LA SERENA, Chile — Argentina’s national team coach Gerardo Martino confirmed the return of defender Nicolás Otamendi and striker Sergio Agüero to the first team yesterday in the last training session in La Serena before the Copa América quarterfinal game against Colombia tomorrow.
After playing against Jamaica for the last group match, Martín Demichelis and Gonzalo Higuaín will be on the bench.
This way, the coach fielded: Sergio Romero; Pablo Zabaleta, Ezequiel Garay, Otamendi, Marcos Rojo; Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Javier Pastore; Lionel Messi, Agüero and Ángel Di María.
However, Martino did not confirm the team as he will wait until the last minute to see how Néstor Pékerman’s side will play.
In a very special day due to Messi’s 28th birthday, the national team practised at La Alpina facilities for the last time. In the afternoon, the squad travelled to Viña del Mar, where it will face Colombia tomorrow at 8.30pm.
Facing a Colombia side which likes to attack will force Argentina to play its best soccer in the competition, left-back Marcos Rojo said.
Argentina has shown indifferent finishing in its three group matches, Messi included. It has struggled to break through defensive opponents and eked out 1-0 wins over holder Uruguay and Jamaica after a 2-2 draw with Paraguay.
“Colombia are tough rivals but more open than the teams we’ve faced so far,” Rojo told Reuters. “On paper these are the rivals that suit us, although you’ve got to play the matches but we have a lot of faith in our game.”
Both sides came to the tournament in Chile among the favourites for the title but have not shown their full potential, Colombia losing 1-0 to Venezuela before beating Brazil and drawing 0-0 with Peru.
Rojo believes the Argentine team is packed with talent and capable of ending the country’s 22-year wait for a major trophy after back-to-back Copa América wins in 1991 and 1993.
“This group of players has a team essence and that is what distinguishes us. We’ve all be pulling in the same direction for some time,” the Manchester United defender said.
“Although some lads have changed since the World Cup, it’s as if we’ve all been together for a long time,” added the 25-year-old, who is at his second Copa América and will play his 36th cap against Colombia.
Source: Buenos Aires Herald staff with DyN, Reuters