As the winner of its group in this year’s World Cup and the current world soccer champion, Argentina will play its final group stage match (5:00 a.m., Greece time) against already-eliminated Jordan.
Lionel Scaloni has announced that Lionel Messi, the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with 18 goals and 5 in this year’s tournament, will be on the bench for the third and final group stage match.
The “Albiceleste” will rely on the “hunger” of Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez, who are eager to score at the highest level of soccer, while the Jordanians have already been eliminated from the tournament but are set to bow out with their heads held high.
They scored in both of their previous matches, in which they lost 3-1 to Austria and 2-1 to Algeria, and they want to find the back of the net in their farewell match at this year’s tournament. Defensively, however, their approach won’t change, and the back three—supported by the fullbacks—will remain in place as they go head-to-head with the stars of the “Albiceleste.”
Probable starting lineups
Jordan: Abulaila, Al-Arab, Nasib, Abu Dahab, Haddan, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabeh, Abu Taha, Al-Tamari, Oluan, Al-Mardi
Argentina: Martínez, Montiel, Otamendi, Martínez, Tagliafico, De Paul, Paredes, Enzo, Almada, Álvarez, Lautaro
*photo source: AP