Why hasn’t Argentina been able to replace Ángel Di María?
Two years after Di María’s international retirement, Lionel Scaloni is still searching for the right answer on the left wing. Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso, Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez and Nico González have all had a turn.
The last time Argentina faced Switzerland at a World Cup was in Brazil in 2014. That team, which went on to finish as runner-up, survived several tense moments on its way to the final. One came in the Round of 16 against Switzerland, the same opponent standing in its way today.
Di María the hero for Argentina against Switzerland
The hero that day was Ángel Di María. His dramatic extra-time winner rescued Argentina and sent the Albiceleste into the quarterfinals. The player who so often delivered in the biggest moments is now the one Argentina seems to miss the most.
When did Di María retire?
Ever since Di María announced his international retirement following the 2024 Copa América, the position he vacated on the left side of Argentina’s attack has remained unsettled. Lionel Scaloni has tried just about everything to solve the problem.
At this World Cup, he started with Thiago Almada in the role. He has also used Giovani Lo Celso, Julián Álvarez and Nico González there. Most recently, he shifted Alexis Mac Allister out to the left, moving away from the 4-3-3 Argentina used to win the 2022 World Cup and switching to a 4-4-2 against Egypt, with the Liverpool midfielder operating on the left flank.
How many appearances did Di María make for Argentina?
Di María made 145 appearances for Argentina, scoring 31 goals and providing 32 assists. He made his senior debut on Sept. 6, 2008, and retired as one of the greatest players in the country’s history after winning four major international titles: the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, and the 2022 Finalissima.
Scaloni himself admitted that the coaching staff tried to persuade Di María to return.
“We asked Ángel to come back and say goodbye to the fans. He stepped away, and there was no way to convince him. We tried, but he had already made his decision. His story is like a movie because it ended in the best possible way. He’s a legend. When someone makes a decision like that, it’s because they’ve thought it through. He had plenty of time to reflect, and today we can say it was the right choice because he retired as a champion and as one of the greatest players in our history.”
Who does Di María play for now?
Now back with Rosario Central, Di María will watch Argentina’s World Cup quarterfinal against Switzerland from a very different perspective than he did in 2014.
Back then, he was the team’s savior once again. Now he can only watch as Argentina continues searching for a worthy successor on the left wing, something many suspected would be difficult the moment he walked away from the national team.
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