abu Dahab; Ehsan Haddad, Noor Al-Rawabdeh, Nizar Al-Rashdan, Mohannad Abu Taha; Mousa Al-Tamari, Mahmoud Al-Mardi; Ali Olwan .