What if reigning world champion Argentina failed terribly for its legend Lionel Messi’s very last World Cup? The Albiceleste largely finished at the top of the upcoming North American World Cup qualifiers (with 12 wins in 18 matches) but is dealing with an aging squad and not only because of the presence of the Ballon d’Or record holder as well as Nicolas Otamendi, both 38 years old. A good number of executives are in their thirties. Not to mention that Angel Di Maria, the man of all titles alongside “La Pulga”, has retired internationally.
Emiliano Martinez was not very excited after the Argentines’ victory against Mauritania (2-1), Friday evening at the Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Enzo Fernandez (17th) and Nico Paz (32nd) put the 2022 world champions on the right track while Messi did not start. Paz was accompanied by Thiago Almada, Julian Alvarez and Nico Gonzalez, who seriously injured Strasbourg’s Joaquin Panichelli in training.
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Messi played the second half but Argentina was unable to wrap up the match and the Mourabitounes, who are 115th in the Fifa rankings, even saved the honor in added time thanks to their new defender Jordan Lefort (94th).
The worrying level of Argentina?
“It was rather weak. It was one of our worst matches, especially for a friendly. We lacked play, we lacked speed. I try to take responsibility when it’s my turn, and they got too close. We didn’t know our opponent well, we have to be more combative. We lacked intensity, defensive solidity and conviction in defense.”launched “Dibu” Martinez after the game. Before concluding with a smile: “Luckily we didn’t play the Finalissima.”
Lionel Scaloni’s team continues with a second meeting at the Bombonera against Zambia. The Argentine federation found two African opponents urgently after the cancellation of the Finalissima against Spain due to the conflict in the Middle East, but the profile of the two teams has no connection with the three opponents of the next World Cup which are Algeria to start, on June 16, then Austria and Jordan, on the 22nd and 27th.
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