Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni says balance is key in deciding who starts up front

EAST RUTHERFORD – Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he takes it game by game in deciding who starts up front, after opting for Julian Alvarez over Lautaro Martinez to partner Lionel Messi for a second straight Copa America match.

With captain and talisman Messi the first name on the team sheet for key games, there is significant competition in the squad for the position of second striker.

Scaloni has chosen Alvarez in wins over Canada and Chile, with Serie A’s top scorer Martinez replacing him from the bench in the second half of both games.

Alvarez has scored one goal so far, while Martinez has netted twice, including the late winner in the 1-0 victory over Chile on June 25 which sent Argentina into the quarter-finals.

“There’s always the need for balance. And, well, Lautaro is very happy today, and Julian is too. I will always choose the one that I think is best suited for that match,” Scaloni said.

“Today Julian played, but we have 11 players. We have to balance the game plan. Sometimes there might be a disruption of that balance for any reason but, usually, I like playing with a good structure. We will be making choices throughout the tournament (depending on the opponent).”

The coach added that sealing qualification for the knockout stages with a game to spare would allow him to experiment with his line-up in their final group match against Peru on June 29.

Argentina are top of Group A on six points, ahead of Canada who have three after upsetting Peru in the earlier match. The Chileans and the Peruvians have a point each.

Asked specifically about winger Alejandro Garnacho, who was an unused sub in both matches, Scaloni added: “We would love to see him because he is young and he is a fresh player.

“Sometimes we think that given the match, we could send him in. But then as the match evolves, we think maybe it is not the right match. Hopefully, when we give them (young players) the opportunity, they will be able to seize it.”

Canada’s new coach Jesse Marsch, meanwhile, hailed their 1-0 win over Peru as a big moment in their history, with their first victory over South American opposition in 24 years boosting their chances of reaching the knockout stages.

The Canadians had failed to secure a win or even score a goal since Marsch’s arrival in May, losing 4-0 to the Netherlands, drawing 0-0 with France and going down 2-0 to Argentina in their Copa opener.

However, Jonathan David’s second-half winner in tough conditions marked a turning point, Marsch said. REUTERS, AFP