World champions Argentina face El Salvador in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field for an international friendly on Friday evening.
The two nations meet for the first time since March 2015 when La Albiceleste claimed a 2-0 friendly victory, thanks to a second-half own goal and a late strike from Federico Mancuello.
Match preview
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After putting together an impressive 14-game winning run, which began during their triumphant 2022 World Cup campaign, Argentina were beaten 2-0 at home to Uruguay in last November's international break.
However, La Albiceleste returned to winning ways just five days later and created history, as they secured a slender 1-0 victory against rivals Brazil to become the first-ever nation to inflict a home defeat on the Selecao in World Cup qualifying.
Argentina sit pretty at the top of the CONMEBOL standings for 2026 World Cup qualifying, and with only three months remaining until they begin the defence of their Copa America crown, manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that he will remain in charge of the national team after admitting at the end of 2023 that he was considering resigning.
The No.1 ranked nation in the FIFA rankings are now gearing up for two favourable-looking friendlies in the United States in preparation for this summer's Copa America, with Saturday's contest against El Salvador followed by a meeting with Costa Rica three days later.
Argentina will be confident of making a winning start to 2024, considering that they have won 13 and drawn three of their last 16 friendlies since March 2019, while they have also won their previous two meetings with El Salvador by a 2-0 scoreline.
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In stark contrast to Argentina, El Salvador are looking to end a miserable 19-game winless run across all competitions that includes nine draws and 10 defeats.
La Selecta, who last celebrated victory in June 2022 when they beat Grenada 3-1, finished rock bottom of their CONCACAF Nations League group - and were subsequently relegated - and they also failed to advance from the group stage at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2023.
Spanish coach David Doniga succeeded Ruben de la Barrera in the El Salvador hotseat in January, and the 42-year-old is keen to turn the nation's fortunes around before they prepare for the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers this summer.
Ranked 81st in the world by FIFA, El Salvador must find a way to rediscover their form in front of goal, as they have failed to score in four of their last six internationals, drawing a blank in their most recent friendly fixtures earlier this year against Inter Miami (0-0 draw) and Costa Rica (2-0 defeat).
Team News
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Argentina icon Lionel Messi is ruled out with a "minor hamstring injury", while Paulo Dybala and Exequiel Palacios are also sidelined with thigh problems.
Lisandro Martinez has been called up to the senior squad even though he is nursing a knee injury, but Manchester United have confirmed that the centre-back will not feature in either of Argentina's friendlies this month and will instead "continue the final steps in his rehabilitation".
Valentin Barco, Nicolas Valentini and Valentin Carboni are three uncapped players who will be hoping to make their debut, while in-form Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho, who has just three caps to his name, is in contention to start in attack in the absence of both Messi and Dybala.
As for El Salvador, Doniga is lacking experience in the defensive department, with none of the seven defenders selected boasting more than four senior caps.
Twenty-six-year-old defender German Fuentes – who plies his trade with Irish second-tier club Athlone Town – is one of three uncapped players along with attacking duo Javier Ferman and Nathan Ordaz who are hoping to make their first international appearance.
Midfield is where the experience predominantly lies for El Salvador, with 90-cap Darwin Ceren and 62-cap Narciso Orellana among those pushing to start, while striker Nelson Bonilla – who has 19 international goals to his name – is set to start up front.
Argentina possible starting lineup:
E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; Mac Allister, Fernandez, De Paul; Di Maria, L. Martinez, Garnacho
El Salvador possible starting lineup:
Gonzalez; Claval, Sibrian, Climaco, M. Cruz, J. Cruz; Orellana, Ceren, Henriquez; B. Gil, Bonilla
We say: Argentina 4-0 El Salvador
Pulling off an almighty upset against a formidable Argentina side that have only lost two of their last 53 internationals since July 2019 will be a tall order for El Salvador. Indeed, it is difficult to look beyond a comfortable victory for the South Americans, even without the presence of star man Messi.
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Oliver Thomas
