Argentina lost 2-1 against Paraguay in the World Cup qualifiers with Lautaro Martínez the goal scorer.
The first half saw Argentina have much of the ball but Lionel Scaloni’s team did not create too many chances. One real chance was created and it got them a goal.
Enzo Fernández played a ball over to Lautaro Martinez and he scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead. The goal was initially not given but the referee went to VAR and it was overturned.
Paraguay would draw level minutes later. They were awarded a corner kick and a header hit the crossbar but Paraguay continued with pressuring. They would cross inside the penalty area and Antonio Sanabria would score a bycicle kick to draw them level.
The seconnd half would end and Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni would make a change at half time. Leonardo Balerdi was substituted in for Cristian Romero.
It was a free kick at the start of the second half for Paraguay and Omar Alderete would score a header and give Paraguay the 2-1 lead. Scaloni would make more changes, bringing on Alejandro Garnacho for Alexis Mac Allister.
Alejandro Garnacho would start a counter attack, passing it to Julián Álvarez and he would play it to Rodrigo De Paul but his effort would go high. Scaloni would bring on Leandro Paredes for Enzo Fernández and Gonzalo Montiel on for Nahuel Molina.
Scaloni’s last change was Tatty Castellanos for Julián Álvarez. Castellanos came close to scoring off a Lionel Messi corner kick but his effort went high. The match would end with Paraguay getting the 2-1 win but Argentina do remain first in the World Cup qualifiers.
LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ GOAL FOR ARGENTINA! 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/d0O52F2nwl
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) November 14, 2024
I always like to see us win but I also understand we can’t win all the time. My problem is the way we played today. We lacked imagination and didn’t show desire.
1.) Otamendi and Romero just stood there and let the Paraguayan forward score.
2.) Alejandro Garnacho right now is overrated. He lacks imagination and the balls to take on players one vs one. He gets the ball and passes it backwards, it was very frustrating to watch. Nico Paz has only played one game and showed so much quality. Scaloni would be a fool not to continue with his progress.
3.) It’s time for Scaloni to start benching De Paul just to light some fire under him. His play today was very casual and he missed a very good chance.
Maybe, if Lo Celso had come on he would’ve made some creative difference.
What are your thoughts?
I agree. Garnacho was case was obvious, he can’t provide the width. What frustrated me he couldn’t beat a player one one one. Giuliano Simeone, Nico Gonzalez are better at that role. Infact I see Garnacho transforming to a no. 9 in the future, limiting his minutes at national level.
As for the midfield & defense, there are 2 key players Scaloni need to seriously consider calling ; Senesi & Varela. With Paredes decline Varela is badly needed.
We have now lost 3 matches in the qualifiers and in 3 straight away matches we have failed to win. We could not even play well in the away matches. The defence needs rebooting. Other than Enzo nobody else played any memorable moment in the midfield. Messi was left asking for the ball. Garnacho could have as much impact on the game as an empty water tank in a desert. Julian never pressed on opponent defence like he used to do even in recent times. Lautaro started believing that his job was done and dusted after the first goal. MacAllister was as much visible as hairpin in a haystack. Balerdi was shaken more than a rabbit in front of a pack of wolves. Scaloni needs to think why we are performing like minions on foreign soil. Why are we getting psyched out when the audience is not shouting for us? It’s time the team seek professional help from a psychologist before it’s too late.