The Argentine national team’s attacking lineup features a touch of Roman flair as coach Lionel Scaloni prepares for crucial World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Colombia on September 6 and 10. Highlighting the squad’s surprises are Matias Soulé and Taty Castellanos, both earning their first call-ups to the senior team thanks to their impressive performances in the early rounds of the Serie A season.
Castellanos, playing for Lazio, played a key role in their victory against Venezia, scoring the equalizing goal and later winning the penalty converted by Zaccagni. His significant contributions have clearly caught Scaloni’s eye. On the other hand, Soulé, representing Roma, made a notable impact by firing the first shot on goal against Cagliari, energizing a subdued team and drawing praise from club legend Daniele De Rossi after the match.
Interestingly, while both players are being rewarded for their form, there is one noticeable absence from the squad: Paulo Dybala. This omission comes as a surprise, especially considering that he was also left out of the last Copa America. Dybala’s absence has been influenced by his wedding preparations with Oriana Sabatini and his training camp with Roma. It appears he may no longer fit into Scaloni’s plans, which could also play a role in Dybala’s indecision regarding a potential move to Saudi Arabia. His reluctance to leave Roma seems tied to a desire to regain his spot in the Argentine lineup, particularly as Scaloni has expressed a preference for players based in Europe—despite the inclusion of Fernandez from Al-Qadsiah.
Currently, Argentina is leading the CONMEBOL qualifying group, collecting 15 points from six matches and holding a 10-point advantage over the team currently outside the World Cup qualification spots. Other notable players called up include Musso, Paredes, Nico Gonzalez, and of course, Lautaro Martinez.
