Alejo Véliz scored the Argentina U20 team’s first goal at the 2023 U20 World Cup and he spoke about the win against Uzbekistan.
Véliz scored Argentina’s first goal which drew level against Uzbeksitan and the number nine spoke to the media after the win. Here is what he had to say:
“We had to start off on the right foot and thank God we got the win. We knew it was going to be difficult but luckily we were knew how to handle the match in the best way.
“It was very nice to see every one in the stadium. Javier (Mascherano) told us that we have to take advantage of all of this. A very nice group has been put together and we are enjoying it to the fullest.”
Javier Mascherano spoke about his Argentina U20 team’s opening match at the U20 World Cup.
Mascherano coached his team to a 2-1 opening match win against Uzbekistan at the U20 World Cup and now lead Group A in the standings. He spoke to the media after the match about it all. Here is what he had to say:
“We knew that Uzbekistan were a difficult opponent, they’re champions of Asia. We also had to add the anxiety of the opening match.
“The first game is the one that causes the most nervousness. I tried to talk about it with the boys, so that they put all of their energy towards the positive. At times, we played the way we wanted but we have to keep working to improve.
“In the second half, fatigue started to creep up and we changed some aspects of the game. There is nothing more beautiful than playing on a pitch that fully encourages you. Playing in a World Cup is a huge responsibility but I tell the guys that they also have to enjoy it.
“It’s a World Cup, you have to take it match by match and the team will grow with each passing day.”
Alejo Véliz and Valentín Carboni both scored for the Argentina U20 national team in their 2-1 win vs. Uzbekistan at the U20 World Cup.
Argentina U20 national team coach Javier Mascherano has his team off to a winning start. Despite having much of the ball, it was Uzbekistan who took a 1-0 lead after Makhmudjon Makhamadjonov beat goalkeeper Gomes Gerth at his near post to give Uzbekistan the 1-0 lead.
Javier Mascherano’s team would draw level just minutes later. Agustín Giay would send a cross in to Alejo Véliz and his header was initially punched away by the goalkeeper but would fall into the goal and Argentina would draw level.
Moments after that, a tackle by Giay in his penalty area led to a penalty. The referee went to VAR and would speak on the microphone saying he has reversed his decision and it is not a penalty.
Valentín Barco would play a short pass in to Valentín Carboni and the number 10 would drive inside the penalty area and would score with his effort to make it 2-1 for Argentina.
The second half saw Argentina have more possession of the ball and Javier Mascherano made several changes. Federico Redondo was brought on for Máximo Perrone while Luka Romero was substituted in on for Matías Soulé.
Mascherano would make three more changes. Ignacio Miramón for Mateo Tanlongo, Gino Infantino on for Valentín Carboni and Ignacio Maestro Puch for Alejo Véli was the last substitution.
They would get the 2-1 win and Argentina top Group A at the U20 World Cup. Their next match is on Tuesday against Guatemala.
Argentina U20 national team coach Javier Mascherano has announced the starting eleven for the team’s match vs. Uzbekistan at the U20 World Cup.
Javier Mascherano has named his eleven players which will play in Argentina’s opening match against Uzbekistan. Goalkeeper Gómes Gerth gets the start and it’s a back four of Giay, Di Lollo, Gómez and Barco.
Mascherano has went with a European based midfield with Máximo Perrone of Manchester City, Mateo Tanlongo of Sporting CP and Valentín Carboni of Inter. Up front it’s Matías Soulé, Véliz and Brian Aguirre. Here is the line-up:
Gómes Gerth; Giay, Di Lollo, Gómez, Barco; Perrone, Tanlongo, Valentín Carboni; Soulé, Véliz and Brian Aguirre
The Argentina U20 team will start their 2023 U20 tournament on Saturday as we look at some facts and the 2001, 2005 and 2007 finals.
Argentina qualified as hosts for the 2023 U20 World Cup but for many years, the team qualified for the tournament and won it in fashion. The Argentina U20 team hold the record for most U20 World Cup trophies won with six.
Diego Maradona helped the Argentina U20 team to their first trophy in 1979 when the tournament was hosted in Japan. After that came back to back titles, the first in 1995 in Qatar and the second in 1997 in Malaysia.
They would then go on to win it with Lionel Messi in 2005 in the Netherlands and Sergio Aguero, who was also part of that 2005 team, would win it in 2007 in Canada.
This makes the Argentina U20 team the only U20 team to win consecutive U20 World Cup tournaments twice. The last trophy won was in 2007 with Sergio Aguero at the helm.
That 2007 U20 World Cup team had two, or three if you want to count Sergio Aguero, senior World Cup winners. Angel Di Maria and Papu Gomez both won the 2022 World Cup.
The team which won the 1997 U20 World Cup is often regarded as one of the greatest U20 teams ever assembled. Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar, Esteban Cambiasso, Walter Samuel, Lionel Scaloni and Diego Placente, just to name a few.
Of the 18 players which won the 1997 U20 World Cup, six of them would take part in the 2006 World Cup. Those six are Leo Franco, Leandro Cufré, Esteban Cambiasso, Juan Román Riquelme, Pablo Aimar and Lionel Scaloni.
From the 18 players, eight would play in a World Cup. In addition to those six, Diego Placente played the 2002 World Cup and Walter Samuel in 2002 and the 2010 World Cup.
The last time the U20 World Cup was held in Argentina, it was in 2001 when Jose Pekerman’s team ran riot. Javier Saviola scored 11 goals in the tournament, an Argentine record.
That 2001 team had Javier Savola, Maxi Rodríguez, Andrés D’Alessandro, Willy Caballero, Fabricio Coloccini, Nicolás Burdisso and Julio Arca, just to name a few. Of the 19 players whichw on the World Cup, Nicolás Burdisso, Fabricio Coloccini, Javier Saviola and Maxi Rodríguez would all play in the 2006 World Cup while Maxi Rodríguez would play the 2018 World Cup.
Sergio Aguero is the last Argentine captain to lift the U20 World Cup. He has also won the U20 World Cup two times, the first in 2005 and the second in 2007 in Canada.
The 2001, 2005 and 2007 U20 World Cup finals are on Youtube and can be viewed below.
