Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has decided to drop Angel di Maria from his starting lineup for their World Cup 2022 last-16 tie against Australia this evening.
The 34-year-old had started each of La Albiceleste's three Group C matches, but reports in South America suggested that the Juventus winger had emerged as an injury doubt for the clash at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Di Maria will now begin tonight's match on the substitutes' bench, with Papu Gomez taking his place in the first XI, joining captain Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez in the front three.
The rest of Scaloni's lineup remains the same, with a back four of Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi and Marcos Acuna shielding goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Alexis Mac Allister, who scored his first international goal in the 2-0 win over Poland on Wednesday, retains his place in centre-midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul.
As for Australia, manager Graham Arnold has also made just one change to his first XI following their 1-0 group-stage win over Denmark, with Keanu Baccus replacing Craig Goodwin on the left flank.
Mathew Leckie, who netted the only goal against Denmark, will operate on the opposite wing, while Riley McGree will continue in his supporting role for central striker Mitchell Duke.
Argentina starting lineup: E. Martinez; Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Acuna; De Paul, Fernandez, Mac Allister; Messi, Alvarez, Gomez
Subs: Armini, Rulli, Foyth, Tagliafico, Paredes, Pezzella, La. Martinez, Li. Martinez, Palacios, Correa, Almada, Di Maria, Dybala, G. Rodriguez, Montiel
Australia starting lineup: Ryan; Degenek, Souttar, Rowles, Behich; Leckie, Mooy, Irvine, Baccus; McGree; Duke
Subs: Atkinson, Karacic, Tilio, Wright, Maclaren, Hrustic, Mabil, Redmayne, Devlin, Vukovic, Deng, Kuol, Goodwin, King, Cummings
Oliver Thomas
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