TEAM GUIDES — GROUP J: Argentina title defence starts with what should be a straightforward task in Group J (opens original article in a new tab)

Argentina aims to defend their World Cup title with a mostly familiar squad and coach Lionel Scaloni, while Algeria, an unproven team, looks to capitalize on their strong record against weaker opponents.

• Argentina's squad for the World Cup includes mostly returning players with some young additions, aiming to defend their title.
• Coach Lionel Scaloni plans to use a 4-3-3 formation with a strong defense and dynamic midfielders, led by Lionel Messi.
• Algeria, a team with an impressive record against weaker opponents, faces questions about their performance under pressure in high-stakes matches.
• Algeria's star player Riyad Mahrez is 35 and may not play full matches, but remains a key figure for the team.