SOCCER: Argentina's Scaloni faces striker dilemma after opening win

KANSAS CITY, Kansas — Argentina returned to training on Thursday as head coach Lionel Scaloni faced renewed selection decisions after the reigning champions opened their World Cup campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, with the battle for the starting striker role once again centered on Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.

The first-team players were back on the training pitch ahead of Monday’s Group J match against Austria after a light recovery session in the gym on Wednesday. Martinez started the opener, leading the line before Alvarez came on in the 55th minute to help see out the victory.

Alvarez had been the regular starter leading into the tournament, but Scaloni opted for Martinez in the opening match, echoing Argentina’s 2022 World Cup run in Qatar, when Martinez initially led the attack before Alvarez eventually took over as the preferred option later in the competition.

Scaloni confirmed before the Algeria match that Alvarez had recovered from an ankle issue and was available for selection. After the game, he praised Martinez’s “incredible physical work” in leading the attack.

“The coach is constantly making decisions — who plays, who doesn’t, who comes on, who comes off,” Scaloni told reporters. “Everyone would like to play, but building the team requires 11 players, and you look for the ideal functioning.”

Argentine media and journalists attending Thursday’s training session reported that Scaloni was leaning toward starting Alvarez against Austria, though no final decision has been announced.

Former goalkeeper Carlos Navarro Montoya described the situation as “blessed doubts and blessed competition,” saying the challenge of choosing between the two forwards reflected the depth of Argentina’s squad.

“Martinez is a brilliant finisher, more of a penalty-box striker, while Julian gives you finishing and presence in the box but also contributes outside it and can be more involved,” Navarro Montoya said. “He may have greater physical intensity when pressing.”

Selection questions also remain in defense. At right back, Gonzalo Montiel started against Algeria, but Nahuel Molina — typically the first-choice option — came on at halftime.

On the left side, Nicolas Tagliafico remains a doubt due to a calf injury. Facundo Medina filled in during the opening match, while the Argentine Football Association said Tagliafico has resumed light training and is progressing positively ahead of the Austria fixture. -Reporting by Gabriel Araujo, Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters