The coach of the U23 national team, Javier Mascherano, wished that Lionel Scaloni, World Cup winning coach, will lead the Olympic team in case they qualify for the Paris 2024 Games. "If everything goes well in the Olympic Qualifiers, hopefully Scaloni will be able to coach the U-23s. That would allow us to know that it continues until 2026," Masche said.
On the other hand, he assured that Scaloni "is very close to the youth teams". "That's great for the coaching staff of the youth teams. Having the world champion coach as a source of consultation is spectacular and we value it," he added.
In the run-up to Venezuela's Olympic Qualifier debut next Sunday against Paraguay, Mascherano raised the possibility of handing over the leadership of the team at Paris 2024 to Scaloni.
Mascherano with Leo Messi. EFE/ Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
In this sense and with the possibility that the Gringo will leave the national team after the Copa America in the United States, the former captain assured that he does not aim to coach the seniors.
"I'm not the one and I don't know if I'm the right one. My goal is to qualify the U-23s for the Olympics and coach the next U-20," Mascherano said.
If Argentina gets one of the two spots to go in search of the third gold medal in Paris, the Jefecito reiterated that the doors are also open for Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria.
"Leo and Angel earned the possibility to choose, if they want to play, they can do it," said the former player who was in the conquests of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.
Messi, Mascherano, Pepe Costa and Chqui Tapia, at Ezeiza. EFE/ Juan Ignacio Roncoroni
In recent days, the U23 team suffered the loss of defender Julián Malatini, who was transferred from Defensa y Justicia to Werder Bremen, in Germany, and his new club will not loan him for the tournament.
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I don't agree with Julian's decision. We were surprised because we didn't know anything. He told us it was a great opportunity and decided to leave," lamented the coach who will now have 22 of the 23 players allowed by the regulations at his disposal.
The other decision Mascherano made before handing over the final list was the summoning of Claudio Echeverri, the River Plate gem recently sold to Manchester City, as a replacement for the injured Pedro De la Vega.
"We had the options of Ramiro Enrique and Facundo Farías but we decided on Echeverri because we didn't have a player with his profile," he explained about the surprise call-up to the 18-year-old.
Argentina will debut on Sunday against Paraguay and then face Peru (24/1), Chile (30/1) and Uruguay (2/2).