Picking Argentina's 2018 World Cup Squad After Latest International Games
Goalkeepers
Sergio Romero is the established No. 1 and will continue to be so for the 2018 qualification period and finals, by the end of which he'll be approaching or possibly just past a century of caps for the national team...which isn't bad, considering he's only a back-up at club level.
Nahuel Guzman is the usual deputy, and the UANL stopper should go as No. 2, with his CONCACAF Champions League performances adding experience to his armoury.
Third, and showing a little faith here, we're opting for Geronimo Rulli.
In truth the 24-year-old is uncapped for a reason: Although he's tremendously athletic, has great reflexes and has a big reputation, his mistakes are costly and frequent, and his judgement is still lacking. Even so, playing three successive seasons in La Liga will continue to refine his game, and he's still the most likely heir to Romero's spot—and the only goalkeeper in consideration under 30 years of age
Full-Backs
Four full-backs for Argentina, boasting plenty of experience between them...if not quite as much offensive class and exciting thrust as some of the real challengers for the World Cup have in their own squads.
Pablo Zabaleta will still be around and in place on the right, and he'll be challenged for the spot by Sevilla's Gabriel Mercado. Aggressive, taller than Zabaleta and two years younger, it could well be that Mercado is the starter on that side of defence.
On the left, expect Marcos Rojo to line up even though it's clearly not his favoured position. He still has the aggression to lock down that side of defence, has reasonable recovery pace and won't be shy about trying to get forward in support, but his overall game is certainly a level lower when on the side of defence compared to in the middle.
Challenging Rojo for left-back—or standing in for him when suspended, perhaps—we're going for Emmanuel Mas, currently with Trabzonspor and who has played his part in the qualifiers so far.
Centre-Backs
Argentina have habitually had a couple of decent centre-backs to pick from, but pairing them up for any length of time seems to have been a real problem over the last few tournaments.
We're anticipating Nicolas Otamendi recovers enough form to take his place as the defensive leader; aggressive on the front foot and covered in beard, shouting positional instructions he's all too keen to ignore himself when there's a challenge to be made outside the box.
Alongside him, it's a little bit take-your-pick.
Everton's Ramiro Funes Mori is our best guess to start the tournament in the back four, but it may well come down to form or simply finding the winning partnership. Who complements Otamendi best, dropping in behind and sweeping up the loose balls.
If it were down to pure quality, Mateo Musacchio would be in the XI, but injuries have taken 20 or 30 caps off him already, and the Villarreal man still has a lot to prove at this level.
Fourth choice will be Facundo Roncaglia, but it comes with a caveat: Ezequiel Garay hasn't played for Argentina for two years, but if he finds form and shines for Valencia, he could well make a crashing late entrance not just to the squad, but to partner Otamendi.
