Argentina team trained for the last time ahead of their crucial Round of 16 tie against France on Saturday and coach Jorge Sampaoli tried out some interesting changes in training in order to prepare for France.
Argentine newspaper La Nacion has reported that coach Sampaoli tried Cristian Pavon as a forward alongside misfiring Gonzalo Higuain while Lionel Messi played as a ‘false 9’.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Sampaoli trained with 12 players with Pavon the 12th player in the training session while the rest of the 11 players were the ones who started the game against Nigeria. Sampaoli reportedly will go with the same team that started the match against Nigeria with Enzo Perez, who suffered a blow to the hip, the only uncertainty.
Pavon is a temptation for the former Chile and Sevilla coach because of the pace he offers. France likes to go on the attack and Pavon can cause havoc to the French backline.
Sampaoli has formed two equations for the France game. One is a 4-4-2 that he played against Nigeria with Higuain and the other is a 4-3-3 with Messi as ‘false 9’ and Pavon and Angel Di Maria as wide players.
Messi is quite used to the false nine role, having often played as a false striker who drops between the lines and builds play while also making darting runs behind the opposition defence.
Rumoured Argentina XI: Armani; Tagliafico, Rojo, Otamendi, Mercado; Banega, Mascherano, Enzo Perez; Pavon or Higuain, Messi, Di Maria
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