El Salvador vs. Argentina: Team News, Predicted Line-Ups, Live Stream & TV Info
Argentina's preparations for the 2015 Copa America take them north of the border on Saturday as the 2014 World Cup runners-up meet El Salvador at Washington's FedEx Field.
The United States spectators will trade the National Football League's Washington Redskins for a different brand of entertainment this weekend, with Gerardo Martino's men looking to lay on a spectacle against minnow opposition.
We provide a breakdown of the latest team news, predicted formations and which players in particular to watch on Saturday.
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Date: Saturday, March 28
Time: 8:30 p.m. GMT/4:30 p.m. ET
Venue: FedEx Field, Washington, United States
Live Stream: No broadcast available
TV Info: No broadcast available
| September 14, 2014 | Loss | El Salvador 0-1 Panama |
| October 11, 2014 | Loss | Colombia 3-0 El Salvador |
| October 15, 2014 | Loss | El Salvador 1-5 Ecuador |
| November 15, 2014 | Loss | El Salvador 1-3 Panama |
| November 19, 2014 | Win | Nicaragua 0-2 El Salvador |
| September 3, 2014 | Win | Germany 2-4 Argentina |
| October 11, 2014 | Loss | Brazil 2-0 Argentina |
| October 14, 2014 | Win | Hong Kong 0-7 Argentina |
| November 12, 2014 | Win | Argentina 2-1 Croatia |
| November 18, 2014 | Loss | Argentina 0-1 Portugal |
Team News
It's as of yet uncertain as to what role Lionel Messi will play against El Salvador after sustaining a foot injury earlier in the week, despite confirmation the setback was nothing serious.
According to the official Copa America 2015 website, the Barcelona forward didn't train with the team on Thursday and had a private session at the team hotel, citing Argentina's official Twitter account (tweet in Spanish):
Neither team has any major injury concerns leading into the game, but Martino may choose to use Messi sparingly—if at all—in a bid not to aggravate the foot injury.
Martino initially named a 22-man squad consisting solely of foreign-based players, but Sky Sports correspondent Paulo Freitas confirmed the call-ups of Federico Mancuello, Ramiro Funes Mori and Maxi Rodríguez last week:
Predicted Formations
El Salvador (4-2-3-1)
Derby Carrillo; Nestor Renderos, Alexander Larin, Milton Molina, Alexander Mendoza; Richard Menjivar, Jaime Alas; Arturo Alvarez, Andres Flores, Kevin Santamaria; Rafael Burgos
Argentina (4-2-3-1)
Nahuel Guzman; Facundo Roncaglia, Lucas Orban, Nicolas Otamendi, Mateo Musacchio; Javier Mascherano, Enzo Perez; Carlos Tevez, Angel Di Maria, Javier Pastore; Gonzalo Higuain
| El Salvador Win | 20-1 |
| Argentina Win | 1-10 |
| Draw | 9-1 |
| Both Teams to Score | 6-4 |
Key Players
Scoring opportunities are likely to be few and far between for El Salvador on Saturday, but manager Albert Roca will hope that frontman Rafael Burgos is capable of tucking away the majority of chances that come his way.
The forward plays his club football with Fredrikstad in Norway and is one of only two European-based players in the El Salvador squad, hoping to capitalise upon the few openings that emerge.
The uncertainty on Messi's involvement this weekend could create an opening for Carlos Tevez to lead Argentina's assault, with Kris Voakes of Goal.com illustrating what fine form the Juventus man is in this term:
Martino has a bevy of fine forwards to choose from, but Tevez's return to the international ranks has been welcomed by many in Argentina, and this weekend could be a prime opportunity for him to dazzle.
Key Battle
Andres Flores vs. Javier Mascherano
In a battle against the odds, Roca's men will need their leaders on Saturday, and captain Andres Flores will be one figure the minnows look toward for inspiration against such massive opposition.
The playmaker will be one of those seeking to give Burgos some chain of supply up front, but the suppressing abilities of one Javier Mascherano promise to cut that ammunition short.
Perhaps even more important than Burgos' finishing will be the gaps Flores and Co. are capable of creating, but Mascherano is an expert in the field of limiting such cracks in defence.
