Zambia and Argentina clash for the first time in the early hours of Wednesday at 01:15 Zambian time, with World Cup-winning coach Lionel Scaloni demanding his players be at their best.
This match will be Argentina’s last game at home before heading to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off from June 11 to July 19 across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Argentina played Mauritania last Saturday and won 2-1, but their performance was described as below average for their status as defending world champions against a low-ranked side. Some players, including goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, voiced disappointment in the team’s performance.
“It’s a good sign that they realized that the game was not good, the other day we were not a team. In addition to playing well, they are intelligent, and they realized that. This is a good opportunity to assess where we are. Let’s hope it was just that game or we’ll see if it’s a bad moment or not,” Scaloni said.
Heading into the match against Zambia, he revealed that Lionel Messi, who started from the bench in the previous match, will start. “Tomorrow he will go from the start. With the changes, I wanted to give Julián a little rest, Nico, who was coming from an injury as well. Our idea is always to play with two strikers. Tomorrow is the last test; the idea is that a better-known team can play and that everyone watches.”
Lwandamina, Scaloni Set Tone Ahead of Zambia–Argentina Clash
Scaloni made it clear that his team has to compete to the best of their ability against Zambia.
“When we have to compete, the team will be there. It doesn’t matter who we are facing; we have to compete in every game, and I’m convinced that the level of the team is not what it was the other day. We have to show that the team is there,” said the coach.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s interim coach George Lwandamina said the team has prepared well and is motivated to face the world champions.
“We’ve done our part. We, we’ve prepared. I know we are playing the world champion. The game itself. It is the motivator. I’m sure it has motivated in our boys. They’ll put in a lot.”
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