Previous concerns over Messi's mild hamstring strain, Alvarez's ankle trouble, and Martinez's fractured ring finger have cleared. Scaloni reported a clean bill of health across his 26-man squad, with only veteran defender Nicolas Tagliafico requiring a final monitoring session before the lineup is officially finalised. Argentina enter the match on seven consecutive victories in their World Cup build-up.
Addressing global pressure on his squad, Scaloni urged perspective while delivering positive availability updates on his core stars.
Calm because it's just a game of football. We have the experience of the last World Cup, the first game is not fundamental. It's important, but it doesn't end with the first game.
We are good, we are calm. We are facing a good team with good players. But we are calm, we are arriving at a good moment. Everyone wants to see [Leo] Messi inside the field, playing. He excited everyone, not just Argentines.
From my part, it'll always be like that. I don't see anything negative. He's been in different conditions and has always been here. He's always been monumental for us, and now he will be even more. I see him well.
Emiliano is okay, Emiliano is available for tomorrow, if he does the same thing he did yesterday and the day before I think he will play ... Julian had an ankle problem but his recovery has been good and for tomorrow he is available and an option.
With his key players cleared, Scaloni acknowledged that picking a balanced starting eleven remains difficult given the depth at his disposal.
I've always had difficulty [creating the starting 11] because of the quality of the players on the national team, beyond if we have an injured player which is not the case now.
There are no injured players. We will just monitor the case of Nico Tagliafico, if he joins the team for training but in principle all players are available. I never had an inconvenience making the team. The inconvenience I did have was leaving behind great players, but equilibrium is principle. We play with 11 and we try to find equilibrium, so someone is left out but we are good.
Argentina face a stern defensive test in Algeria, who carry a 393-minute clean-sheet streak into the Group J opener. The holders' campaign also includes matches against Austria and Jordan in the group stage.
