Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Man City’s Julian Alvarez are both vying for a place in attack for Argentina against Uruguay on Thursday.
This according to Argentine broadcaster ESPN, via FCInterNews. The broadcaster anticipates that the chances of either starting are essentially 50/50.
Argentina face their first of two World Cup qualifiers during the break later this week against Uruguay.
And according to ESPN, Albiceleste coach Lionel Scaloni has largely made up his mind about the players who he will start in that match.
But the coach has one major doubt. And it is one that has been persistent for him for the last twelve months or so.
Lautaro Martinez & Julian Alvarez Both Vying To Start For Argentina Vs Uruguay
For Argentina coach Scaloni, there has been a dilemma of who starts in the centre-forward role.
Naturally this has been a “good problem to have” for the coach.
At the World Cup in Qatar, Inter striker Martinez had begun the tournament as the first-choice starter.
However, the Nerazzurri man’s form was poor. He failed to score or assist a goal in either of the Albiceleste’s first two group stage matches.
This led Scaloni to drop Martinez and start Alvarez in the role.
The Manchester City striker remained first-choice for all of the knockouts as Argentina won the tournament.
However, Martinez also had his role to play. The 26-year-old came off the bench in all of Argentina’s knockout matches.
Martinez scored the decisive penalty in a quarterfinal shootout win over the Netherlands.
The Inter striker also came on as a substitute in the final. It was Martinez who helped set up Lionel Messi for the team’s third goal in extra time.
Since the World Cup, both Martinez and Alvarez have had chances to start for Argentina.
Scaloni has also tried using the pair together up top.
But against Uruguay on Thursday, ESPN report, only one of the two will start.
And Scaloni has yet to make up his mind. Both have more or less an equal chance of being in the lineup.
