Given the situation, the coach acted quickly and decided to draft Emiliano Buendía as a replacement, an attacking midfielder from Aston Villa who is enjoying a great moment in the Premier League. The addition was confirmed by the National Team's official social media: "#SelecciónMayor The @AVFCOfficial player, Emiliano Buendía, is drafted for the friendly against Angola in Luanda".
El posteo de la cuenta oficial de la Selección en X
The 28-year-old from Mar del Plata arrives in top form, after scoring a stunning free-kick goal against Bournemouth and recording four goals and two assists in 15 matches so far this season with the English side, where his compatriot Emiliano "Dibu" Martínez also stands out.
Buendía has already worn the Albiceleste jersey once: he made his debut in February 2022 during the 1-0 victory over Colombia in the South American Qualifiers, coming on in the final ten minutes of the match. Later, a ligament injury kept him out of the squad, although he returned as a substitute against Chile in June this year.
With his return, Scaloni adds a quality attacking option to a squad that has faced unexpected setbacks, but will take advantage of this FIFA date to continue consolidating alternatives and observing performances with a view to an ever-closer 2026.
When the National Team plays
The upcoming FIFA date will include a single friendly against Angola, as part of the 50th anniversary of the African country's independence. The national team will begin its training camp in Spain before traveling to Luanda, where it will play the match on Friday, November 14 at 1:00 p.m. (Argentina time). It will be the last match of the year before the World Cup draw and the formal close of the 2025 calendar.
