Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Nicolás Otamendi and Valentín Barco all scored for Argentina in their 5-0 win against Zambia.
In possibly Lionel Messi and Nicolás Otamendi’s last matches with the Argentina national team in Argentina, both players scored in the win. With the score at 0-0, Leandro Paredes played a pass from deep to Lionel Messi who passed it to Julián Álvarez and Álvarez scored to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
At 1-0, Lionel Messi played a pass to Alexis Mac Allister who passed it back to Messi and he scored from close range to score Argentina’s second goal of the match. He made it a goal and an assist in the match.
With Argentina leading 2-0, Thiago Almada was tripped inside the penalty area and Argentina were awarded a penalty kick. Messi pointed to Nicolás Otamendi to take it.
Nicolás Otamendi went to the goalkeeper’s right and the goalkeeper dove the wrong way. Otamendi scored to give Argentina the 3-0 lead.
Lionel Scaloni would bring on Rodrigo De Paul, Valentín Barco and Nicolás González for Alexis Mac Allister, Nicolás Tagliafico and Leandro Paredes.
At 3-0, Thiago Almada and Valentín Barco played passes into the penalty area and Almada’s pass hit a Zambia player and went in for the own goal.
Nicolás Otamendi was substituted off in his last match with the Argentina national team in Argentina. Lucas Martínez Quarta was substituted in his place. Scaloni also brought on Giuliano Simeone for Julián Álvarez.
Juan Musso, Nico Paz and Máximo Perrone were substituted in for Emiliano Martínez, Enzo Fernández and Thiago Almada.
Nicolás González would pass it to Valentín Barco inside the penalty area and he would score to give Argentina the 5-0 lead.
Lionel Scaloni’s team will play Serbia in June before the World Cup.
Happy points we take from this match: Barco, Almada, Messi, Quarta, Molina as attacker. Also the fact that the midfield and forward line can still feel motivated enough to play a dominating game.
Worrying points: Cuti looking slow. Molina as defender. In fact in one situation he kicked in the air over the ball. Such a juvenile mistake from a world cup winner. MacAllister is rusty even after the two matches. He mispassed at crucial junctures. Alvarez, like before, looked complacent once he scored one goal. Anyway, he hardly scores braces even in club matches. The defence looked vulnerable whenever the 91st ranked team increased the number of people around the box. In fact, there was one player who dribbled past three of us. Dibu came to the final rescue in that situation.
Net net: this team still can do wonders. But not with the current form. Scaloni would be having nightmares these days.
Cashed out at £6000 profit when barco scored
No where near my di Maria scoring in both finals money but still a great payout
A friendly is a friendly, no more no less, good for a tune-up and a squad shakeup to see what falls….no further comment needed.
As an Argentina fan, the result feels good, but the performance raises questions. The first half was slow and predictable, relying too much on moments from Lionel Messi, and even weaker opponents found space on the counter. After taking control, the team shifted into comfort mode instead of pushing intensity or giving real chances to the next generation.
Watching teams like AUSTRIA play with aggression, structure, and purpose in friendlies makes you wonder- ARE WE EVOLVING ENOUGH? And with sides like ALGERIA improving rapidly, these small gaps can become big problems.
Under Lionel Scaloni, we trust the process…but as fans, we also want to see the future being built, not just the PRESENT BEING MANAGED.
Did Australia change tactics and styles during the game like Argentina fid in fact fthe scant team in the world do that hmmmmm !!!!
First half controlled possession controlling tempo playing a deep playmaker in parades
Second half fast ball movement position changing attacking
Isn’t that how great teams play isn’t that what won us 4 cups
Great game for messi..today he was best player .. barco was impresive,nico prove he is the best left back than taglafico..peredes is better than de paul…
almeda,enzo,mac,monila,romero, martinez and messi must be starting elevan for world cup matches..
Barco didn’t play left back he played central midfield
Shamoli mentioned that “nico prove he is the best left back”. So she was not referring to Barco as left back.