MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 15:37:47| >> :600:1296053:1296053:
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Venezuela national football team
World Cup Qualifying - South America | Group Stage
Oct 10, 2024 at 10pm UK
Estadio Monumental de Maturin
Argentina national football team

Venezuela
1 - 1
Argentina

Rondon (65')
Andres Martinez (32'), Batista (89')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Otamendi (13')
Pezzella (90+4')

Argentina lineup vs. Venezuela: Predicted XI for CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier

Messi to make an international return: Argentina predicted lineup vs. Venezuela
© Imago
Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Argentina could line up for Thursday's World Cup qualifier away in Venezuela.

Lionel Messi is set to make his first Argentina appearance since the Copa America final when the Albiceleste travel to Venezuela in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying on Thursday.

An ankle injury sustained in that win over Colombia in the USA had kept Messi sidelined for just over two months, but the legendary attacker has been back in action for club side Inter Miami in recent weeks.

Messi has started four of the six Inter Miami games since making his comeback, scoring five goals, as they look big favourites to win the MLS Playoffs for the first time.

The return of Messi has been combined with some disappointing news for manager Lionel Scaloni, though, as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez will serve a two-match suspension this month.

FIFA punished the Aston Villa goalkeeper for his antics before the game with Chile and after their defeat to Colombia last month, claiming he was guilty of "violating principles of fair play".

Martinez's overzealous celebration with the Copa America trophy before the game with Chile, and shoving a camera after the Colombia loss are what resulted in the sanctions.

Exequiel Palacios is back in the Argentina squad after only making his first start of the season at the weekend with Bayer Leverkusen, but Scaloni has been hit with multiple injury setbacks.

Paulo Dybala, who took over Messi's number 10 shirt for last month's fixtures, has been forced to withdraw, along with fellow Serie A attacker Nicolas Gonzalez.

Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho is also out, and has been replaced by Leicester City loanee Facundo Buonanotte, while uncapped Julio Soler has replaced Marcos Acuna.

Underwhelming performances at West Ham United have seen Guido Rodriguez lose his place in the squad, while uncapped trio Giuliano Simeone, Matias Soule and Ezequiel Fernandez have also been left out.

After a strong start with Serie A new boys Como, Nico Paz has been handed a first call-up, and at the other end of the spectrum, veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi is set to win his 120th cap in this encounter.

Argentina possible starting lineup: Rulli; Molina, Otamendi, Romero, Tagliafico; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister, Alvarez; La. Martinez, Messi

ID:554972:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4521:
Written by
Andrew Delaney
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How you voted: Venezuela vs Argentina

Venezuela
14.6%
Draw
14.0%
Argentina
71.3%
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Argentina's Lionel Messi before the game on June 20, 2024 [IMAGO]
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CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1281325
2 Uruguay flag Uruguay1255220
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador1264219
4 Colombia Colombia1254319
5 Brazil Brazil1253418
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1245317
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1241713
8 Venezuela Venezuela1226412
9 Chile Chile122379
10 Peru flag Peru121477

CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Argentina Argentina1281325
2 Ecuador flag Ecuador1264222
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay1255220
4 Colombia Colombia1254319
5 Brazil Brazil1253418
6 Paraguay flag Paraguay1245317
7 Bolivia flag Bolivia1241713
8 Venezuela Venezuela1226412
9 Chile Chile122379
10 Peru flag Peru121477


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