The Argentine men’s national football team may be in trouble ahead of its World Cup Qualifier commitments in October. Captain Lionel Messi’s return was the only good news as, with clashes against Venezuela and Bolivia rapidly approaching, up to five players from head coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad could watch from the bench with injuries and a FIFA sanction.

So what’s next, and how can he keep Argentina’s blistering pace at the qualifiers — six wins from eight games so far — going?

Scaloni can’t catch a break

The first Argentina star to drop from the squad was Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez, who was suspended by FIFA for ‘offensive behavior.’

Then it was the turn of strikers Paulo Dybala and Nicolás González. The attackers suffered muscular injuries while playing for their clubs and were ruled out on Saturday. 

The next player down was Marcos Acuña. The defender, one of three Qatar 2022 winners playing for River Plate in the Argentine league, injured his left hamstring. Teammate Germán Pezzela remains part of the team but is in doubt after suffering an elbow to the face, resulting in a microfracture in his temporal bone near his ear.

The last to confirm his absence from the upcoming games was forward Alejandro Garnacho. The Manchester United youngster was expected to play a big role due to Dybala and González’s injuries, but the player confirmed via his Instagram that he’s suffering problems with his left knee.

Who will replace Argentina’s injured players?

The current context has forced Scaloni to call up two fresh faces faces. 

First up, 19-year-old defender Julio Soler from Lanús will replace Acuña in what will be his first call-up to the Argentina first team. Soler has only been part of the Lanús first team since 2022 but has already established himself as one of the Primera Division’s best young defenders.

Second there’s 19-year-old Facundo Buonanotte, who has already played for the men’s national team, debuting in a friendly against Indonesia in June 2023. Since joining English Premier League’s Leicester City on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, the left-footed Rosario Central academy graduate has been on fire, scoring two and assisting another pair in seven games.

What now for Scaloni and Argentina?

The key missing cog for the Scaloni will undoubtedly be González. The left-footed striker inherited Ángel Di María’s role as a winger after he retired from the national team González’s absence raises questions for the upcoming international fixtures.

If Scaloni chooses to go with his usual 4-4-2 formation, then perhaps Buonanotte is set to take his place, although it would be unusual for the Argentina coach to push a youngster so openly into the spotlight.

Returning midfielders Exequiel Palacios and, particularly, Thiago Almada provide solid backup options for Dybala from the bench, albeit with different profiles. The same goes for Real Madrid Nicolás Paz, who received his first call-up to the Albiceleste first team.

Messi’s return to the team, in addition to his great form with Inter Miami, is likely to grant him a place in the starting eleven. This will force Scaloni to drop one of Lautaro Martínez or Julián Álvarez, who had settled as a competent two-man attack while La Pulga was out injured.

In defense, Qatar 2022-winner Nicolás Tagliafico makes a perfectly timed return to the squad as Acuña is dropped. Come match day, he’ll likely start on the left, while either Soler or Lisandro Martínez can provide backup on the left side.