COPA AMÉRICA 2024
Why isn’t Ángel Di María playing for Argentina against Chile?
The former Real Madrid midfielder was a key part of the World Cup-winning team but was not included in the starting XI on Tuesday.
Argentina will take on Chile in their second game of the 2024 Copa América but will be without veteran midfielder Ángel Di María from the start. The 36-year-old was not named in the Argentina team by head coach Lionel Scaloni, who has opted to make changes after his side’s 2-0 opening night win against Canada.
The experienced forward has dropped to the bench for the second game of Argentina’s Copa America journey, allowing Lionel Scaloni to save Di Maria’s aging legs. He was a nuisance during Argentina’s victory over Canada but was let down by some erratic finishing, most notably squandering an early one-on-one.
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Di Maria remains a key part of this Argentina side but there is an acceptance that his place in the starting XI is no longer the certainty that it once was. Fiorentina forward Nicolás González has been drafted in to replace Di María in his regular role on the right flank and La Albiceleste have a number of other attacking options. Lautaro Martinez made a goal-scoring impact off the bench against Canada and Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho may well get some game time on Tuesday.
“There are differences between Chile and Canada. We always say that we play based on the damage we can do to the opponent,” Scaloni told reporters ahead of Tuesday’s game. “I did not see the field of play. I already said what I had to say. We have to adapt to what we have... We will put the team that best suits us against Chile.”