Top four players left out of Argentina’s squad for Copa America 2024

Published at :May 23, 2024 at 4:26 PM

Modified at :May 23, 2024 at 5:21 PM

A number of big names have been left out of the team

Argentina, the defending champions of the Copa América tournament announced their preliminary squad on Monday for the upcoming tournament. Lionel Messi along with 28 others have found their names on the list. It is a fairly similar squad that lifted the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy back in December 2022 in Qatar’s Lusail Stadium. Still, a few stars that were on the teamsheet that prevailed over the France national football team in the finals won’t be featuring in the upcoming Copa America tournament set to kick off on 21 June.

The Argentina national football team will open the tournament with their game against the Canada national football team at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the United States. Head coach Lionel Scaloni left out the following interesting four players in his chosen preliminary squad.

4. Thiago Almada (Atlanta United)

When Argentina lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy, Thiago Almada became the first active Major League Soccer player to win a gold medal in the most coveted international-level football tournament. Almada was one of the unused substitutes in the finals.

Still, it was a great achievement for the then-21-year-old. The most heartbreaking part for the player will be the fact that his nation will play their opening game at the home ground of his club Atlanta United.

Also Read: Argentina’s provisional squad for Copa America 2024; Lionel Messi to lead defending champions

3. Papu Gómez (AC Monza)

Papu Gómez was also among the substitutes in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final game. The midfielder is now 36 years old. The player could have brought a reliable energy of experience on the pitch but due to a doping ban, Gómez had to be kept out.

The doping ban was due to the fact that terbutaline was found in the samples tested during his time with the Spanish side Sevilla. The ban will be in place until October 2025. Also, the player’s contract is set to expire on June 30 with Serie A side AC Monza leaving his football career in more turbulence.

2. Juan Foyth (Villarreal CF)

Villarreal CF will be finishing in eighth place in the 2023-24 LaLiga season. The former Tottenham Hotspurs defender was a regular name in the starting XI of head coach Marcelino García Toral during the early phase of the season.

Juan Foyth has been out of action since January start because of a dislocated right shoulder injury. Although surgery is successful, Foyth will miss out on the 2024 Copa America to continue his rehabilitation.

1. Paulo Dybala (AS Roma)

The biggest name to be excluded from the 2024 Copa America preliminary squad of the Argentina national football team chosen by Scaloni has to be Paulo Dybala. The former Juventus star has had an excellent season with the Italian side AS Roma this season.

The 30-year-old has so far made 27 Serie A appearances scoring 13 goals while also providing a total of nine assists. Roma are likely to miss out on UEFA Champions League football for next season, leaving Dybala with more pondering to do over his future plans.

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