The Selection of Lionel Scaloni: a puzzle in progress – 06/09/2019

Lionel Scaloni has known since he encouraged this enormous challenge: he has to evaluate and be evaluated in every corner of the world in which the Argentine team is present. It corresponds to say: after the bronze in the Copa America of Brazil, the continuity of the coach at the head of the selected much resembled an awkward certainty.

He looked for variants, he looks for variants. That they say he does and that makes the coach of the selected. "We don't play to be seen; we play to grow", said the technician in private in the context of the concentration. The man who formed in the days of José Pekerman looks excited.

Some notes on this, after 0-0 against Chile in Los Angeles:

one] He tried with Agustín Marchesín. Nothing to object. In the bank the two most important Argentine archers of the Super League remained: Franco Armani and Esteban Andrada. River and Boca. That, the Superclassic under the three suits.

two] The initial defense offered was a novelty: in the right sector, two of the Marcelo Gallardo River, Gonzalo Montiel and Lucas Martínez Quarta; on the left, the captain Nicolás Otamendi and another Nicolás, Tagliafico, already unobjectionable. It is reasonable to say: the defense, beyond the names, was neat and uncomplicated.

3] The 4-3-3, at this point, much resembles a widespread search. With nuances, but with the will to consolidate the idea.

4] At first glance, the proposal that Scaloni has been offering looks offensive. By names, by distribution, also by speech. However, everything indicates that to consolidate the idea you must provide more. In that context of the search for prominence, it was valuable what Gio Lo Celso offered, a valuable appearance from midfield.

5] The main objective of the coach is very clear: try players. Without exaggeration, but with constancy. The average age of the players who started realize the idea: 25 years.

6] It is not a definitive message, but a symptom: they are replacement times. There are many new faces. Alexis MacAllister and Adolfo Gaich – both sitting on the bench, both with 20 years – become the most recent faces of a selected in times of reconstruction.

7] A perception that grows: the selected one begins to offer inward signals. Everyone really wants to be. Whether Lionel Messi or not. Some mysticism is being generated. It's not little.

8] Paulo Dybala looks, in the shadows of Messi, as the new possibility of perfect Plan B. It is the crack that wants to appear. Can it? Will they leave it? The match against Chile invites more questions than definitive answers.

9] The zero in the arc itself, Scaloni's valuable search, was fulfilled. It looks like a detail. It is much more than that: a beginning. Perhaps on Tuesday against Mexico it will be possible to see if that defensive capacity is only occasional or a feature of a team that intends to grow from that important issue.

10] Lack of clarity in the attack space. It did not reach with an occasional center, with the desire to generate certain associations. Little associated game. It will be necessary to deepen this search.

eleven] The ball stopped, occasional appeal, also did not resolve the matter. However, Chile – always with difficulties in the air game – suffered the search for the Argentine team. Martínez Quarta, after an Alexis MacAllister center, got a reason to celebrate. He was close to the goal. Almost.