The World Cup 2022 qualifying round in South America is on the clock this week. There are only four tickets plus one via play off which will be available for ten teams in CONMENBOL zone. This is the beginning of the long way road to Qatar for Argentina and Ecuador squaring off in the midweek at La Bombonera, Buenos Aires. Considering their unconvincing form in World Cup 2018 qualifying round, both shall never let any opportunity to win slip away, including in the first match here.
Both teams’ updated news
Argentina under Lionel Scaloni has shown more determination and quality since their satisfying form in Copa America 2019. In the current squad, the former Lazio man in 2000s decided to call up Giovanni Simeone and Alejandro Gomez again after their impressive form in Serie A with Cagliari and Atalanta lately. Moreover, three debutantes have been named in the squad too. They are Granada’s Nehuen Perez, Lens’ defender Facundo Medina and Aston Villa’s goalie Emiliano Martinez, who should get a nod in the starting IX due to his terrific form lately. Unfortunately, Sergio Aguero, Angel Correa plus Spurs’ Erik Lamela are left out in the current selection.
Gustavo Alfaro named a lot of youngster in his current squad with eleven players under 23 years old. Those include the debutantes who are called up for this fixture such as Moises Caicedo, Torino’s Erick Ferigra, Angelo Preciado and Jordy Alcivar.
Possible tactic
Lionel Scaloni has deployed various formations lately, from 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2 and 4-4-2. The second one is the most probable one to be opted to accommodate Messi, Lautaro Martinez and Paulo Dybala or Lucas Ocampos, who could play wide as well. In the middle, Rodrigo de Paul and Giovanni Lo Celso could have a double swap role as the box-to-box midfielder and the anchor to support Messi, while Leandro Paredes will be staying in the deep.
His counterpart who is also from the same home soil, Gustavo Alfaro, might attempt to deploy 4-5-1 to win the ball in the midfield as well as moving downward at the defence line to limit the space of their contender’s forward or midfielders to create spaces. Enner Valencia will be the only frontman left upfront focusing on scoring.
Apart from Messi, Inter man Lautaro Martinez is the key figure upfront. He has bagged nine goals in seventeen caps. Some other notable names in the possible starting IX are Sevilla winger Lucas Ocampos who can operate on both sides, the versatile Giovanni Lo Celso and the left back Nicolas Tagliafico.
Ecuador’s key men are surely Enner Valencia, who currently plays for Fenerbahce, and Villareal’s new signing, Pervis Estupinan. Some other potential names with vital roles in the future are Sporting Lisbon’s Gonzalo Plata, Augsburg’s Carlos Gruezo and Famalicao’s striker Leonardo Campana.
Argentina vs Ecuador Possible result
Playing at home should be an advantage for Messi and Co to seal a win for their 2022 campaign. The only possible obstacle which could stumble Albiceleste is the Argentinean Ecuador boss’s experience in his home soil. Yet, once Lionel Scaloni finds the way to break the deadlock, a three point should be on their hand.
