Adjust Argentina multiple questions thinking about the World Cup 2026. It continues to give flight to that team and to those well-known and consolidated performers, but it also gives rise to new and young footballers aiming for the forced generational change and the formation of the final list. And in that search, win, draw conclusions and move forward.
Now the world champion beat 0-1 Venezuelaat the Hard Rock stadium in Miami, before only about 7,500 spectators, with a minute of silence included for the death of coach Miguel Angel Russo, bad news that shook Argentine soccer. And in this framework, Lionel Scaloni put the majority of starters, combined with a couple of youngsters.
Without Lionel Messireserved so that he can play today a key official match with the Inter Miamithe Argentine coach initially placed Marcos Senesi as the second central marker. And it is logical: Nicolás Otamendi will arrive at the World Cup at the age of 38… Furthermore, with Franco Mastantuono disaffected due to muscular overload, the coach gave Nico Paz the title in the middle of the field. He rehearsed with two footballers who completed the 90 minutes and who are part of the gradual replacement of the world champion team. Upstairs there was space to see Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez together.
Lautaro shoots on goal
Venezuela, which is trying to assimilate the frustration of being left out of the World Cup, begins a new cycle with Oswaldo Vizcarrondo as coach and with a very young and very different team compared to the one that did not reach the qualification goal in the South American Qualifiers.
The tie was broken by Giovani Lo Celso with a cross shot, after a nice collective combination. If Argentina led by only one goal in the first half, it was due to several saves by José Contreras, who responded to shots from Nico Paz and Lautaro Martínez at zero-zero and who after the goal once again deflected a shot from the Italian Inter scorer, who had made an individual play. All while Dibu Martínez suffered almost no surprises.
As expected, the modifications emerged in the second half. Contreras continued to frustrate Lautaro with three more saves. Venezuela only came close with a shot off Teo Quintero’s crossbar.
TECHNICAL SHEET
0 – Venezuela: José Contreras; Nahuel Ferraresi, Alessandro Milani, Jon Aramburu (m.78, Ronald Hernández), Teo Quintero, Gleiker Mendoza; Cristian Cásseres, Kervin Andrade (m.58, Matías Lacava), Telasco Segovia (m.82, Wikelman Carmona); Juan Pablo Añor (m.78, Carlos Faya) and Alejandro Marqués (m.58, Kevin Kelsy). Coach: Oswaldo Vizcarrondo.
1 – Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina (m.78, Leonardo Balerdi), Cristian Romero, Marcos Senesi and Nicolás Tagliafico (m.46, Nicolás González); Enzo Fernández (m.78, Alexis Mac Allister), Leandro Paredes (m.63, Giuliano Simeone) and Giovani Lo Celso; Nicolás Paz, Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez (d.78, Rodrigo De Paul). Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
Goal: 0-1, Giovani Lo Celso (m. 31)
referee: American Tori Penso. He admonished José Contreras, Jon Aramburu and Cristian Cásseres.
Incidents: International friendly match played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Now, on Tuesday, Argentina will face Puerto Rico again in Miami. “All the new guys will play,” Scaloni said. Lautaro Rivero, River’s young centre-back, and José López, Palmeiras’ centre-forward, will almost certainly enter there. And in this game Messi could play. Maybe Leo’s thing is a detail. The goal will be to continue testing.
