Santiago Beltrán, Tomás Aranda, Nicolás Capaldo and Joaquín Freitas all made their Argentina national team debuts.
The four players were substituted in for the Argentina national team in the 2-0 win against Honduras. Lionel Scaloni substituted in the 21 year old goalkeeper Santiago Beltrán for Juan Musso.
Tomás Aranda, the 19 year old midfielder, was substituted in for Exequiel Palacios while 27 year old Nicolás Capaldo was substituted in for one of the goal scorers, Giuliano Simeone.
Joaquín Freitas was the last substitution of the match for Argentina as the 19 year old replaced Nicolás Otamendi.
Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni spoke about Leonardo Balerdi, Nico Paz and the injuries to the players.
Lionel Scaloni will be without Leonardo Balerdi for the World Cup due to injury. It was announced that Balerdi suffered an injury in training and will miss the World Cup.
“When I sat down yesterday at the press conference, we had hope that it would not be what everyone was thinking. It was confirmed that Balerdi has a problem in the soleus and we had to take him out of action, unfortunately. It was too risky.
“The replacement isn’t there yet. I don’t want to alarm anyone because we’re not at 100% with several players. Maybe that decision doesn’t just depend on a center back.
“We’re going to wait and draw conclusions based on what the team needs. The misfortune of Balerdi means we have to rethink situations with other team mates.
“We have the opportunity of one more match to draw more conclusions and not rush things. We’re not going to make a decision until Tuesday and see how other guys are. We’ll wait.”
Scaloni also spoke about Nico Paz and Julián Álvarez:
“Nico Paz is available and we are calm with Julián. We will not have problems.”
“I prepared really well, mentally more than anything. In Qatar, individually, I didn’t arrive the way I wanted. That’s why I want to rack up every minute I can and keep gaining confidence.
“I give my best in every training. Hopefully we continue on this road.
“I am very happy to go back to wearing this shirt, to play once more and to enjoy it together with my team mates.
“We have to go and defend what we achieved in Qatar. It’s going to be tough but we’re going to give it everything to leave Argentina as high as possible.”
Lisandro Martínez commented on the Argentina national team, the World Cup and the injury to Leonardo Balerdi.
Martínez started Argentina’s 2-0 win against Honduras. Speaking to the media after the match, here is what he had to say about the team:
“The preparation is always the same, always focused on improving and arriving in the best possible way. For us, every match is a final and it is reflected in the desire we put into it.
“This group is ready for this, I love the mindset they have.
“We are here to play match by match, giving our best, trying to put our country at the very top. The truth is that I feel very good physically and overall.”
The Argentine also commented on the injury to Leonardo Balerdi:
“What happened with Leo Balerdi was really difficult. We gave him our full support, sent him tons of strength. It has to serve as motivation for us to keep on giving it our all.
Lautaro Martínez and Giuliano Simeone both scored for Argentina in their 2-0 win against Honduras.1
The first half saw Argentina seeing a lot of the ball and creating a lot of chances. Giovani Lo Celso initially came the closest with an effort from outside of the penalty area which hit the crossbar.
Nicolás Tagliafico would get the rebound and get tripped inside the penalty area. The referee would award a penalty kick for Argentina.
Lautaro Martínez would take the penalty kick, going low to the goalkeeper’s right side, the goalkeeper would dive the right way and Lautaro would score to give Argentina the 1-0 lead.
Lionel Scaloni would substitute Rodrigo De Paul and Facundo Medina in for Valentin Barco and Nicolas Tagliafico.
It was a pass into the penalty area to Lautaro Martinez and he would back heel it to Giuliano Simeone who would score Argentina’s second goal of the match.
Scaloni would make eight more substitutions. Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and José Manuel López were substituted in for Lisandro Martínez, Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez.
Santiago Beltrán, Tomás Aranda and Nicolás Capaldo wouldnalso be substituted on for Juan Musso, Exequiel Palacios and Giuliano Simeone. Joaquín Freitas was also substituted infor Nicolás Otamendi.
Argentina will play Iceland in their last match before the World Cup.
