Scaloni awaits decision on Balerdi replacement, confirms Paredes fit for World Cup

Argentina concluded their 2026 World Cup preparations with a decisive 3-0 victory over Iceland in their final friendly match. Coach Lionel Scaloni expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, noting that the match allowed him to test various player combinations and resolve lingering doubts about the squad.

“

I said tomorrow. Maybe I'll take one more day. We have an idea, today's test satisfied me and cleared up many doubts about what the team might need, and that helped me make the decision.

Scaloni addressed the immediate concern of replacing injured defender Leonardo Balerdi, who suffered a muscle tear. While he did not name the replacement, he stated that he has two options in mind and will take an extra day to finalize his decision. "I said tomorrow. Maybe I'll take one more day. We have an idea, today's test satisfied me and cleared up many doubts about what the team might need, and that helped me make the decision," Scaloni explained.

Despite arriving with an injury, Leandro Paredes is confirmed to be fit and will remain with the squad. Scaloni also provided an update on Nico Paz, who recently recovered from a knee injury. Paz started the match and impressed the coach with his performance, showing he is back to his usual form.

“

He's fine, we won't rush him and he'll stay with us.

The coach was particularly pleased with the midfield trio of Exequiel Palacios, Valentín Barco, and Giovani Lo Celso, highlighting their versatility and contribution. Palacios offers a strong defensive midfield presence, while Barco's ability to play multiple midfield positions provides valuable tactical flexibility. The team's strong showing has left Scaloni optimistic as they head into the World Cup.

“

I saw him well, I saw him loose. We already saw him eager to join the group, we had planned for him not to play the first game because he might have already been available, but today he was fine, he was the player who plays every game for Como and we are happy because he had a good game.