With Lionel Messi recently celebrating his 37th birthday, Argentina has the chance to double the delight. Up next in the Copa is Argentina vs Chile, where a win could seal a knockout place for Scaloni’s side. But, the 2-0 win over Canada showed that La Albiceleste is not the finished article yet, with the side struggling to stamp authority. Can Messi and Co. put the wrong to right against Chile?
Chile on the other hand are coming off a goalless draw against Peru in their opener. The Chileans seemed to be on a goalscoring spree in the pre-tournament friendlies. Yet, the worrying trend is that they have now failed to score a goal in their last 3 Copa America encounters. Can the attack finally deliver against the resolute Argentina defense? Before we dive into the team lineups, let us look at the latest team news.
Team and Injury news
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For Argentina, the big relief is regarding the availability of Lionel Messi. The 8-time Ballon d’Or had an injury scare against Canada after a rough tackle from Bombito. But it seems the soccer icon is fit to face Chile. The other big question is regarding the role of Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez. The duo were on the bench in the previous game while Martinez came on and scored. Will Scaloni give them a call-up to the XI?
For Chile, Diego Valdes might miss out after getting substituted at halftime against Peru with a knock. Also, the likes of Victor Davila, Alexis Sanchez and Erick Pulgar received a yellow card in the last game. Hence, it will be interesting to see if coach Ricardo Gareca fields the trio who are at risk of a suspension.
Argentina vs Chile: Predicted Lineups
Argentina expected starting XI (4-4-2)
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Li. Martinez, Acuna; Di Maria, Lo Celso, De Paul, Mac Allister; Alvarez, Messi
Chile expected starting XI (4-2-3-1)
Bravo; Isla, Diaz, Lichnovsky, Suazo; Pulgar, Echeverria ; Davila, Sanchez, Diaz; Vargas
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H2H Stats
Historically, this fixture has been kind to the men in blue. There have been 17 Argentina vs Chila encounters to date with the 3-time World Cup Champions emerging victorious 8 times. On the other hand, Chile has won just once!
Argentina vs Chile: When and where to watch
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The game kicks off at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday, June 26 at 2:00 am (GMT). In the US, supporters can watch the English telecast via Fox Sports while the Spanish version will be available on TUDN. You can also stream the match via the Fubo TV app.
What is your prediction for Argentina vs Chile? Let us know in the comments below.