Overview
- Lionel Scaloni presented a 28‑player Argentina squad on Tuesday, November 3, for friendlies against Uruguay at La Bombonera on Nov. 13 and Costa Rica in Córdoba on Nov. 17.
- Emiliano 'Dibu' Martínez was included in the list despite suffering a fractured jaw weeks earlier, with the staff treating his presence as a leadership and locker‑room option while his match availability is to be evaluated.
- Several established players are absent from the call‑up: Lautaro Martínez and Cristian Romero were left out for injury, Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina remain suspended, and Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were omitted for technical reasons.
- The Liga Profesional and AFA published VAR audio on Nov. 3 that shows referee Nicolás Ramírez changed an on‑field decision to send off Lucas Martínez Quarta for holding that denied a clear goal‑scoring chance and that AVAR Gastón Suárez and the VAR booth upheld a direct red for Gonzalo Montiel for a high‑force ankle tackle.
- The twin developments — a post‑Messi squad that promotes youth and returns, and the public VAR recording that confirmed two River expulsions — sharpen selection questions for Scaloni and have intensified club tensions following Boca’s 1‑0 Superclásico win and its strong position in the domestic table.