BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Argentina will meet Germany and Ecuador in friendlies next month as part of their preparations for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Wednesday.
The Albiceleste will face Germany in Dortmund on October 9 and Ecuador at a yet-to-be-confirmed venue four days later.
The fixtures will be one of the last chances for Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni to test his squad ahead of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) World Cup qualifying tournament, which starts next March.
Argentina will be without their captain and all-time leading scorer Lionel Messi for the friendlies as he continues to serve a three-month suspension for accusing CONMEBOL of corruption during the Copa America in July.
The two-time World Cup winners beat Mexico 4-0 and drew 0-0 with Chile in friendlies in the United States earlier this month.
