Jorge Sampaoli is ready to put his reputation on the line as Argentina manager – with a change of formation and the reintroduction of Angel Di Maria.
The under-pressure Albiceleste coach has dropped Willy Caballero, Sergio Aguero and Max Meza, while favouring Gonzalo Higuain, Ever Banega, Angel Di Maria and Marcos Rojo, while uncapped Franco Armani gets ready to play between the sticks.
It is a big gamble from Sampaoli to change formation, but his three-at-the-back set-up in the 3-0 defeat to Croatia was so ineffective, he simply had to do something.
The team will line-up in more of a 4-4-2 arrangement, but Lionel Messi will surely play a floating role behind Higuain with Enzo Perez on the right and Di Maria on the left.