Club transfers now interact with World Cup positioning, leading many players to use moves to boost international prospects, especially South Americans. Argentina aims to retain the world title on a different continent while managing signs of Lionel Messi's decline. Coach Lionel Scaloni has planned for a future not centered solely on Messi. Thiago Almada has emerged and his link-up with Julián Álvarez has become fundamental. Almada's transfer from Lyon to Atlético Madrid reunites the pair weekly. Argentina's qualification high point was March's 1-0 win at Uruguay and the 4-1 victory over Brazil.
The pundits and the public love playing the game of "Who won the transfer window?" But the answer depends on how we keep the score. This window is a little different from the others as players make their living in the club game, but with the World Cup just over nine months away, the chance of glory with their national team will also be an important factor in the minds of many.
Argentina are setting out to achieve what has never been done before: to retain their world crown on a different continent. The key to their success, of course, has been Lionel Messi. And a low point for coach Lionel Scaloni, even after giving Brazil their first-ever home defeat in World Cup qualifying, was the clear evidence of Messi's decline. The coach appeared to be flirting with resignation late in 2023, but then he got around to planning a future.
Collection
[
|
...
]