Argentina make changes for Ghana clash

Coach Humberto Grondona has made changes to Argentina’s starting line-up for Tuesday’s clash with Ghana’s Black Satellites.

Grondona is under pressure to turn around the fortunes of the six-time world champions after they twice failed to hold onto leads handed them by captain Angel Correa in the 2-2 draw with Panama last Saturday. Grondona saw both his goals cancelled out.

And he has responded with three changes from the Panama game in the hopes of get the balance right to beat the 2009 world champions.

The first two teams of the six groups plus the four best third-placed teams will advance to play the knockout stages of the New Zealand tournament and Argentina, who want to lead Group B before facing Austria on June 5, have opted for a three-man defence formation with a packed attacking-minded midfield against coach Sellas Tetteh’s side.

Argentina have made two changes in their back four - Fulham defender Tiago Casasola has made way for fit-again Emanuel Mammana, who had been out with injury at his club River Plate.

Also, Rodrigo Moreira has been handed a start while forward Emiliano Buendía drops to the bench.

Boca Juniors midfielder Andrés Cubas who was a second-half substitute against Panama, also earns a starting role. He takes up Alejandro Romero Gamarra’s position.

The Ghana-Argentina encounter is set for the Wellington Regional Stadium at 7am GMT (9am CAT).

Argentina XI (3-4-2-1) v Ghana: 1. Augusto Batalla – 20. Facundo Monteseirín, 2. Emanuel Mammana, 21. Rodrigo Moreira – 6. Leonardo Rolón, 5. Andrés Cubas, 4. Nicolás Tripichio, 3. Lucas Suárez – 10. Tomás Martínez, 11. Ángel Correa – 9. Giovanni Simeone