Scaloni: Balerdi's replacement will be one of two players, decision to wait

Argentina coach Scaloni spoke about the final squad adjustments. He stated that the previous concerns have been largely eliminated, but he will still observe for one to two more days to decide who will replace Balerdi, who withdrew from the FIFA World Cup squad due to injury.

In an interview after the match, Scaloni said: "Did I say yesterday that I would make a decision tomorrow? Maybe I will wait another day. As I said before, we already have an idea, but after today's game, we discussed it, and it might take another day or two to make a decision."

He continued: "Today's game made me very satisfied and dispelled many doubts about what the team was still lacking."

According to TyC Sports, the most likely player to be called up is midfielder G. Rodriguez. It is worth noting that although Balerdi is a defender, the Argentine coaching staff is considering calling up a midfielder.

Meanwhile, Scaloni also provided updates on the recovery of several injured players. When talking about Nico Paz, whose physical condition had previously attracted attention, Scaloni said: "I saw him play very relaxed, and we always knew he was very eager to return to the team. The original plan was not to let him play in the first game, but in fact, he was close to being able to play then. Today he showed very good form and played at the level he did at Como. We are happy about this, he played a very good game and provided more options for the team."

Regarding Paredes, who suffered a muscle injury at the end of the season, Scaloni explicitly stated that he would not exclude him from the FIFA World Cup squad: "Leandro doesn't need to wait specifically, his condition is very good, and we won't rush it. He is expected to rejoin full team training this weekend. He will definitely remain with the team, there is no doubt about that."

In addition, Montiel, another player who had injury problems previously, also made the coaching staff satisfied. Scaloni said: "We saw that he is in good condition. He even wanted to play longer and had previously asked to participate in the first game, but we chose to help him recover gradually. He has always been a trustworthy player for the team, and whenever we need him, he always steps up."

Finally, Scaloni emphasized that the biggest positive news for the team right now is the significant improvement in the players' physical condition.

"Most importantly, the team showed good physical condition. A few days ago, we were very worried about some players, but now everyone is much more relieved because many players have proven that they have recovered to an ideal state."