Argentina fine-tune knockout preparations in Kansas City heat

Argentina resumed training in Kansas City on Monday as Lionel Scaloni's side completed their preparations for Friday's last-16 meeting with Cape Verde in Miami.

The reigning world champions arrived at the knockout rounds with a perfect group-stage record, having beaten Algeria, Austria and Jordan. Lionel Messi heads into the latter stages as the tournament's leading scorer with six goals, level with France's Kylian Mbappé.

Scaloni, who will take charge of Argentina for the 100th time on Friday, indicated he intends to field his strongest available side, although several selection questions remain.

Training update

Argentina trained in scorching conditions in Kansas City, with the temperature a talking point throughout the group phase. Two more sessions are scheduled before the squad flies to Miami, where Messi has been based since joining Inter Miami in 2023.

Scaloni has previously said the heat and mandatory hydration breaks are levelling the playing field at this expanded 48-team tournament. "What we see in this World Cup is that there is no such thing as an easy game," he said, pointing to the three-minute drinks breaks in each half that he likened to dividing matches into "four quarters."

"The group phase has always been difficult to everyone, and the conditions, the heat and the match stops constantly," he said. "So that means that that might help the team that is theoretically weaker because they have time to recover."

Midfielder Enzo Fernández echoed that view, saying the tournament in North America is more competitive than the 2022 edition in Qatar. "I believe that the play is becoming more and more level," he said.

Selection decisions

Scaloni received encouraging news on the fitness of centre-back Cristian Romero, who missed the win over Jordan after suffering a knock to his right knee. The Tottenham Hotspur defender trained with the rest of the squad in the opening part of Monday's session.

The most prominent question mark concerns the identity of Argentina's centre-forward. Lautaro Martínez started all three group-stage matches, while Julián Álvarez has yet to show his best form in North America, finishing the group stage without a goal or an assist across his appearances against Algeria, Austria and Jordan.

Álvarez arrived at the tournament having spent a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury. Four years ago he finished as the third-highest scorer at the 2022 World Cup, with four goals in five starts, after joining Manchester City from River Plate.

In the final group game against Jordan, Scaloni fielded both strikers together, with Martínez finally ending his own World Cup scoring drought by converting a penalty — his first goal in nine World Cup appearances.

"We have no doubts about either Lautaro or Julián," Scaloni said after that match. "Lautaro has been outstanding, regardless of whether he scores or not. If they score, even better for the team and for them."

The coach received positive news on the fitness front when Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero, who missed the Jordan match with a knock to his right knee, trained with the squad during the open portion of Monday's session.

Key claims

  • Argentina have won all three group-stage matches, beating Algeria 3-0, Austria and Jordan.
  • Lionel Messi is the tournament's joint leading scorer with six goals.
  • Lautaro Martínez started all three group games, while Julián Álvarez made his only start against Jordan and came off the bench in the other two.
  • Álvarez finished the group stage without a goal or an assist, having arrived after a month out with an ankle injury.
  • Martínez ended his World Cup goal drought with a penalty against Jordan, his first goal in nine World Cup appearances.
  • Scaloni said after the Jordan match: "Lautaro has been outstanding, whether he scores or not. If they score, even better for the team."
  • Defender Cristian Romero missed the win over Jordan with a knock to his right knee but trained with the squad on Monday.

The striker question

The most significant selection debate surrounds the identity of Argentina's centre-forward. Lautaro Martínez started all three group games, while Julián Álvarez has yet to open his account in North America, playing 15 minutes across the group stage without a goal or assist.

Álvarez, who scored four goals at the 2022 World Cup shortly after joining Manchester City, arrived at this tournament having missed a month with an ankle injury. In the group-stage win over Jordan, Scaloni fielded both forwards together, and it was Martínez who emerged with the greater reward, converting a penalty to end a personal drought that had stretched back nine international appearances.

"We have no doubts about either of them," Scaloni said after that match. "Lautaro has been outstanding, whether he scores or not. If they score, even better for the team."

Key claims

  • Argentina won all three of their group-stage matches, with a 3-0 victory over Algeria in the opener.
  • Lionel Messi has scored six goals in the tournament so far, putting him joint top of the scoring charts.
  • Lautaro Martínez started all three group games in attack, while Julián Álvarez made his only start against Jordan and has not scored in the tournament.
  • Defender Cristian Romero missed the Jordan match with a knock to his right knee but trained with the squad on Monday.
  • Cape Verde are the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup.

Squad and selection

With a perfect group-stage record in hand, Scaloni must decide whether to keep faith with Lautaro Martínez or hand Julián Álvarez a starting role against Cape Verde. The Inter captain ended a long international wait when he converted a penalty against Jordan — his first goal for Argentina in nine appearances at World Cups.

Álvarez, who scored four times at the 2022 tournament in Qatar shortly after joining Manchester City, has yet to find the net in North America. He started the Jordan match alongside Martínez, with Messi beginning on the bench.

Scaloni offered little away after that game. "We have no doubts about either Lautaro or Julián," he said. "Lautaro has been outstanding, regardless of whether he scores or not. If they score, even better, but we are very happy with both."

The coach has also been monitoring Cristian Romero, who was absent from the Jordan win with a knock. The Tottenham Hotspur defender returned to training with the squad on Monday.

Argentina will face Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to reach the knockout stages, at 3pm local time on Friday in Miami.