Argentina announced their latest national team squad on Wednesday. According to Argentine media reports, in this squad seen as a "rehearsal" before the World Cup, Lionel Scaloni not only sent signals through his call-ups but also issued a strong warning through the list of omissions.
With just 89 days remaining until Argentina's opening World Cup match, Scaloni has deliberately intensified internal competition within the team while maintaining the stability of the core squad framework. Players who were once considered "certain to be selected"—the most typical example being Franco Mastantuono—were surprisingly left out; while some recovering key stars (such as Lautaro Martínez, Lisandro Martínez, and Giovani Lo Celso) were granted rest permission, this by no means guarantees their World Cup places are secured.
Of the final 26-man squad traveling to the World Cup, approximately 18 spots have been basically locked in. Most of these players are members of the defending champions, and they deserve their selection based on their consistently high-level performances.
However, the remaining 8 places will spark fierce competition. Scaloni's attitude is clear: no position will be given away for free.
Goalkeeper Position
Gerónimo Rulli's return is no accident—he will directly compete head-to-head with Franco Cambeses for the starting position.
Center-Back Position
Germán Pezzella's starting position is temporarily secure, young player Tomás Palacios has been given an opportunity, while Facundo Medina has been temporarily excluded.
Left-Back Position
Marcos Acuña has made a strong return, but Scaloni deliberately called up Gabriel Rojas to create competitive pressure.
Midfield
Maximo Perrone's position is becoming increasingly solid, but Valentín Barco is also in consideration for this position. Exequiel Palacios has made a strong comeback after a long absence, thanks to his recent form; at the same time, Giuliano Simeone's continued outstanding performances cannot be ignored.
Nicolás Paz and José López's inclusions are no longer surprising; what truly stands out is Gianluca Prestianni. He defeated Franco Mastantuono in direct competition—and if the latter fails to regain consistent playing time at his club, his World Cup prospects will be hanging by a thread.
Many players seem to have missed out due to age, lack of playing time, injuries, or failure to seize opportunities. This list of omissions covers players at all levels: including champion squad members Paulo Dybala, Ángel Correa, and Guido Rodríguez, as well as injury-plagued players like Marcos Acuña, Valentín Carboni, and the young player who fell behind likes Alejandro Garnacho, Santiago Castellanos, and Alejo Véliz.
Of course, in Scaloni's playbook, there is always room for "surprises." But for these aforementioned players, the last train to the World Cup is slowly departing.
