Messi benched against Jordan as the debut campaign ends

Messi on the bench for the finale

Lionel Messi starts on the bench against Jordan on Saturday. Scaloni confirmed it plainly: "Messi irá al banco de inicio" (8). Argentina have already won Group J, so the captain rests. Scaloni added Messi will enter in the second half: "Ya veremos cuántos minutos juega" (7). Dibu Martínez and Leandro Paredes will start (10).

Jordan's tournament is over, no matter what

Two losses in two matches. Jordan fell 2–1 to Algeria after Nizar Al Rashdan gave you the lead. Amine Gouiri scored the winner late. That result, combined with Austria's earlier win over you, means the debut campaign ends here, Argentina and the Algeria-Austria winner advance. Sellami's side plays for pride on Sunday.

What Argentina are bringing

Even without Messi from kickoff, Argentina are expected to win to nil (3). Their defensive unit, anchored by Martínez and Paredes, has not conceded in the group stage. Jordan's best moment of the tournament remains Ali Olwan's historic goal against Austria in the opener, your country's first ever at a World Cup.