Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez will be on the bench for Argentina against Uruguay, whilst Man City’s Julian Alvarez will start.
This according to Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports, via FCInterNews.
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.
Lautaro Martinez To Be Benched In Argentina Vs Uruguay Clash – Julian Alvarez To Start
For tonight’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay, Scaloni had been unsure of who he would start.
Albiceleste boss has been seriously considering both Martinez and Alvarez.
But according to TyC, the coach has made his decision. And he will be going with the same player who became the regular starter in Qatar.
Alvarez will lead the line from the first minute against Uruguay.
And this will mean that there is no place for Inter captain Martinez in the Albiceleste’s starting eleven.
However, Martinez could of course come off the bench later in the match.
That has generally been the case whenever Alvarez has been a starter for the Albiceleste.
