Leandro Paredes

ANALYSIS
Paredes came off the bench in the closing stages of Monday's 2-0 win over Austria, entering the pitch with eight minutes remaining to complete his first competitive appearance since the muscle strain that had threatened his involvement at the start of the tournament, completing eight passes in a brief cameo designed purely to give him valuable game time after his injury layoff. The Roma midfielder operates primarily as a substitute option in coach Lionel Scaloni's squad, but with Argentina already qualified for the knockout rounds as group winners, the final group game against Jordan represents an ideal opportunity for him to start and build the match sharpness he will need if called upon in the more demanding knockout fixtures ahead. His composure in possession, ability to dictate tempo from deep and experience at the highest level make him a reliable midfield option, and a full performance against Jordan would go a long way toward confirming his readiness to contribute meaningfully in the rounds ahead.