Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni prepares team for Egypt round‑of‑16 clash

Lionel Scaloni, head coach of the World Cup‑defending Argentina, held a press conference at the Mercedes‑Benz Stadium in Atlanta ahead of the round‑of‑16 match against Egypt. He said the side will likely make “one change in each line” after a taxing 3‑2 extra‑time victory over Cabo Verde, noting the physical drain on players who logged 120 minutes and the limited recovery time between matches.

Scaloni highlighted specific areas under review: left‑back Nicolás Tagliafico could replace the cramp‑affected Facundo Medina; midfield options include Leandro Paredes to add balance, possibly at the expense of Thiago Almada; and the striker position remains under debate between Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. He praised Lionel Messi’s condition despite the heavy workload and stressed that no favorite has “marked a huge difference” in this tournament, pointing to parity across teams and challenging travel, heat and pitch conditions.

The Argentine coach also warned that the schedule offers insufficient rest, criticizing the short turnaround before the Egypt game. He signalled confidence in the squad’s resilience, saying the team “does not give up” and is ready to face a strong Egyptian side featuring Mohamed Salah.