Tottenham defender Cuti Romero is set to be dropped by Argentina for Saturday’s clash with Mexico after his poor showing in the 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia.
That’s according to both Clarin and Ole, who both cover Lionel Scaloni’s plans to change up his team in the crunch meeting on Saturday.
Argentina were beaten by Saudi Arabia earlier this week in the biggest shock of the World Cup so far, a result which has seen lots of reflection and concern in the Argentine camp.
Reports yesterday made it clear that Tottenham star Romero was one of those who could lose his place because of the result, largely because there were still concerns about his fitness and the state of an ankle injury.
He came off midway through the clash with Saudi Arabia, and Argentina were monitoring him closely as Scaloni pondered changes.
Clarin now provide their information on the matter, stating that ‘changes are on the way’ after a couple of days of ‘chewing on anger, swallowing poison, reflecting and analysing’ from everyone in the camp and particularly Scaloni.
Romero will be one of the players to lose his place, with Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez set to come in for the Tottenham man.
He showed a ‘notable lack of rhythm’ before being substituted off against Saudi Arabia, while there were also doubts about his fitness and a lingering muscle strain.
Ole, meanwhile, say that Scaloni will ‘kick things around a bit’ after the defeat and is looking at those who didn’t start for answers.
His first idea is to modify the defence as that was one of the weakest points and Romero is the ‘main figure’ in his thinking.
Scaloni was not satisfied by what he saw from the Tottenham man as he failed to show the ‘aggressiveness that characterised him’ and helped him to be a starter in the side in the first place.
Thus, he will be replaced by Martinez, who arrived at the tournament from Manchester United in good form and a more than adequate replacement.
That is unlikely to be the only change, particularly at the back, but it seems Romero will be dropped, and the Tottenham man is taking some of the blame for that shock defeat.
