Lautaro Martinez started on the bench for Argentina against Poland yesterday and could permanently lose his starting spot to Man City’s Julian Alvarez at Qatar 2022.
Lautaro failed to impress in his first two games at the World Cup and was eventually relegated to a bench role for the decisive match against Poland on Wednesday.
Coach Lionel Scaloni picked Alvarez in a three-man attacking trident completed by Leo Messi and Angel di Maria.
Alvarez, who had joined City for just €12m last summer after holding talks with several Serie A clubs, including Inter, Fiorentina, Milan and Juventus, found the net at minute 79 last night and was replaced by the Nerazzurri striker less than ten minutes later.
Lautaro has scored 21 goals in 43 appearances with his national team and is only second to Edin Dzeko for goals scored at Inter this term. El Toro has bagged eight goals in 21 appearances with the Nerazzurri, but Football Italia understands he now risks losing his starting spot in Qatar, given Alvarez’s impressive debut as a starter.
Argentina will face Australia in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 19.00 GMT.
That’s because Martinez has been terrible so far.