Argentina name first squad after Messi's farewell, De Paul and Lo Celso dropped
Lionel Messi played his final match in an Argentina shirt last month. The first two matches of the post-Messi era fall in November's international window — friendlies against Uruguay on November 13 and Costa Rica on November 17. Head coach Lionel Scaloni has named a 28-man squad for those two matches.
In the previous window Argentina faced comparatively easier opponents in Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. This window's two matches are regarded as tougher, especially the game against neighbours Uruguay.
Many expected Scaloni to rely on his familiar old guard for the Uruguay match. Instead he has begun a wholesale rebuilding of the national team, and several well-known stars have no place in the new squad.
The biggest shocks in Scaloni's rebuild are the omissions of Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso and Nico Gonzalez. All three names were tied to the Messi and Scaloni era for a long time.
Questions had already been raised over Lo Celso and Gonzalez. De Paul's on-field form has also fallen since he joined Inter Miami, according to the report.
Lautaro Martinez misses the squad through injury, while Cristian Romero is fighting to recover from injury.
Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina also sit out this window because of suspension.
The absence of familiar faces has opened the door for newcomers. Young centre-back Aaron Anselmino has been called up to the national team for the first time, and youngsters such as Nico Paz, Matias Soule, Franco Mastantuono and Valentin Barco now have the chance to prove themselves.
