Agustin Marchesin was named as the best league goalkeeper for the month of August.
The former America man joined FC Porto in the summer transfer window. He is back in the Argentina national team, having played against Chile in the 0-0 draw.
Lautaro Martinez: “I am happy and emotional” following Argentina hat trick
Lautaro Martinez scored his first hat trick for Argentina and spoke to the media about it all.
Now on 9 goals in 13 games for the Argentina national team, Lautaro Martinez started both friendly matches this month. He has turned into a machine goal scorer for Lionel Scaloni’s team. Speaking to the media after the 4-0 win vs. Mexico, here’s what he had to say:
“I am happy and emotional. We sacrifice a lot to be here and it’s not every day you score three goals with this shirt.
“It’s very difficult to get here and to stay here. There are very good players. I am very happy and thankful to my team mates and to the coaching staff. This is also thanks to them because they give me a lot of confidence. We try to bring joy to the national team, hopefully we continue on this road.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni: “We played a perfect game” vs. Mexico
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke at a press conference following Argentina’s 4-0 win against Mexico.
While striker Lautaro Martinez got all the headlines, coach Scaloni preferred to focus on the collective group. Here’s what he had to say:
“We knew the way that Mexico would play and we came out quickly to generate some chances. We are happy because we played a perfect game. We knew that Mexico would dominate the first minutes and that’s why we were prepared to go out on the counter attack.
“We gave out the feeling that we are a team, that’s the important thing. Everyone played for their lives for their team mate and for wanting to be in the Argentina national team.
Lionel Scaloni also mentioned what they wanted the players and the team to accomplish.
“We knew that if we recovered the ball, we would have to get it quickly to the striker. It’s not good if we just defend well. We analyzed Mexico a lot and we were courageous enough to do what we had to do in this match.
“I keep thinking that the result is secondary. We value that the team feels strong, that he who doesn’t play feels as valued as Lautaro who scored three goals.
“We want an Argentina national team that is competitive, that our opponents respect us. There are a few times where you have to change the position of certain players and they are very well prepared for it.”
Lautaro Martinez scores a hat trick, Argentina win 4-0 vs. Mexico
Lautaro Martinez scored a hat trick while Leandro Paredes got one as Argentina won 4-0 vs. Mexico.
In a scoreline not many, if anyone saw coming, Lionel Scaloni’s team scored four times in the first half and let in zero. While it was Mexico who saw more of the ball at first, it was Argentina who opened the scoring.
Inter striker Lautaro dribbled across the Mexican back line before his shot went through them and into the net for a lovely first.
Exequiel Palacios played a great ball onto Lautaro who remained offside and got his second of the match. Argentina were awarded a penalty kick after a handball in the penalty area.
Leandro Paredes stepped up and while the Mexican goalkeeper guessed the right way and even got a hand on the shot, Leandro’s effort had too much power on it to be stopped.
Martinez would finally get his hat trick, his first in an Argentina shirt. The ball would bounce back to him at thw edge of the penalty area and his shot wouls go in for his third, the fourth of the game.
Here was the starting eleven:
Andrada; Montiel, Martinez Quarta, Rojo, Tagliafico; De Paul, Paredes, Palacios; Mac Allister, Lautaro Martinez, Acuña
⚽️ Gabriel Batistuta is the only man to hit a hat-trick in 2⃣ World Cups
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 11, 2019
🧙♂️ Lionel Messi netted a treble 🆚 🇧🇷
🔥 Lautaro Martinez has become the 1st player to score 3⃣ in an @Argentina-Mexico game since Guillermo Stabile in 1930 – & he did it in the 1st half at the Alamodome❕ pic.twitter.com/6cwNx429MV
Giovani Lo Celso out injured for Tottenham until end of October
Argentina and Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso has been ruled out with an injury until the end of October.
Tottenham have confirmed through their website that Lo Celso would resume training at the end of next month. The report states that Lo Celso suffered a hip injury during Argentina’s 0-0 draw against Chile and that’s the reason he left the squad.